Well...clay dot freakin' rocks!

9mmSkeeter · January 23, 2015, 05:32 PM

Beautiful sunny 44 degrees here today and got a chance to go out and shoot. I have been cooped up doing reloading waiting for this day to test loads for a few weeks.

Clay dot has by far been my favorite. Among my loads tested were 9mm and 380 with various powders. Guns tested today are the Beretta PX4C, Smith 39-2, and Smith Bodyguard 380. Here's my scribbled research :

(Sorry for incomplete thoughts) :

"380 - autocomp 3.5 under 95 gr. acme lead bullet is winner
Titegroup 2.7 too spicy
Unique 4.0 spicier yet

9mm w. 115 gr - titegroup 4.0 is nice
Tula primers work good
Longshot 5.3 is a little spicy with Smith, great in PX
Z13 TiteGroup 3.7 124 gr. great in smith

115 gr berrys :

3.4 clay dot is most accurate in smith
3.0 is a good soft load for smith
Px4 choked on everything except 3.4
2.8, 2.9 did not cycle slide
3.0-3.3 stove piped

2.8 definitely too light, stove piped smith second time thru
3.3-3.4 seems to be most accurate
I really love this powder

Red dot is a hot powder. Not much difference across the spectrum but cycles reliably in px4 if a little snappy.
3.7 seems to be good because it cycled and used less powder. No accuracy difference. Try a little lighter load too.

Px4 likes 124 gr z13 better than 115 gr
Smith is the opposite
Both shoot fine. Try loading down the z13 a tenth of a grain or so. Maybe 3.5."

Z13 is what I call lucky 13's zombie 13 green bullets. Green polymer coated.

I may order more clay dot, it's only 17.99. The red dot I picked up I was not too impressed with. I'm getting lots of powder in my arsenal now, maybe 12 lbs now. I used to have maybe 1 or 2 on hand. I feel I'm getting obsessive?

mattL46 · January 23, 2015, 06:26 PM

I love shotgun/handgun powders. May I ask where you are ordering it?

Nick_C_S · January 23, 2015, 06:29 PM

"Spicy" ??

Glad you enjoyed your shoot - almost as fun as loading, isn't it?

9mmSkeeter · January 23, 2015, 08:01 PM

I picked some up at my local gun shop. They were limiting it to a couple lbs unfortunately but I got my limit of it and glad I did when I did. I really enjoy it. I wish I could say the same about red dot but maybe ill find a use for it.

And yep, "spicy" was the best way to describe it!! Had a bite to it!!

Nick_C_S · January 23, 2015, 08:08 PM

Quote:

I wish I could say the same about Red Dot but maybe ill find a use for it.

Old Timers with their 38 wadcutters like it. It behaves well with 45 ACP, 230g RN's too.

Spikey stuff though. It definitely prefers to reside in the shotgun realm.

January 23, 2015, 05:32 PM	#1
9mmSkeeter Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2014 Location: South Dakota Posts: 205	Well...clay dot freakin' rocks! Beautiful sunny 44 degrees here today and got a chance to go out and shoot. I have been cooped up doing reloading waiting for this day to test loads for a few weeks. Clay dot has by far been my favorite. Among my loads tested were 9mm and 380 with various powders. Guns tested today are the Beretta PX4C, Smith 39-2, and Smith Bodyguard 380. Here's my scribbled research : (Sorry for incomplete thoughts) : "380 - autocomp 3.5 under 95 gr. acme lead bullet is winner Titegroup 2.7 too spicy Unique 4.0 spicier yet 9mm w. 115 gr - titegroup 4.0 is nice Tula primers work good Longshot 5.3 is a little spicy with Smith, great in PX Z13 TiteGroup 3.7 124 gr. great in smith 115 gr berrys : 3.4 clay dot is most accurate in smith 3.0 is a good soft load for smith Px4 choked on everything except 3.4 2.8, 2.9 did not cycle slide 3.0-3.3 stove piped 2.8 definitely too light, stove piped smith second time thru 3.3-3.4 seems to be most accurate I really love this powder Red dot is a hot powder. Not much difference across the spectrum but cycles reliably in px4 if a little snappy. 3.7 seems to be good because it cycled and used less powder. No accuracy difference. Try a little lighter load too. Px4 likes 124 gr z13 better than 115 gr Smith is the opposite Both shoot fine. Try loading down the z13 a tenth of a grain or so. Maybe 3.5." Z13 is what I call lucky 13's zombie 13 green bullets. Green polymer coated. I may order more clay dot, it's only 17.99. The red dot I picked up I was not too impressed with. I'm getting lots of powder in my arsenal now, maybe 12 lbs now. I used to have maybe 1 or 2 on hand. I feel I'm getting obsessive? __________________ I kind of like weaponry. Last edited by 9mmSkeeter; January 23, 2015 at 05:45 PM.

January 23, 2015, 06:29 PM	#3
Nick_C_S Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2013 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,523	"Spicy" ?? Glad you enjoyed your shoot - almost as fun as loading, isn't it? __________________ Gun control laws benefit only criminals and politicians - but then, I repeat myself. Life Member, National Rifle Association

January 23, 2015, 08:01 PM	#4
9mmSkeeter Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2014 Location: South Dakota Posts: 205	I picked some up at my local gun shop. They were limiting it to a couple lbs unfortunately but I got my limit of it and glad I did when I did. I really enjoy it. I wish I could say the same about red dot but maybe ill find a use for it. And yep, "spicy" was the best way to describe it!! Had a bite to it!! __________________ I kind of like weaponry.

January 23, 2015, 06:26 PM	#2
mattL46 Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2013 Posts: 656	I love shotgun/handgun powders. May I ask where you are ordering it?