Anyone using Hodgdon Clays in .357 and .44?

SLT223 · Sep 11, 2017

I never hear too much about Clays here. I assume it's due to the light charge weights and spiky nature toward its top end. Nevertheless, I love this powder. It was all I had when I started reloading a few years ago. One sure lasted a while! It makes wonderful light recoil range ammo, and is very clean when launching Xtreme plated slugs. Any other fans of Hodgdon Clays out there? I load 3.8-4.0 in .357 with 158gr plated SWC and 5.0gr under 200gr plated RNFP in .44 Mag brass.

Forrest r · Sep 12, 2017

Not had picked/cherry picked targets by any means.

Was testing different bullets using clays/44mag brass/629. Put a scope on the 629 and this is the target I used to sighted it in.

Was aiming at the right target, shot 3 shots & saw the holes were way left and low. Moved the crosshairs over and up and shot 3 more shots. The holes were high left of center, good. Shot the left target (6-shots) testing the load/245gr swc hp & 6.0gr of clays.

6.0gr to 6.5gr of clays in the 44mag cases does evtremely well with bullets in the 200gr to 250gr range.

I typically use 5.0gr of clays with the same bullets pictured above in the 44spl cases.

Big Cholla · Sep 12, 2017

Yes, I use "Clays" in all straight wall pistol cases; 38 Spec, 9 mm, 357 Mag, 41 Mag and 44 mag. Works just as you described. ......

Calliope · Sep 13, 2017

Clays was my primary powder when I shot IHMSA Field Pistol. A light load of Clays in 357 brass with a Hornady 140 LFP 'cowboy' bullet was my primary load. Low recoil and high accuracy out to 100 yards in my single shot pistols.

StakeOut · Sep 13, 2017

I've only used 2.3gr Clays in 38spl loads under 148gr HBWC for target shooting with a 15-6.

Westie1 · Sep 14, 2017

Never tried it in those calibers. However, back in the day when I was shooting USPSA limited it was my go to powder. My gunsmith put me on to a load for the 45ACP he built for me. Used a hard cast 250gr rnfp with enough Clays to make a 180PF. Major at that time had a 175PF minimum. Load was soft enough to run an 11lb recoil spring.

daniel lawecki · Sep 14, 2017

I used a lot of clays till powder dried up. One nice powder but low to max charge was tight.

jejb · Sep 15, 2017

I used to shoot a LOT of trap, so stock piled Clays, as it was my favorite 12ga load. I no longer shoot much trap, so was happy to find loads with Clay's for my 40 S&W's and my 44 mag. I'm very happy with the powder in those two calibers. I'll be shooting it a long time as I have something like 8lbs still to go through!

Anyone using Hodgdon Clays in .357 and .44?

SLT223

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Forrest r

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Big Cholla

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Calliope

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StakeOut

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Westie1

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daniel lawecki

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jejb

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