Clay"DOT" and 45 Colt/Cowboy experience

mehavey · November 4, 2015, 11:03 AM

I've done a quick Google on the use of ClayDOT as a direct substitute
for Clays(noDot) in cowboy-level 45 Colt.

So far I've gotten:
- "It's a direct substitute" to...
- Alliant-has-not tested/therefore-doesn't-recommend-it in metallic cartridges.

Before I get the measure-for-measure risk manual out and pair it up to my
Oehler for a work-up, does anyone have any direct experience w/ ClayDOT and
45 Colt under their belt?

sawdustdad · November 4, 2015, 04:52 PM

I'm working up a load for .45Colt now. Have not fired any over the chrono yet, though. I think (IIRC) the loads are 3.5g, 4.0g, 4.5g. 200g bullet. I've loaded both Clays and Clay Dot and intend to do a comparison. (actually, have some loads with 700x and Red Dot as well in the mix.)

May be a week or more before I get a chance to test. Using a 5.5inch Ruger Vaquero (Bisley).

I understand Clay Dot to be a substitute for Clays, though it's a little denser and my square deal drops .1 to .2 grains more of the Dot than the Clays at close to 4g.

With 1 lb of Clays on hand, I bought 5 lbs of Clay Dot, only to score an 8 lb keg of Clays the following week. Hence the curiosity...

FITASC · November 4, 2015, 07:09 PM

The volumes between the two are different even if the load weight data is the same; this is true for shotgun reloading especially using these two powders.

sawdustdad · November 20, 2015, 06:27 PM

Finally got a chance to shoot some of my test loads of Clays, Clay Dot and Red Dot in .45Colt. All rounds were new Starline brass, CCI LP primers, and Missouri bullet Co,. 200g RNFP Hi Tek coated Brinel 12 "cowboy" bullets, healthy crimp in the crimp groove on the bullets. Didn't measure COL. Ruger New Vaquero Bisley, 5.5 inch barrel. Temp about 55 deg. F. RCBS "bullet shaped" chronograph.

Following results from 10 round strings.

Load ; Min/Max fps; Avg fps; E.S.; SD
4.5g Clays; 445/561; 511; 116; 31
4.0 clays; 456/529; 480; 73; 22;
4.5 clay dot; 505/659; 598; 154; 45;
4.1 clay dot; 534/604; 564; 70; 22;
3.5 clay dot; 378/548; 481; 170; 44
4.0 red dot; 511/589; 554; 78; 23
3.5 red dot 458/522; 482; 64; 17

I'm liking the 3.5 Red Dot load results. Will do some more testing to see if consistency holds up.

Clearly, the Clay Dot loads are hotter than the Clays loads for the same charge. That's a little surprising considering they are supposed to be "the same" Not so much based on this very limited test.

1100 tac · November 20, 2015, 11:37 PM

Hard to fool the chrono...thanks.

mehavey · November 23, 2015, 07:34 AM

"Looks" to be about a 10% less Clay-DOT [as compared to Clays] for comparable
performance/pressure in that regime for that cartridge family.

I'll RuleOfThumb_It for the refrigerator magnets to that effect.

November 4, 2015, 11:03 AM	#1
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,894	Clay"DOT" and 45 Colt/Cowboy experience I've done a quick Google on the use of ClayDOT as a direct substitute for Clays(noDot) in cowboy-level 45 Colt. So far I've gotten: - "It's a direct substitute" to... - Alliant-has-not tested/therefore-doesn't-recommend-it in metallic cartridges. Before I get the measure-for-measure risk manual out and pair it up to my Oehler for a work-up, does anyone have any direct experience w/ ClayDOT and 45 Colt under their belt?

November 4, 2015, 07:09 PM	#3
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,446	The volumes between the two are different even if the load weight data is the same; this is true for shotgun reloading especially using these two powders. __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

November 4, 2015, 04:52 PM	#2
sawdustdad Senior Member Join Date: August 2, 2014 Location: Virginia Posts: 484	I'm working up a load for .45Colt now. Have not fired any over the chrono yet, though. I think (IIRC) the loads are 3.5g, 4.0g, 4.5g. 200g bullet. I've loaded both Clays and Clay Dot and intend to do a comparison. (actually, have some loads with 700x and Red Dot as well in the mix.) May be a week or more before I get a chance to test. Using a 5.5inch Ruger Vaquero (Bisley). I understand Clay Dot to be a substitute for Clays, though it's a little denser and my square deal drops .1 to .2 grains more of the Dot than the Clays at close to 4g. With 1 lb of Clays on hand, I bought 5 lbs of Clay Dot, only to score an 8 lb keg of Clays the following week. Hence the curiosity...

November 20, 2015, 11:37 PM	#5
1100 tac Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2012 Posts: 299	Hard to fool the chrono...thanks.

November 23, 2015, 07:34 AM	#6
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,894	"Looks" to be about a 10% less Clay-DOT [as compared to Clays] for comparable performance/pressure in that regime for that cartridge family. I'll RuleOfThumb_It for the refrigerator magnets to that effect.