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February 12, 2000, 07:14 PM
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#1 |
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Member
Join Date: July 3, 1999
Posts: 93
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This is an update for those of you who helped me decide what press to buy. As a "newbie" I went into this new hobby of reloading knowing nothing! I did go with the Lee 35th Anniversary Kit (single stage press) and then purchased the Lee "Speed Die" for .45 ACP. Today I loaded up 5 rounds (just for test sake) with Bull-X LSWC bullets and 6.7 grains Hodgdon Universal Clays powder. I went back into the woods and set up a target (heart was pounding quickly by this time). I loaded up the Ruger P90 and...bang, bang, bang, bang, and bang!! Five rounds, no feeding or ignition problems. Ok, NOW I AM HOOKED! I think I'll try 6.9 grains next! Yee-Haw!
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February 12, 2000, 08:01 PM
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#2 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: March 11, 1999
Location: The Sunny South
Posts: 2,174
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mattfra, what grain bullet is that Bull-X? I've never used Clays powder but the Hodgdon book #26 list 4.9 grains as MAX for a 185 gr. JHP
Just curious, Hank |
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February 12, 2000, 09:30 PM
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#3 |
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Member
Join Date: January 22, 2000
Location: East Tenn
Posts: 20
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So what did your whole setup end up costing? I seem to remember you wanted to stay on the inexpensive side.
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February 12, 2000, 09:56 PM
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#4 |
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Staff
Join Date: March 20, 1999
Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia
Posts: 16,947
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Hank, I think you may be thinking of plain Clays, not Universal Clays. U. Clays is several slots down the burn rate chart from Clays. 6.9 grains sounds like a reasonable charge for UC.
I have often thought Hodgdon should not have made 3 distinctly different powders sound so similar - Clays, International Clays and Universal Clays. |
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February 12, 2000, 10:08 PM
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#5 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: December 31, 1999
Location: Middle Georgia, USA
Posts: 13,198
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Go, Mattfra!
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February 13, 2000, 02:14 AM
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#6 |
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Staff Alumnus
Join Date: February 23, 1999
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 4,272
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Mattfra, welcome to your new addiction.
 ------------------ "If your determination is fixed, I do not counsel you to despair. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance." -- Samuel Johnson |
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February 13, 2000, 09:05 AM
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#7 |
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Member
Join Date: July 3, 1999
Posts: 93
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HankL and others that replied,
Yeah, I forgot to mention what size bullet. It was 185 gr LSWC from Bull-X. The little Hodgdon Booklet that comes with the kit listed using a JSWC with 7.2 Universal Clays, so being a beginner and wanting to keep both eyes and 9 fingers, ah, I mean 10 fingers I backed it off a bit to 6.7gr. I paid $67.99 for the Lee 35th Anniv. Kit and $13.99 for the .45ACP speed die from MidwayUSA...no shipping/tax. So about $82 for the kit/die and 100bullets, primers, and 1lb of powder $41.50. A grand total of $124!! The kit comes with a priming hand tool, scale, sizing lube...etc. I just had to buy primers, bullets and powder. Their site is www.midwayusa.com I get their catalog every month. The kit is on sale for February through Feb 29. Thanks again to all for the encouragement and advice on reloading!! [This message has been edited by mattfra (edited February 13, 2000).] |
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February 14, 2000, 03:41 PM
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#8 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: December 5, 1999
Location: Seattle, Washington, USA
Posts: 1,686
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Universal is a real clean burning powder and I use it with my 230 grains at 5.7 grains per case. Medium speed powder. Little if any muzzle flash. I like it!
------------------ The Seattle SharpShooter |
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February 14, 2000, 11:05 PM
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#9 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: October 13, 1998
Location: N. of Fords Switch, OK, USA
Posts: 297
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I agree with Mal H regarding Hodgdon's naming of three distinct powders using the word "Clays" in each. I think that this may eventually contribute to an accident through simple failure of communication.
I strongly recommend listing the ADI numbers along with Hodgdon's names: Clays= AS30N International Clays= AS50N Universal Clays= AS70N and/or AP70N Bob |
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