"Clays"...?

hayseed

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I've come to realize why “Clays” is seemingly not a very popular powder for use when reloading handgun cartridges. It's flat disk-like configuration causes it to bridge in my drop tubes, bind up my powder measure, clog those nifty foam wipers and in general, just not be fun to work with. However, I've got six pounds of the stuff (left-over from my shotgun days) and that roughly translates to 12K charges for the .38 spl load I've worked up using “Clays”. The powder is clean enough and the load is accurate enough for my needs, but I'm not really keen on the idea of dipping powder from a cereal bowl onto the pan of my scales for the next twelve thousand rounds.

This powder didn't seem to cause any problems when reloading shotshells on a progressive machine...

If anyone else (I fully understand that I might be out here all by myself on this one...) uses “Clays” for handgun loads I'd be interested in any measuring/metering tips you'd care to pass along. Thanks!

Hayseed
 
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hayseed:

I've been using Clays in 9mm, 38 Special, 44 Magnum and 45 ACP for years now without any problem. I use it in a Dillon RL1050 progressive and test the weight five times before proceeding.

I don't know what to recommend. It seems some people have problems with Clays and some don't. Practically everyone in my area uses it for handgun and shotgun both.
 
I use it for shotshells in a Mec Grabber and for 38 Specials using an RCBS powder measure.

No problem with either one.

We can't find any Clays around here and are hearing of a severe shortage so you could probably sell what you have.

Glenn
 
Good freind of mine uses it for Bullseye in his .357.. 2.7gn..148DEWC..almost flush.

He has had good luck with it, I hate it, for your reasons (bridging). I would occasionaly try to load for him on my progressive and never could get consistent powder drops.

I guess its about like Unique.. If you go under a certain grain of powder, it becomes inconsistent measure.
 
I am using "clays" for my 45 ACP and .40 S&W loads. I am reloading on a Dillon 650. It is set up so that I can visually inspect* each case for powder before seating the bullet.

no problem so far.

* overhead tracking lighting shining directly into the cases.
 
Clays works for me

I use Clays for 45ACP using a Dillon powder measure. No problems with bridging. In the past I have used it for 38 Spl, also using a Dillon measure. No problems there either.

What kind of measure are you using?
 
Powder for 12K............ sounds like you have a some work ahead of you
 
I use Clays for .45, .38, and 9mm. Works great in all three for light to medium target loads. I have a Dillon 550, and the metering is spot on. Doesn't vary buy 1/10th of a grain. The problem is not necessarily Clays as much as your powder measure doesn't like it. If you are loading in the light to medium pressure ranges, Clays offers several advantages, enough so that is might be worth getting a different powder measure since you have so much of it on hand.
 
Hey all,

Thanks for your responses. I appreciate the input!

I had been trying to meter “Clays” through an RCBS powder measure but it bound up as I suspect it tried to shear the little disks of powder. I have the parts to convert my progressive loader to work .38spl., but it's running so well with the .45ACP set up I don't want to tinker with it. I don't mind the time spent single stage reloading other than it may cause some conflict with my after-lunch naps. Nevertheless, it would be nice to move beyond the cereal bowl routine.

I'm fixin' to see if I can get a Lee disk type measure to drop an accurate charge, then, go from there. If that doesn't work, I'll need to spring for a different measure/machine. I'm kinda anxious about what's happening with cartridge components right now, therefore, somewhat reserve about spending the $$ for Dillon equip.

Thanks again everyone,

Hayseed
 
Do you have the small rotor drum in your RCBS powder measure?
If not, there's your problem.
 
Clays

I use Clays in 38 special. 3.2 grains with a 158 grain LSWC in a 38 special case with a WSP primer. This is pushing +p but it works very well in my 357 magnum.

A Lee 0.5cc dipper drops this amount very consistently. It may pay to get a set of these if you don't have them already. If you're using less you can always shorten the dipper by sanding down the open end of it.

All the Best,
D. White
 
No Clays in Auto rounds!

Clays is a good powder for the 38spl when shot from a revolver. Something with a fully supported chamber.

It's not going to find it's way into any semi-auto cartridge that I load!

:eek:
 
C'mon Skip. Everybody I know who reloads light target 45 ACP, and I do mean everybody, uses Clays. It works great. No problems. Mostly Dillon users, a couple Lee users, and one RCBS user. No blown guns.
 
To each his own!

C'mon Skip. Everybody I know who reloads light target 45 ACP, and I do mean everybody, uses Clays. It works great. No problems. Mostly Dillon users, a couple Lee users, and one RCBS user. No blown guns.

I'm not making any statement about what other's do. I'm speaking strictly for and about me.

Maybe, just maybe, I would use it in a low pressure round like the 45ACP. If I shot it in my M625JM, sure.

Call me "gun shy" if you want but, one KB in the higher pressure rounds is enough for me. Pressure curve is just too steep. A little bit over at the higher pressures causes big problems. Like I said, just me.
 
I'm not making any statement about what other's do. I'm speaking strictly for and about me.

Maybe, just maybe, I would use it in a low pressure round like the 45ACP. If I shot it in my M625JM, sure.

Call me "gun shy" if you want but, one KB in the higher pressure rounds is enough for me. Pressure curve is just too steep. A little bit over at the higher pressures causes big problems. Like I said, just me.

There is a lot of information on another thread (IDPA for example) about using "CLAYS"

There are warning about using "Clays" in high presure rounds especialty when loading to the "MAX" and a lots of kudos about using "Clays" in low presure rds including light loads in the High Presure rounds IE: .40 S&W round.

I view "Clays" usage much like I do bullseye. A little bit will do just fine and a lot will do "YOU".

As always use your selected powder and mix in some common sense and the KB's won't happen.

I use "Clays" for target loads in my 45 ACP, 45 Schofields and my .40 S&W's. and usually shoot around 15,000-20,000 rds a year. No KB's yet.
 
C'mon Skip. Everybody I know who reloads light target 45 ACP, and I do mean everybody, uses Clays. It works great. No problems. Mostly Dillon users, a couple Lee users, and one RCBS user. No blown guns.
We must travel in diff. circles as I know few that use Clays. Seems TG has a bigger following & my fav. is WST. Clays gets real squirrely near the top end & have seen pressure spikes running that way. Not for me, WST is far more foregiving, runs great at low pressure or near the top end too w/o pressure spikes. I tried Clays in 9mm too & that is where I found it "spikey" running in a higher rpessure range than any 45acp. There really are better powders, leave it for the SG crowd.
 
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I don't know anyone who uses or recommends Clays or other similar fast burning powders for "max" or full power loads in handguns. Somewhat slower powders are much better suited for such loads and would probably yield better results anyway.

Looking over Hodgdon's latest reloading handout indicates Hodgdon intends Clays to be used in target applications with handguns. I would take that to mean bullseye shooting or informal practice and not full power loads. The manual talks about Clays being useful in shotgun shooting and then states "These features transfer directly to handgun applications where target shooting is the main goal. 45 ACP and 38 Special are only two of the cartridges in which Clays provides "tack driving" accuracy with flawless functioning."

I don't think Clays is any more prone to a problem than any other similar fast burning powder such as Red Dot, 700X, Bullseye and Titegroup, just to name a few. I believe that if one remains within the recommend load range for Clays published by Hodgdon there won't be any problem.
 
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