Any Clays fans ?

Status
Not open for further replies.

area51

Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2012
Messages
240
Any Clays fans around here ? Been using 2.7 BE in my 38 spl for a while now and I am a big fan. A hear Clays it's much cleaner burning and the recoil is great.

Anyone care to share their favorite loads and experiences ? I plan to try some out for the 38, 9mm and 45acp.

Cheers.
 
I bought some, but haven't used it yet, plan for .45, but will use up my unique first.
 
I was at the LGS about 3 weeks ago and there was one lonely 1 LB can of International Clays left there on the shelf for about $12 so I bought it and brought it home to bond with my other propellants. Now I just have to find a use for it as there is not much data using it with any metallic reloading that I do.:D
 
Lots of clays in shotgun loads, but I don't reload for pistol yet. Somewhat cleaner than red dot.

Matt
 
I load a ton of 9mm with it (close to 10k rounds to date), MBC 115gr pills, makes for a cheap and accurate round. Also done lots of lite .44mag with a 240gr SWC from MBC, again, great shooting round that I can shoot a few hundred of for a few bucks and have a lot of fun.

Up until recently, it was the 1 powder I could always find in-stock locally, so I never had to worry about when I mite see more, now I can find everything else, but not Clays.
 
You can sub Alliant's Clay Dot for Clays - it is typically more available AND it is about 20% cheaper AND it is made in the US

I have used both for shotgun and pistol from 32ACP through the 38/9mm to 45ACP with good success
 
Good to know, hard to imagine loading 9mm cheaper than I already am, but I've give it as try, with how much 9mm I shoot, 20% on powder really adds up.
 
I use nothing but Clays in 38, 40, 45 and 9

Great powder, clean and goes a long way

Just have to be careful about double charging
 
I use nothing but Clays in 38, 40, 45 and 9

Great powder, clean and goes a long way

Just have to be careful about double charging
Isn't that the case with any powder? Or is there something specific about clays?
 
Many years ago, I bought three 8 pound jugs for around $80 per jug.

I have about 9 pounds left. I shoot 2.8 grs under a .38 148 wadcutter and 4 grs. under a 200 .45 SWC. It is indeed clean shooting. however, watch loads close to max, it has a steep pressure curve.
 
$56/4 lbs at Walmart, so I grabbed 4 lbs about 5 months ago to try in my .38spcl and .45acp target loads. I still haven't used it yet, there are some things about it that have kept me from trying it while I have plenty of Unique around.
Low charge variances....not a lot of difference between lowest and highest charges listed.
Low charge weight. While economical, it seems easy to double charge a case, especially a high volume case like the .38spcl
 
I load for 38spl. for a cowboy load....122g cast bullet & 2.6g Clays. A very soft & very very clean load. I have used this load in other 38 guns where there is no power factor. It does seem to leave some unburned powder I've noticed.
 
Clays for the 38spl.--I just loaded, monday, 50 rounds of 3.1 grs under a 158gr lrn, went and shot them to compare with 50rds 3.5grs of BE (same bullet) the Clays was much cleaner and the recoil felt softer, the accuracy was close with the BE showing a slightly smaller group. Out of a S&W 67

For the 45acp-- I been shooting (rotating) Clays and BE, a couple times a week, for years pushing a 200gr lswc. Out of several 1911s, its about the same, the Clays, cleaner, a little less recoil with accuracy about the same. 4grs for each.
Both great for the 45 and 38, don`t know about the 9mm
 
Have to be careful with Clays data. There are 3 different "Clays" powder. Clays, International Clays and Universal Clays.

I've never tried it in my 38. I still use Unique and Bullseye.
 
I routinely use Clays for 38 Special light target loads using 2.4 grains behind 148 grain wadcutters. In my 4" GP-100 I get virtually the same velocity as 2.7 grains of Bullseye with the same bullet. Both loads are very accurate. Over a sandbag rest at 25 yards both will group all 6 rounds in well under an inch.
 
I used to use it for a cowboy load, but have switched to VV N320 for that, as Clays was irritatingly position and temperature sensitive in the long .38 Spl case. Never quite knew what I was gonna get when I pulled the trigger.

I still use a lot of it in .45 ACP, though. My main load there is 4.3 grains of Clays under a 200 grain LSWC. Just makes Major at any temperature I'm likely to see a chrony.
 
Have to be careful with Clays data. There are 3 different "Clays" powder. Clays, International Clays and Universal Clays.

I've never tried it in my 38. I still use Unique and Bullseye.

I was taking about this one
not to be confused with the Universal

I loaded some up tonight using 2.7 grain with some 148 dewc.... I'll give them a spin Friday.
 
I use 3.2 gr of Clays for 180 grain bullets in 40SW. About 2000 rounds so far. I like it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top