Clays vs Clay Dot 38 Special

[heyboy]

CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

I just got back into reloading after a few years and I'm starting with 38 Special (a new caliber for me). I could only find Alliant Clay Dot and I "heard" that it's a lot like Hodgdon's Clays. For several weeks I've had a lot of fun working on loads, starting with Clays data. The Clay Dot has been pretty good for plinking with my S&W 66-8 w/ 4" barrel. Made very decent groups from 15 to 50 yards. I hit several paper plates at 50 yards. Pretty clean burning too.

Yesterday I got a lb of Hodgdon's Clays. My measure was already set for 3.4 Clay Dot so I made a batch of Clays for a 1/1 comparison test.

Samples for test were Win 38 Spl Brass, CCI 500 Primer, 158 X-Treme RNFP copper plated, 3.4 Clays and 3.4 Clay Dot.

Clays 5 shots = 708 fps
Clay Dot 5 shots = 692 fps

With no bad numbers that I wanted to throw out. Brass and primers look good too.

Side Note; I shot 5 rounds Clays w/ my 2" Taurus 605 and the numbers were scary consistent.
651
650
644
645
649

Another side note; I shot 5 rounds 4.2 Clays in 357 Fed Brass = 754 fps and they were pretty clean too. I came home and loaded 25 more 357 Fed and I'll show a pic of that.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

Clay Dot ? I have never heard of it before now.
So I go to Alliant site : 8http://www.alliantpowder.com/products/powder/clay_dot.aspx

It states "Not for use in metallic cartridges."

I wonder why not ?

I don't load shotgun, barely ever shoot shotgun. Maybe the combination of those two things is why I've not heard of this powder.

 

[heyboy]

HT, I wonder why too. I've heard that they were testing it but were not favored results. I really enjoyed 650-700ish rounds but i got some pressure signs at 750-800.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

HT, I wonder why too. I've heard that they were testing it but were not favored results. I really enjoyed 650-700ish rounds but i got some pressure signs at 750-800.

Maybe Alliant doesn't like it because of pressure spikes? I don't know, just speculation.

Thanks for the report, but I've got enough other powders, I think I'll pass on it.

 

[unwashed]

I use hodgdon clays for my shotshells but never used clay dot, instead I use green dot for the shotshells. Although Hodgdon clays does list loads for 38, 44 and 45, I never used it. These powders are primarily used for shotshells but if that's all you have, that's all you have.