45 ACP Action Pistol: 700X or Clays?

Status
Not open for further replies.
A

abq87120

Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2010
Messages
232
I have both the Lee Modern Reloading book and the Lyman Reloading Handbook #49. I'm taking the path of hot powders with heavy bullets. These two powders appear as numbers 7 & 8 in the burn rate charts and are popular with many .45 ACP IDPA and USPSA shooters. As near as I can calculate, a 230gr Precision Delta FMJ bullet over 3.9gr of Clays or 4.0gr of 700X will get me over the 165 power factor.

Have you tried both? Which one do you use?

I have a brand new Sig 1911 Stainless with a 5" barrel. I haven't even shot it yet. I'm looking forward to chunking some WWB downrange Friday though.

Dan in ABQ
 
I haven't shot my loads, yet, but used Clays And 700-X. Gave me a spread from about 700-900 fps with 230gr LRN. Waiting on the rain to try in my Ruger 1911.
 
abq87120 said:
I have both the Lee Modern Reloading book and the Lyman Reloading Handbook #49. I'm taking the path of hot powders with heavy bullets. These two powders appear as numbers 7 & 8 in the burn rate charts and are popular with many .45 ACP IDPA and USPSA shooters. As near as I can calculate, a 230gr Precision Delta FMJ bullet over 3.9gr of Clays or 4.0gr of 700X will get me over the 165 power factor.

Have you tried both? Which one do you use?

I have a brand new Sig 1911 Stainless with a 5" barrel. I haven't even shot it yet. I'm looking forward to chunking some WWB downrange Friday though.

Dan in ABQ
Click to expand...
I'm sorry but i don't know what you mean by "hot powder". Both those powders are very fast powders and pressures will exceed limits well before you reach velocities delivered by slower powders.

In any event, I would use Clays over 700x any day since clays meters better and it's cleaner.
 
I've used both. Each works well enough, but 700x meters poorly. I would buy Clay's again, but not 700x. I prefer Red Dot over both, but would use BE or TG over all three of those in the same burn rate neighborhood.
 
I like Clays for .45ACP. I'd have to check my notes, but I think 3.9 grains as 1.250 OAL would be a bit light for Major. 3.8 is my "light" range load for Steel Challenge at my local range (no power factor required). 4.0 grains is still a very manageable load and I believe may make Major.
 
I really like Clays in .45 ACP, but with a 230 gr. bullet, the charge range is very narrow. The max with this combination is usually considered 4.0 gr., and in a particular gun, this could be borderline in making Major. With the 230 gr., I generally load Titegroup, with Clays reserved for the lighter weight bullets.
 
Either will work.

700X is more forgiving on the top end, and while it meters poorly it shoots well. Clays meters well and shoots well. Both are clean unless downloaded too much.
 
3.8 grains of 700X is my go to load for 230 grain lead bullets. 4.0 for 230 FMJ bullets. 700X does meter a bit on the poor side but when you have several kegs of it on hand it is no big deal.:) I just made a custom scoop from a 45 brass and filled it with epoxy to get the load I wanted. It is just as fast as a measure with the funnel mounted to a shelf on the bench and one hand scooping propellant and the other positioning the brass under the funnel. YMMV
 
Clays, Ramshot Competition, Winchester WST. All are good choices for a major PF load. 3.9 grains of Clays easily makes power factor.
 
Sell, a friend had gave me some Clays and I reserved a pound of 700X at the LGS. I'll try both and let you know how it goes.
 
Last edited:
My friend gave me a couple of pounds of the Clays. He shoots lead and I guess it was too hot for his loads.
 
I have used 3.7gr of Clays with a 230gr Precision (not delta) @ 1.230" with quite a bit of success.
 
By "hot", I mean a fast burn rate.

I'm picking a pound of 700X today. I guess I'll try both that and the Clays. The last time I loaded 800X (for my 40's), my Powder Cop showed that my drop wasn't as consistent as I had previously believed. Wish me luck with the 700X, lol. I'm glad I have a five-station press.
 
