Old Shotgun Powder

[packeagle]

I got deep into Skeet shooting in my early teens. Started to reload to save money. Got tired of bad crimps on cheap hulls so I stocked up on 2,000 AA, as well as all the reloads I had built up. I began teaching at a scout camp and enjoyed free shooting while employed. I've gotten to into pistols now, and I have left over shotgun powder. I can find data to load .40s&w for some, but not others.

Here's what I have:
SR7625
Clays Extra Clean
International Clays

I know the international probably wont work for pistol cartridges, but is there any reason not to load the other two?

I'll be pushing Berrys 180gr FP out of Winchester brass with CCI primers.

 

[FishingPilot]

Hodgdon reloading site has recipes for 7625 for 180 gr FP. Just look it up.
Hodgdon Reloading Data. Load some up and check the accuracy. If that works for you then no reason not to use it.

 

[packeagle]

Thanks, I'll load some up and see how they do.

Any data for clays? The Extra clean says it's a Shotgun and Pistol Powder. Figured out it's on the same page as above.

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[scooter123]

I use SR7625 in my 40 and 45 ACP range loads and it works great for soft shooting range loads. It shoots clean with low flash and produces less muzzle flip than Unique. BTW, I have loaded with most brands of 180 grain flat points in the 40 caliber and 5.4 grains of SR7625 will get you a predictable 950-960 fps out of a Sig P229. I also tried it in 38 special and found it was extremely position sensitive in the 38 special case so it's NOT suitable for revolver loads. Some bad news is Hodgdon has announced they will be cancelling SR7625 at the end of 2014 so I plan on stocking up this year.

As for your Clay's, there you'll run into questions marks. Because all Hodgdon lists is Clay's with no distinguishing between Extra Clean and International. You may need to tread softly with Clay's and work your loads up carefully.

 

[packeagle]

Does it matter that my SR7625 is marked DuPont?

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[Bkreutz]

Does it matter that my SR7625 is marked DuPont?

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No, DuPont was the parent company for IMR (I use 7625 for 9mm, not my first choice, but in these times.........)

 

[rsrocket1]

packeagle,
Hodgdon sells 3 powders based on "Clays" technology. They are actually made in Australia by ADI and sold by Hodgdon here in the states. Clays (AS30N) is the fastest powder, International (aka "International Clays", AS50N/AP50N) is slightly slower and Universal ("Universal Clays", AP70N) is the slowest. Hodgdon added confusion to reloaders by putting the word "Clays" in the name of all three powders.

Clays is a great shotgun powder for light loads (I love it for 3/4 oz 12 gauge skeet loads) because it builds up pressure quickly without needing a heavy payload to hold it back. The same holds for handgun loads. Clays is good for low speed/low recoil loads. I used 3.0g under a 180g bullet for mid-high 700 fps muzzle velocity loads that make the M&P40 feel like an M&P9. Now that I have a 9mm barrel, I simply shoot 9mm bullets if I want that feeling. If you are going to use Clays, stay around 3-3.5g and you'll be safe. 4.0g is getting too high in peak pressures so don't go above that.

Universal is Hodgdon's direct competition to Alliant's Unique powder. The load data is very similar and performance is also similar. The advantage of Universal is that it burns more completely even when slightly/moderately loaded underpressured. It's still smokey when underloaded, but unlike Unique, it won't leave a bunch of unburned flakes and soot. The disadvantage of Universal is that it costs more than Unique.

International is in between Clays and Universal in terms of speed. It is primarily meant for shotgun loading and there is not much pistol load data available from the manufacturer. International is AS50N and ADI makes a powder called AP50N which is the same but meant for pistols because the powder grains are smaller and easier to measure in small quantities, but they don't sell AP50N in the US (but you can use AP50N load data as a starting point if you find it).

Don't throw out the International because it can be used for handgun loads, you'll just need to do a little more research on the net for loads and be sure to start low and work up.

As it stands right now, you'll find it hard to buy any of the Clays type powders unless it's old stock so hang on to what you have.

Hope that clears things up.

 

[jtcarm]

That Clays Extra Clean is worthless, lemme take it off your hands.