Universal Clays for 45 acp

dirty gary

dirty gary

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I load 45 acp, usually with 231. Always happy with it. I have a 1 lb bottle of Universal Clays and Hodgdon data to load it. Some friends have run it and say its fine, but a few think its not a good combination. I'm not loading match ammo, just a few hundred rounds for range fodder (230 gr Berrys Rn, mixed brass, CCI std Lg Pistol). I'm loading a few with various powder charges to try next trip. Anyone have any experience with Universal to share?:cool:
 
Ive loaded some with Universal clays. It shoots fine for me but I seem to have unburnt powder residue every time i use it. I prefer Unique.
 
Ive used 6.5 gn of Universal behind a 200 gn cast with very good results, its accurate and burns cleaner than unique.
 
I think Universal Clays is just fine with 45 acp. For light shooting loads it does leave powder residue but at mid to max range it seems to preform at it's best. If I want light plinking loads I go with a faster burning powder, But if I was mad at something then I use Universal. ;)
 
A firm taper crimp to .468 at the case mouth will cut down, but not eliminate the unburt powder with both Clays and Unique.
 
Good powder for mid-range loads. It is Hodgdon's answer to Unique. It is too slow for clean put-put loads and too fast for top velocities. It is just right for folks who want a safe mid-range load. Easy to spot in the case. Metered well from my Dillon. Definitely worth burning a pound to see what you think.
 
gary,

I used a fair amount of Clays when I used to shoot IPSC. Using Berry's plated 185 gr hollow base round nose, it is a clean way to make major power. I still have a pound or so in my inventory and recommend trying it out if your not loading to minor power levels. As stated, at ti-ti velocities, it can leave a bit of residue.

Mike
 
Thanks everyone - I'm loading some test rounds, good reason to head out to the range. They'll go through a S&W 1911 and a Kimber Ultra +
 
I used 3.5 gr with a 158gr lswc and got alot of orange flakey stuff out of the fired cases. Gonna bump it up to 4 then 4.5 to see how it shoots
 
Tried it and 5 other powders in my.45s. I found WST to be better and cleaner overall.
OTOH, it's my go-to powder for mid-range .357 loads.
 
My issue w/ Clays, it gets really wierd as yo uget to max. Pressure spikes are not uncommon, so it's best run as a bunnyfart propellant. You can't get std vel loads in 45acp using Clays & do it safely. WST, much better choice. Same loft w/ wider range & uniform pressure curve even into +P range, Although it would not be my choice for +P loads. Universal, works well for jacketed bullets in several calibers, but I don't get the accuracy w/ lead bullets that I do with Unique.
 
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Universal was created to mimic Unique but cleaner so anything Unique can do Universal can do "better'...
 
This thread is mixing up two different powders "clays" and "universal". Clays is in the range of Bullseye and Universal is pretty much the same as Unique..Don't use the data for one with the other!!
 
+1 what high desert rider said.

only loaded unique and universal in 40sw and 9mm. universal with exposed lead bullets would smoke about as bad
as black powder but universal was pretty clean burning at max loads otherwise it would leave a residue.
universal can be a bit touchy or spike with charge,oal or temperature change.
 
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I found that universal clays works better/accurate & does a complete burn when the loads are in the mid to full house range.

One of my favorite loads for the 45acp in 6.4g of universal clays pushing a Lee 200g RNFP bullet.
 
high desert rider said:
This thread is mixing up two different powders "clays" and "universal". Clays is in the range of Bullseye and Universal is pretty much the same as Unique..Don't use the data for one with the other!!
Click to expand...
I don't see the mix up. Hodgdon's Clays line has 3 powders:
Clays
International Clays = International
Universal Clays = Universal

I might have missed the post that mixed them up but I don't think there was one. (but I could be wrong)
 
Best powder I found for the 45 acp was Red Dot, slightly more dirty than 231 but less snappy on the recoil and sheer brilliant for accuracy with the hard cast Lee TL-200g SWC, used kg's of the stuff in my Gold cup with no problems, might jam once in every 300 rounds, but show me any auto that don't jam sometimes. Only for paper punching out to just beyond 50 yards.
 
Pocketfisherman said:
A firm taper crimp to .468 at the case mouth will cut down, but not eliminate the unburt powder with both Clays and Unique.
Click to expand...

Which is really too much crimp & damaging bullets w/ most brass. Pull a bullet, measure the bullet after crimp. If you can see a ring, whcih @ 0.468 you will, then you are degrading accuracy.
I like Universal, but not for lead bullets & not for anything but full power loads. It's really good in high pressure rounds like the 9mm & 40, but leaves quitea bit of unburnt powder behind in 45acp unless running near max. I prefer WSF for sim burn range w/ better metering than Unique.
 
Digisol said:
Best powder I found for the 45 acp was Red Dot, slightly more dirty than 231 but less snappy on the recoil and sheer brilliant for accuracy with the hard cast Lee TL-200g SWC, used kg's of the stuff in my Gold cup with no problems, might jam once in every 300 rounds, but show me any auto that don't jam sometimes. Only for paper punching out to just beyond 50 yards.
Click to expand...

I too am a very satisfied user of Red Dot in 45 apc.
I use 230 [my cast] on top of 4.9 grains of R D with aol of 1266 and mild crimp.
It runs thru kimbers ,colts ,x/d,and the R I's.
 
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