According to Hodgdon 700X is only SLIGHTLY slower than clays so if faced with using one or the other I would pick clays because it meters better than 700X. I have used Clays in the 45 auto and it produces clean accurate 45 Auto ammo. My main powder for the 45 Auto is W231/HP-38 because it's also clean and accurate but meters like water. IMO that powder was created for the .38 Special and 45 Auto!

Also IMO, fast powders are not considered hot powders. I also feel slower powders work better for heavy bullets in most situations but not all of course. Reloaders get just as good results with Bullseye as they do with Unique and both powders are very different. Don't choose a powder for the wrong reason...
 
Last edited:
700X is more forgiving than Clays when the pressure gets up there. Clays is good stuff though. I like them both, but if I had to give one up, it would be Clays, as I feel 700X is more versatile.
 
Clays is scary stuff with heavy bullets especially trying to make Major with a 230gr bullet. 700x is more versatile but also spikes. For 230gr most shooters I know like Bullseye or Titegroup for fast powders.
Between the two I would go with 700x and deal with how bad it measures.
For puffballs at paper I wouild go with Clays.
Since you have both i think you did real well. Keep your eyes open for hp38 and you won't go back to anything else.
 
You can make "major" with a 230 @ 718 fps and Clays will do that without any drama.
 
I'm surprised to hear about how 700x doesn't meter will. I've not had any problems with that. Shoots pretty clean, and pretty accurate w/ a 200g lead bullet.
 
I shot a USPSA practice event ($6.00 entry fee) with the load below, about 130 rounds.

230 gr FMJ Precision Delta bullet
4.0 gr 700x
CCI #300 LPP
1.275" COAL
Mixed range brass

The gun felt great. I don't do enough shooting to do well in these events but I like this round. I use USPSA and IDPA events as practice to see what I might do wrong in an SD situation. Very educational. Highly recommended if you haven't tried one.

I will probably make up a load with the Clays sometime just to see how it feels. My Hornady powder drop is pretty consistent with most powders. My Powder Cop die caught a few light loads with the 700X and I'm glad I have it. I had a bullet stuck in my barrel once from a light load when I didn't use the Powder Cop and it was a huge pain to get out. I load 800X in my 40's and am used to being careful with this wafer type powder. It can measure like corn flakes as I've heard it called, lol.

Dan in ABQ
 
Last edited:
The gun felt great. I don't do enough shooting to do well in these events but I like this round. I use USPSA and IDPA events as practice to see what I might do wrong in an SD situation. Very educational. Highly recommended if you haven't tried one.
Click to expand...

This was the results with my Clays load at the last sanctioned match I shot a 45 in.

IMG_20130316_164252_112_zps76b5a53d.jpg

While it can be fun I wouldn't look at USPSA rules or IDPA rules as sound advise on what to to in an SD situation. There are a lot of things you must do in IDPA that would be quite stupid if you did them in real life. Will teach you things other than tactics though.
 
When I first started reloading 700X was the only powder available. I use it for .45acp, 4.2grains, 1.22oal, 230gr x-treme fmj.

In MY Sig .45 TTT, Stainless, and Black Nitron.

Works great, a little stinky, but oh well. It meters ok, not bad, not as good as Autocomp, or WST.

It works fine for me.

be safe
 
700x or clays...
Well sorry for the hijack but with the powder shortage I only have true blue, accurate number 9, and unique. Load suggestions? 230 RN Missouri Bullet.

Just target practice and would prefer to save my unique for the 38 if at all possible. Thanks
 
303Load, I haven't used AA #9 in a 45. It is a very slow burn rate powder and I understand that is not good for heavy bullets. I do use it in 357 Sigs as a compressed load to help prevent set back though.

Dan in ABQ.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

K
  • Locked
My research with 700X in handguns
Replies
12
Views
2K
twofifty
T
Reefinmike
  • Locked
700x Lead 45 and 38 suggestions
Replies
8
Views
763
mackg
M
N
  • Locked
Clays, .45 ACP, and Lead
Replies
14
Views
2K
noresttill
N
C
  • Locked
Clays and .45 acp
Replies
12
Views
2K
stans
S
M
  • Locked
Need advice on .45 acp load for ipsc
Replies
9
Views
1K
ArchAngelCD
ArchAngelCD
Back
Top