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Old 06-09-2013, 08:34 PM
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Default Clays powder gone?

I was in the Graff's shooting supply store yesterday in Mexico MO, (have large mail order catalog) and the guys there told me the plant that makes Clays Powder in Australia blew up.

I have not seen this anywhere else, anyone know when did this happen?
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Old 06-09-2013, 09:43 PM
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From the Hodgdon web site:

http://hodgdon.com/PDF/Web%20Page%20Buying%20Surge.pdf

These days it seems everyone has gone to handloading.....

all supplies are in short supply, including presses, dies, primers (don't even look), etc.
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Old 06-09-2013, 09:45 PM
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That's been the ongoing rumor for many weeks now.
But there has been nothing in print about any explosion or fire at a munitions/powder manufacturing plant in Australia.

The powder is made there by the Thales Group/Australia
It's a huge international company. Their Australian Munitions Plant is where they make propellants also. That's where the Clays and the others are made.

Even the members on other shooting forums I visit that are in Australia and active in the shooting industry haven't seen or read anything about it.

Anything is possible I guess. I'd suspect the plant is very well isolated and secreted as far as what goes on there being as they make all of the munitions for the Australian Gov't as well.
A small incident demanding that a production line for sporting propellants be taken down wouldn't necessarily be something they'd want to talk about.

Just have to switch to something else if it comes to that.
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Old 06-09-2013, 10:04 PM
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Why not give Hodgdon a call and ask about the status of Clays? They'll tell you if you should move to another powder.
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Old 06-09-2013, 10:30 PM
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The absence of Clays is a big problem for trap shooters. Many use it because it is so consistent, and is so clean. I use it for my 16 yard and doubles loads.

I still have 12 lbs. left, so I am good through the summer, but I have picked up some 700X which works well, but is much dirtier.

For Handicap loads, I use PB, but can't find any of it, either. I can use 700X for those loads, too.

I will probably pick up an 8 lb. jug of 700X on Wednesday, just in case (and so I can stand with the Hoarders).

Bob
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Old 06-10-2013, 12:25 AM
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[QUOTE=Andy Griffith;137269971]Why not give Hodgdon a call and ask about the status of Clays? They'll tell you if you should move to another powder.[/QUOTE

They state that any shortages are the same as those shared with other reloading components and supplies in the current political and economic climate.

They won't directly address the question of the Australian made powders being discontinued or production halted for any length of time.

Oh well,,,life before Clays may be upon us..
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Old 06-10-2013, 12:45 AM
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I seem to remember having heard the same rumor several years ago. Maybe it blew up twice?
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Old 06-10-2013, 01:14 AM
J. R. WEEMS J. R. WEEMS is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by straightshooter1 View Post
The absence of Clays is a big problem for trap shooters. Many use it because it is so consistent, and is so clean. I use it for my 16 yard and doubles loads.

I still have 12 lbs. left, so I am good through the summer, but I have picked up some 700X which works well, but is much dirtier.

For Handicap loads, I use PB, but can't find any of it, either. I can use 700X for those loads, too.

I will probably pick up an 8 lb. jug of 700X on Wednesday, just in case (and so I can stand with the Hoarders).

Bob
Hey Bob, I really fail to see why buying what you need means you stand with the hoarders?? Who ever they might be. Keeping prepared with what you require doesn't make you, or me a horader. For those who choose to keep their heads in the sand, I say too bad for them. I simply choose not to run out of what I need, or might need, for that matter. Seems there are those that are throwing that word hoarder around quite freely of late.
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Old 06-10-2013, 10:01 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by straightshooter1 View Post
The absence of Clays is a big problem for trap shooters. Many use it because it is so consistent, and is so clean. I use it for my 16 yard and doubles loads.

I still have 12 lbs. left, so I am good through the summer, but I have picked up some 700X which works well, but is much dirtier.

For Handicap loads, I use PB, but can't find any of it, either. I can use 700X for those loads, too.

I will probably pick up an 8 lb. jug of 700X on Wednesday, just in case (and so I can stand with the Hoarders).

Bob
Give Alliant "Clay Dot" a look. It has the same properties as Clays and the loading data is exactly the same too. Cheaper also. I tried to buy Clays a month or so back, but the dealer stated they had no idea when they would get it, and recommended I use Clay Dot instead, so I bought 16 pounds of it.

