The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old February 12, 2014, 04:03 PM   #1
BigJimP
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2005
Posts: 13,195
Anyone Tried Hodgdon Clays powder for 9mm

115 gr FMJ bullets..../ Hodgdon has published :

Minimum 3.7 grains .....1066 fps .....30,900 CUP
Maximum 3.9 grains......1095 fps ......32,600 CUP

If you have tried this load...how was it for consistency in terms of accuracy, clean or dirty, any cycling issues on your gun .... / the Min and Max is not far apart, but I know I can hold goal drop at 3.8 without much hassle.

Just wondering if anyone has tried it ...save me some work..../ give me some input. Thanks.

Added a note: ....Can't seem to find Hodgdon Universal or Tite Group right now ( which I prefer for 9mm - 115 grain FMJ)....I tried Hodgdon Longshot and I wasn't comfortable the way it was dispensing / and on lower end it would not cycle a 5" 1911 reliably which makes me wonder about the recipe / I tried Unique and its too bulky...../ and I have 16 lbs of Hodgdon Clays ( I use it in 12ga shotshells ).....and the recipe is published.

Last edited by BigJimP; February 12, 2014 at 04:09 PM.
BigJimP is offline  
Old February 12, 2014, 04:48 PM   #2
schmellba99
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 8, 2008
Posts: 803
Before I switched over to Universal, I dabbled in Clays.

I had a load with Billy Bullets (basically cast moly coated projos) that was 3.8 grains with a 115 round nose. Very solid load, I didn't have any issues with cycling or residue. I don't recall there being any unburned powder - just the normal light carbon residue associated with the Clays line.

Holding 3.8 wasn't hard - Clays meters very well. I was loading on a single stage at the time, I have never tried it on my progressive.

I will say that the load had a touch of smoke to it - nothing excessive by any stretch, but it was noticeable. Some folks won't like that aspect at all, but it didn't bother me for a range/target/punching holes in paper load.

I was shooting out of a Springfield XD9-SC, so possibly the short barrel had something to do with the little bit of smoke (I really don't know, never shot those loads in anything else to compare it to).
schmellba99 is offline  
Old February 12, 2014, 04:49 PM   #3
BigJimP
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2005
Posts: 13,195
Thanks .... I'll shoot it mostly in 5" 1911's ( some in a Sig 226 or Sig 239 )...and maybe a 4" 1911 once in a while ( all 9mm of course ).

But my 5" 1911 in 9mm...is my primary range gun for tactical practice...
BigJimP is offline  
Old February 12, 2014, 04:53 PM   #4
schmellba99
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 8, 2008
Posts: 803
Report back with how it does, I'm especially interested in the smoke.
schmellba99 is offline  
Old February 12, 2014, 04:59 PM   #5
BigJimP
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2005
Posts: 13,195
Ok, I'll do that ....

I shoot almost exclusively at indoor ranges ( I can't shoot lead bullets ) ....because they're too smoky ../.. range rules say jacketed ammo only....
BigJimP is offline  
Old February 12, 2014, 05:10 PM   #6
Drue
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 6, 2002
Location: New Orleans, La
Posts: 154
I have a stock of Clays for shotgun loading. Due to the powder situation, I have tried it pistols and it works very well. I have not used it in 9mm yet but have had good results with it in .40,.45 and .38Spl. The rounds shoot accurately and the powder burns clean with little smoke. 9mm is next.

Drue
Drue is offline  
Old February 12, 2014, 05:20 PM   #7
BigJimP
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2005
Posts: 13,195
Thanks
BigJimP is offline  
Old February 13, 2014, 08:33 PM   #8
mjes92
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 28, 2013
Location: Land of 10,000 taxes
Posts: 211
I plan to test the same load. I only took 6 months to find a jug of Hodgdon clays. It is my go to powders for .38 spl. A great plinking round and the cleanest burning power I have ever loaded. I disagree that it meters "very" well. Hornady meter or Dillon progressive. But it meters well enough. Please report back with your results.

Thanks
__________________
Dad !!! "It's only going to be perfect if you do it yourself." - my teenage daughter
Dad !!! "I'm not scared" My Cancer fighting daughter."
Cancer Sucks
NRA - Life Member
mjes92 is offline  
Old February 14, 2014, 12:47 PM   #9
BigJimP
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2005
Posts: 13,195
I tested 25 rounds ...last nite ....at 3.8 gr .../ book says its about 1080 fps.../ and it was a very soft shooting round. In fact it was so soft - that I was really cautious, making sure it fully operated the slide - and went to slide lock when mag was empty.

No smoke ( FMJ Montana Gold bullets, 115 gr )....

Accuracy was very good ( 1" groups at 30 Feet - no problem ).

I tested the rounds in a 5" 1911 ( Wilson Combat ) .....

Gun was dirty this am when I cleaned it ....but I fired 250 rds .../ with some rounds loaded with Universal and some with Longshot ...
------------
I'm going to load 250 more tonite at 3.9 grains ( so top end of published recipe ) - go to the range tomorrow and test them in the same 5" 1911,
a 4" 1911, a Sig 226 and a Sig 239 ..../ I expect to like them better at 3.9 grains but I will let you know.

