Clay Dot in pistol cartridges

[TfflHndn]

Any idea why Alliant's web site says that Clay Dot is made to mimic Hodgdon Clays, but then at the bottom of the page, in small print, it says "not for use in metallic cartridges"? Clays is one of the best powders I have used for target loads in .45 auto and .44. It would be nice to be able to use Clay Dot for the same applications.

 

[steve4102]

My guess is that they have not tested it in Metallic cartridges.

 

[TfflHndn]

As good a guess as any, Steve, and probably better than most. If Clay's is primarily used in 12 ga. shotgun loads, they may not have worked up any data in pistol to see that it duplicates Clay's in performance there. Thanks for your input.

 

[hanno]

FWIW, I sent the following email to Alliant a little while back:

"Is Clay Dot the same as Clays for handgun loading. That is, can I use the load data for Clays to load with Clay Dot?"

Here is the response:

"Gary,
NO!!
Clay Dot powder is a shotshell powder ONLY. Do not use this powder in metallic cartridges.
Thanks,
Shoot Straight
DuaneVB
CCI/SPEER/ALLIANT POWDER
2299 Snake River Ave.
Lewiston, ID"

 

[Crunchy Frog]

Clays was my go-to powder for my cowboy action and Wild Bunch ammo-.38 Special, .45 ACP and 12 gauge. When it became scarce, I and my friends started looking for other powders.

I read lots of internet posts that Clay Dot was a "clone" of Clays and could be used in the same way, but the manufacturer did not publish load data for metallic cartridges. Being a bit of a safety nerd when it comes to handloading, I passed.

I ended up switching to Red Dot; I think I like it better than Clays in the .38 Special, as it turns out.

 

[TfflHndn]

Hanno: Thanks. Woulda been nice if they had given some rationale. If there were some reason given for why it is unsuitable for metallic cartridges, even if that were simply that it has not been tested in metallic cartridges and therefore no data is available, okay. But I can't see how a powder made to duplicate another can be used in place of that powder in shotgun but not in handgun cartridges. Is there something about the powder that would make it unsafe to use in a given metallic cartridge where Clays works well? Guess we may never know...

 

[ulflyer]

Good info here. I was recently told by a clerk in a gun store that it could be substituted for Clays that I was looking for to load pistol ammo. Had I bought it, I would have found I had powder and no use for it as I don't do shotguns.

 

[TfflHndn]

Ulflyer: I have broadened my search and found a number of forums where folks have done workups side-by-side with Clays and Clay Dot. They generally agree that the same loads chrono the same, but Clay Dot may spike pressures near the top end of Clays loads. I plan to use it in the same way I use Clays, which is in mild to moderate .45 and . 44 target loads, nothing near top-end, so I will give it a try.

 

[ulflyer]

Good to know. Let us know how it goes. I have since come across a good supply of Clays so I'm set for awhile. I use Clays in very light plinking loads now so it would probably do fine for me too. I like, among other things, that its bulky and fills the 9mm case so it easily seen while loading. I've used it in 38spl and 45acp also.