DWFAN Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 So.. I'm curious. Can you really NOT make MAJOR with Clays and .40 (180gr) safely ? Sierra posts a SHORT .40 Major load with Clays and Jacketed 180gr. (950 fps in my 1 book 1 caliber book) I second handedly know of one Limited gun Mfr that suggests Clays.. for Major. So, I'm just wondering what the hooplah is about. I know Clays is prone to pressure spike's, and can get nasty in a hurry. Is it bad brass, or unsupported chambers that cause the problems ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark R Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 (edited) You can and I do for my Para 40, but you have to load them long...won't work in short OAL such as those for Glock length. I use 4.0 gr at 1.180" OAL in a Para SX-16 .40. Yields about 169 PF. (Edited to add: 185 gr moly bullet for this load) DO NOT USE CLAYS with SHORT OAL. You will blow case heads off...I know by experience and it was not fun. Edited November 9, 2011 by Mark R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twodownzero Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Why risk it? Solo feels the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark R Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I have Solo 1000 and Clays for 40...Clays feels softer to me in my Para. I use Solo for short OAL when reloading major for Glocks. But then, that's what I feel. Everyone is different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDPMatt Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I've thought about trying it Jeremy but I use Clays in my .45's and it's nasty, smoky and not that soft so I figure I'll stay with my smoky TG. I tried Solo 1K too and can't stand the inconsistency of it. I also shot N320 at the Gator and liked it behind BBI 180gr's but I can't find any more now. Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWFAN Posted November 10, 2011 Author Share Posted November 10, 2011 (edited) I'm not really planning on trying it yet, I'm just wondering how "unsafe" it really is. Especially with Sierra listing what I remember is 5gr (I'll have to check tonight) and a 180jhp loaded to 1.135. Edited November 10, 2011 by DWFAN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark R Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I don't know that I would load 5.0 gr of Clays at 1.135 OAL...you're looking for disaster. I load 4.0 at 1.180 and it's major PF...1.135 will certainly test your brass....not to mention your sphincter muscles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWFAN Posted November 10, 2011 Author Share Posted November 10, 2011 I don't know that I would load 5.0 gr of Clays at 1.135 OAL...you're looking for disaster. I load 4.0 at 1.180 and it's major PF...1.135 will certainly test your brass....not to mention your sphincter muscles. Lead or jacketed ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDPMatt Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Luckily I load to 1.20" so I might think on it.... I also like WST though it does get pretty hot this time of year and saw a casehead give way a few weeks back on a team mate's gun (Glock length). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark R Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Lead or jacketed ? I now load Precision moly, but started out with lead. Same numbers with Chrono. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWFAN Posted November 10, 2011 Author Share Posted November 10, 2011 I cant stand temperature sensitivity, which is why I even consider Clays. I like it in .45 with Moly bullets. I'll have some more good numbers on how sensitive Solo, TG (not much), and WST are here in the next month or so. I'm just to lazy to change my load during the year. If TG smokes less than Solo/BBI's with these bayou bullets, then my connundrum may be solved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougCarden Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I said the same thing years ago. I tried CLAYS with lead 180s. Really soft, kinda accurate, and smoked bad. Read some more. Shot 200s for awhile with CLAYS. Loaded up jacketed 200s with 310 since it has more of a linear curve and you know about pressure before you have problems. Blew a case of good brass at the Nationals ......Found out Jarrett blew a case at Nationals as well at some point. You know what......what the other guys had posted was very accurate. CLAYS is great for 45 and minor loads. It does not have a linear pressure curve. You won't know when it is too late. Try em if you want, but a lot of guys have tried it, had problems, and post why. Let us know your results.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunther Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I have shot over a 1k rnds in the last year using clays with 180gr lead. All were oal 1.135, most were shot through a G35 too. I didnt know there was a issue with clays or I would'nt have even bought it. I got this load out of a reloading manual too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark R Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I have shot over a 1k rnds in the last year using clays with 180gr lead. All were oal 1.135, most were shot through a G35 too. I didnt know there was a issue with clays or I would'nt have even bought it. I got this load out of a reloading manual too! Were you shooting Major or Minor power factor...my guess would be minor. And yes, that is ok. The problem arises when you load Clays to major PF with short OAL. Minor in G35 is like cheating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKT1106 Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I just bought Clays try for 40 minor. After opening the can, I see why they only get 14oz in it. Almost overflowed when I opened it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the duck of death Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 4gr Clays, 180 MG, OAL 1.145, shot in Glocks w/KKM barrels. Shot 50K of them w/no problem. When I was doing recoil tests N320 was best Clays was close behind. Clays is cheaper and easier to find. Didn't know clays was to be avoided for major 'till I read it here. I'm still shooting it, will post when the gun blows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWFAN Posted November 10, 2011 Author Share Posted November 10, 2011 4gr Clays, 180 MG, OAL 1.145, shot in Glocks w/KKM barrels. Shot 50K of them w/no problem. When I was doing recoil tests N320 was best Clays was close behind. Clays is cheaper and easier to find. Didn't know clays was to be avoided for major 'till I read it here. I'm still shooting it, will post when the gun blows. What PF does that make ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the duck of death Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 (edited) 168 I'm on my way out the back door to shoot some more--wish me luck. Edited November 10, 2011 by the duck of death Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anilson Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Clays will work for Major if everything is working just right. One problem will be a big problem. Be extra careful with clays and make sure you bullets are not in danger of setback. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark R Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Clays will work for Major if everything is working just right. One problem will be a big problem. Be extra careful with clays and make sure you bullets are not in danger of setback. +1 And if you purchase and shoot once-fired brass, watch the brass around the head, especially around the extractor groves. When I was blowing heads off cases, I investigated each and every case with a magnifying glass (long and tedious operation) before reloading them. I noticed some had small minor cracks. Discarding those, I thought I was fairly safe, but on occasion one would get by and BOOOM...head/case separation. That's when I decide short OAL and Clays do not mix. Like anilson says...one problem will eventually come and it will be BIG. Been there, done that, threw the undershorts away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poppa Bear Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 I am loading 4.0 gr of Clays at 1.145 behind a Precision 185 with a PF of 168 to 172 (depending on the chrono doing the measuring) out of a G35. Have not blown one yet, but then I have not blown a case with any load I have used yet. As long as the brass appears to be in good shape I am not sweating it to much. Pretty much any case that already has cracks will give you problems no matter what the powder is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunther Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 (edited) I have shot over a 1k rnds in the last year using clays with 180gr lead. All were oal 1.135, most were shot through a G35 too. I didnt know there was a issue with clays or I would'nt have even bought it. I got this load out of a reloading manual too! Were you shooting Major or Minor power factor...my guess would be minor. And yes, that is ok. The problem arises when you load Clays to major PF with short OAL. Minor in G35 is like cheating. I was getting around 928fps with 4.0gr of Clays with oal 1.135. It barely makes Major but that was the whole point of using it! The plated bullets won't do it they run 20-30fps slower, I use the moly-coated lead bullets only, and these are the only lead bullets I use in a glock barrel. Maybe the slippery moly coat bullets keep the pressure down enough, but I don't know! I got this load out of Lyam's reloading book. Your results may vary! Edited November 11, 2011 by gunther Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the duck of death Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 *QUOTE* Be extra careful with clays and make sure you bullets are not in danger of setback. Isn't that a problem w/any powder shooting 180gr major 40SW? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin c Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 (edited) post deleted for now - server ate most of it, and no time to reconstruct. Edited December 2, 2011 by kevin c Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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