And with just the one recipe going thru all 4 guns ....I'll be able to evaluate how clean they are....
BigJimP is offline  
Old February 14, 2014, 09:29 PM   #10
mjes92
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 28, 2013
Location: Land of 10,000 taxes
Posts: 211
Thanks for the range report. I look forward to chapter two.
__________________
Dad !!! "It's only going to be perfect if you do it yourself." - my teenage daughter
Dad !!! "I'm not scared" My Cancer fighting daughter."
Cancer Sucks
NRA - Life Member
mjes92 is offline  
Old February 16, 2014, 04:53 PM   #11
BigJimP
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2005
Posts: 13,195
Ok, folks ....test # 2....this afternoon.

Loaded 200 rds of 115gr Montana Gold, FMJ bullet.../ 3.9 grains Hodgdon Clays / Winchester small pistol primers.
Min is 3.7gr / 1066 fps / 30,900 CUP ...// Max 3.9gr / 1095 fps / 32,600 CUP
----------------
My primary load prior to this was Hodgdon Universal / Win small pistol primers and the same 115 gr Montana Gold FMJ bullet:
Min 4.5 Gr / 1029 fps / 27,400 CUP // Max 5.0gr, 1149 fps, 31,200 CUP
My old load was set at 4.7gr / about 1077 fps / estimated 29,000 CUP
----------------
What is interesting, is the max load using Clays is very soft shooting compared the old standby load I've been using with Universal.

3 of us at the range fired the old and the new loads...and we estimated at least 15% less recoil using the new load with Clays at the max. Muzzle blast is significantly less using Clays over Universal ( primary test gun we all used for the comparison of old to new cartridges - and how they felt - was an all stainless, 5" 1911 from Wilson Combat in 9mm). Other 2 shooters are range safety officers...shoot a lot of different guns ...

Pressure on the Clays is 32,600 cup vs estimated 29,000 CUP on the Universal for my old load. On the burn rate chart ...Clays is #10 / Universal is # 32 ...and it makes sense that the pressures were higher with Clays over Universal...and we know the velocity was higher with Clays....( but the Clays rounds shot softer ).....no change in my crimp settings, etc...same press, Dillon 650 ...
------------------
Tested 4 of my 9mm guns today with the old and new loads ...

Sig 226 all stainless ...
Sig 239 ...alloy frame...std model
Kimber Tactical Pro II model 1911, 4" barrel , alloy frame..
Wilson Combat 1911, 5" barrel, all stainless, Protector model.....

Clays meters well..../ it produces very little smoke / and the new load shot pretty clean in all 4 guns. All 4 guns function with no problems...slide lock was 100% ..despite the light feeling recoil. At the max, Clays is accurate...kept the same 1" group at 10 yds. I was able to hold a 2 1/2" group out to 15 yds ( but that's my eyes, not the gun ) ...the Wilson will shoot a 1" group at 25 yds...

We are estimating the Hodgdon Clays load -- is faster ( 1095 fps vs 1077 fps estimated for the Universal powder loads ) but we did not chrono the loads.
-----------------
I'd recommend you try Clays at the max ....3.9 grains ( but use it at a mid-point if you feel more comfortable at 3.8 grains ) ....and I'm going to keep loading it at 3.9gr / I have 16 lbs of Clays - and the only other thing I use Clays for is 12ga shotshells with 1 oz loads ...and I've switched powders on my 12ga shotshells using more 7/8 oz and some 3/4 oz loads..

Have a good weekend.

Last edited by BigJimP; February 16, 2014 at 05:00 PM.
BigJimP is offline  
Old February 18, 2014, 10:11 AM   #12
TfflHndn
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 26, 2013
Location: Gig Harbor WA
Posts: 160
I've also found Clays to be very soft-shooting in 9mm. I have loaded it with 3.7 and 3.8 grains behind a 115 gr Montana Gold FMJ. OAL was 1.10." Good load. I don't like the way it meters, so I only load Clays when I am in the mood to hand measure each load.
TfflHndn is offline  
Old April 19, 2014, 05:53 PM   #13
rc
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 28, 2001
Location: CA
Posts: 1,739
Universal Clays is better for 9mm and Clays is better in 45 due to the pressure range of each cartridge..
rc is offline  
Old April 19, 2014, 06:14 PM   #14
1stmar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 21, 2012
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 2,378
I shoot clays in 45acp, you're right very soft, try heavier bullets... Even softer. I'm using 250 fp it almost spoils you.
1stmar is offline  
Old April 20, 2014, 11:06 AM   #15
Rifletom
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 11, 2011
Location: So-Cal
Posts: 786
I use "Clays" in my SA .45acp with 200gr JHP and 230grLRN, 95%LRN. It is a very good powder indeed! Easy recoil, clean and accurate. Pretty good combo.
Also use it in .38spl. Same results. If you have 16lb of Clays, that is gonna last you a loooong time.
Rifletom is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:21 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.05957 seconds with 8 queries