[Jason Wells]

I have used Red Dot for years in my shotgun target loads. So I used it in my .45 loads as well. I have known for a while that Clays was a cleaner burning powder but didn't want to make the switch for several reasons, the greatest of which was "LAZY". When it came time to buy new reloading supplies, (in bulk) I finally made the switch. Yep, burns cleaner.

Hodgdon makes three different types of Clays; Clays, Clays Universal and Clays International. When I say Clays I mean plain ole Clays.

So finally my question. Which is your favorite Hodgdon load, and why? Thanks for your patience, sorry.

 

[imashooter2]

I'm using Red Dot right now and it spews unburned powder all over. How much cleaner is Clays? Still get unburned powder, just not as much, or is all powder consumed?

I have about 5 pounds of Red Dot left and don't want to switch unless the change is dramatic.

 

[shane45-1911]

Red-dot is the CLEANEST powder I have used in .45 ACP. Are you guys using the new Alliant Red-dot, or the old Hercules Red-dot?

Red-dot is much cleaner since Alliant took over.

 

[imashooter2]

I'm shooting the old Hercules stuff.

My brother and I were shooting a lot of light 12 gauge target loads when the Hercules plant blew up (13, 15, more?) years ago. My brother ran out and bought a couple of 8 pound kegs of the stuff and I bought a few pounds too. Well times change and my brother and I don't shoot much 12 any more. In fact my brother doesn't shoot at all and he gave me his last keg a couple years ago.

Seems it takes me a while to burn up 8 pounds of powder 4 grains at a time.

Anyway, a cheap guy like me certainly can't justify buying more Red Dot. But a pound or two of Clays... now that could be worked.

 

[Jason Wells]

imashooter2, Alliant did clean-up its act. The old, Red Dot, Green Dot, unique, etc, would leave unburnt flakes of powder just as you describe. Now its just black soot. Not withstanding, Clays is a LOT cleaner yet.

[This message has been edited by Jason Wells (edited 07-25-2001).]

 

[CCV]

For a light target load try 3.5 grains of Clays under a 200 grain lead SWC. This is a soft shooting and accurate load (but it is light).

Fro a little more power, or if you need more to cycle the action, try 4.0 grains.

Both of these loads work well for me.

 

[Gargoyle]

I compared Clays to Tightgroup and Clays is definitely cleaner. A dramatic difference! You can tell just by the casings that Clays is cleaner. However Clays runs slower and is listed to have higher pressures than Tightgroup.

200gr Hornady FMJ combat target with Starline brass out of a 4" Kimber CDP:
4.5 Clays ran at 750-770 FPS
5.8 Tightgroup ran 870-890 FPS

Clays had a "just noticable difference" concerning recoil, a little lighter.
Shooting at 7-15 yds, no seen difference in accuracy between the two.
I'll put clays down to 4 and use it as the ammunition for friends and women. Any lower and my gun barely ejects the cases out of the gun.
I like to use the Tightgroup to come as close as possible for what I shoot for duty rounds.