Talk to me about Clays Powder

[marcodo]

Loading 380 9 45 38 and 357's

Usually use W231, titegroup and rarely Unique (hate the way it meters)

Went to buy more powder..out of everything except Clays...so I bought a pound.

Already been to the Hogdon site...

But anyone one with real world experience or pet loads and cautions regarding this powder

As a first attempt I loaded 10 rounds of 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, and 3.8 of 9 mm 115 gr FMJ oal 1.125 for shooting out an XD and a USP9
Am I in the ball park?
How about 125 gr lead 9 mm or even 45 and 38 loads?

Thanks

 

[Canuck-IL]

Dozens of loads and lots of discussion at the BEnos forum...
http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showforum=4

I use it in 45 ... not a joy to meter as it bridges completely every now and then but it is nice to shoot. Stay with proven (lots of references) loads as it spikes quickly at overloads.
/Bryan

 

[jmorris]

I've used clays for everything you've listed above and shotshell reloading. I use it mostly for shotshell reloading now VV powders burn more complete and cleaner. Also, just a heads up when looking at data, there are more than one "clays" powder.

 

[editingfx]

Clays (just Clays): Shot 1k of Rainier plated 115gr RN plated using 3.4 in my XD9SC, but when I got a S&W M&P 9 Pro, found that load wasn't enough to reliably cycle. Upped the load to 3.8 to get good performance in that gun. Running 1200 FPS in the M&P with that new load. 1.120 OAL.

Hodgdon's website has good #'s.

 

[mikeone]

Its great for super light felt recoil Minor loads in both 9mm 147s and .40 180S + .

Pressure can spike vary quickly!!!!!,

only used data for CLAYS and not any of the other clays offerings like INT CLAYS. Metering can be difficult. But all in all good light load powder, Make sure you know how much is going in the case.

Mike

 

[JDGray]

As the others have said, be carefull with Clays! Don't expect any barn burners, but it makes one hole groups in 45ACP, cruising at a mere 700fps. Very clean burning, very soft shooting, meters good in my Lee Pro Auto Disk, but not great.

 

[dwhite]

Reloading with Clays

I use it for target/range loads in 40 S&W and 38 Special.

In the 40, 3.2 grains behind a 180grain lead truncated cone bullet is very accurate and soft shooting. Clays makes excellent target loads in 38 special with 158 grain LSWC's using 3.2 grains again. My Lee 0.5cc dipper gives me 3.2 grains very consistently. It's easy to use. I haven't tried using my Lee Perfect Powder Measure because of the coarseness of the powder and low charge weight.

I wouldn't try loading any higher pressure loads with it. Lots of people say it spikes REAL fast.

All the Best,
D. White

 

[Knucklehead2]

I toss 45ACP 200gr SWC precision black bullets with 4.2gr Clays @1.250 OAL with much pleasure in a 1911. First time I have heard about metering problems with Clays,
I will monitor closer then ever though.

 

[FM-793]

Use it in both 9mm and 45 ACP, and I like it a lot - especially in the 9mm, for all the reasons people list above. The only downside I see is metering it and the fact that the loads are so light - great, economical powder, but make sure you pay attention to what you're doing.

I especially love it behind 124 - 125gr bullets - the Sierra Tournament Masters are great in my 5906TSW, as are the bulk 124 gr Remingtons. I also use it behind plated bullets in both calibers - Berrys do very well for me with Clays.

I just loaded up a bunch of the 200 gr flat-nose Berrys with the Clays, and the my Detonics 1911 really likes them.

 

[marcodo]

Thanks Guys

I also loaded .45 200gn LSWC with 3.6, 3.8. and 4.0 of Clays last night and plan on chronoing and accuracy testing this weekend...can't think of a better Memorial Day.

I got to agree on the metering issue....it metered very similar to Unique and was inconsistant. Given the warnings above I had to weigh each charge individually which can make for a long loading session. It seemed to varry +/- .2 grains which worries me in a powder like clays particularly in the higher weight range.

Out of curiosity why does a fast powder like this with a quick pressure spike have a lower recoil?...(I haven't personally shot any yet but that seems to be the consensus)

 

[peacemaker45]

It's a pain to meter in my dillons. Was trying for a 2.9 grn load in a .38 case, and wound up with velocities from 310 to 945. It does burn clean though. It's also temperature sensitive and position sensitive. Have better luck with it in .45 acp, though.

~~~Mat