Check this out too:

Clays vs. Clay Dot???
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Old 06-10-2013, 10:04 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by J. R. WEEMS View Post
Hey Bob, I really fail to see why buying what you need means you stand with the hoarders?? Who ever they might be. Keeping prepared with what you require doesn't make you, or me a horader. For those who choose to keep their heads in the sand, I say too bad for them. I simply choose not to run out of what I need, or might need, for that matter. Seems there are those that are throwing that word hoarder around quite freely of late.
Yep, they are the ones who didn't buy when ammo and components were readily available and cheaper. I always buy enough to last me at least 2 years or more, and if I I think I need more, I buy it when I find it. I suppose I'm also a hoarder because I buy the guns I want too.
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Old 06-10-2013, 10:26 AM
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Hmmm...LGS just got a shipment of it in a couple days ago.
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Old 06-10-2013, 11:37 AM
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I use Red Dot in my 12 GA, and actually found an 8# keg a couple of weeks ago at my LGS. Since I only have about half a keg left, I bought it. Should I feel guilty?

Naah. Now if I could find an 8# keg of Unique for my 20 and 28 GA stuff I'd "hoard" that too.
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Old 06-10-2013, 11:46 AM
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Definition of Hoarder: Someone that thought ahead better than you. The guys that re-market tight supply items at a big markup: People without friends, and often stuck with over priced stuff they can't get rid of. I use to do gun shows, one of my rules was "Don't buy anything in quantity you can't use yourself." When I quit because of aggressive local tax law enforcement and over aggressive ATF on individuals (STINGS) I still have a lifetime supply of certain sizes of plastic ammo boxes, and military ammo strippers. But ammo I bought to resell 15 years ago is still good to sell anytime I want (2 months ago I got out ammo for a friend and found Winchester white box 9mm that I was selling @ $5 and making a little on, it went into the wife's stash!) I think it will be nice to see Jerks stuck with $50+/1000 small pistol primers (I'm seeing WLP at $30/1000 for 5 weeks now, even Cabela's is $37.50) There is profit (never a bad word) and there is profiteering. On powder, well I always try to keep a supply of 2 to 3 years use on hand, It is a little low right now but I have my 2015 supplies on order. The problem comes when I buy a new discipline's rifle or shotgun and need a new set of components, lots of times I trade. On Jan. 3, 2006 I lost my job, in 2 weeks I sold $800 worth of primers, that paid my heat for the winter. Last May (2012) I lost that job and am still without permenite employment (short term contracting has been great).When things get to tight I sell some components, when things are flush I buy lots. Last summer I sold my "strategic reserve" of lead for casting, I've had it for about 25 years and made good money on it. I'll just have to find a deal some day. There are always substitute powders for reloading, I prefer WW231 for pistol but my sub is Clays, on shotgun I prefer Blue Dot for 28 gauge but my sub is Unique. My problem now is the LGS want almost $50 bag of shot. I see that I have some choices; 1) pay it, 2) shoot less or something else, 3) buy factory ammo (God forbid!), 4) trade or find/make a deal. There may even be more options. I can tell you this; as long as I'm physically able, I'll be shooting!!! Ivan
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Old 06-10-2013, 12:58 PM
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I was joking about "standing with the hoarders," but I think the posters are right.

I always keep enough "stuff' so I can shoot for a year if ammo or components become unavailable. That includes factory ammo and shot, wads, powder and I hate to think about how many once fired hulls I have-several 33 gallon garbage containers full.

And, of course, my wife shoots as much as she can. I am really pleased she has chosen to delay her retirement for two more years as:

I like the money she brings in.

And she can only shoot on weekends and vacation or other days off. Hence, I "save" ammo.

I created a monster when I first took her to the trap club and put a 12ga. in her hand. I thought she'd treat it like she did handguns-shoot it just enough to "please" me and go back to scrapbooking, hiking, etc.

Unfortunately for my wallet, she really, really liked it and now I have to really work to keep her in ammo, guns, etc.

bgrafser: I am aware of Clay Dot powder. I noticed they have an identical load for singles, with CB wads and Remington or Winchester hulls, but, unlike Clays, don't list a 1200 fps load.

700X is an older powder, used for many years by clays shooters and works fine except for being "dirty." Since all I have now are break open guns, that's not a problem. If I had a semi-auto, I'd probably not use it since I really hate cleaning my guns.

One of the benefits of break open guns is that it is really not necessary to clean them (but do wipe them down with the oily rag) unless they get wet or look so dirty as to be embarrassing if someone else asks to see my gun.

Bob
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