tiger49931 Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 scored 16 LBS of clays for use in my 45 bear creek 230's but was looking for a load for my 40 and bear creek 180's major and minor Or just a high low range if you have it. i can do my ladder from there .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmbaccolyte Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Congratulations on scoring the Clays! I love it, burns clean and has mild recoil. We're not talking International Clays or Universal Clays- just straight Clays, right? Try 3.0 grains of Clays with the 180 grain bullets at an O.A.L. of 1.125" or longer for minor power loads. Most of the experienced guys avoid Clays in major power loads unless your overall cartridge length is closer to 10mm length (1.26") than .40 S&W, because its considered too fast a powder and too close to the ragged edge for safety. Hogdgon lists maximum as 3.5 grains at about 850 fps (with a jacketed bullet) at 34,000psi. My math shows that's only 153pf, so you can see why most guys avoid it for major at .40 S&W cartridge lengths. The pressure peak at 10mm cartridge lengths seems to be low enough to be practical, but even then most guys still avoid it for major power levels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiger49931 Posted March 5, 2013 Author Share Posted March 5, 2013 ok then what powder would be better i have a few LBS of wst that i was gonna use for my 9MM loads. i can keep my clays for my 45. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiger49931 Posted March 5, 2013 Author Share Posted March 5, 2013 I find it a little wierd the 40 sw 180 grain factory load according to wikipedia is 1050 fps which is well over the 916 needed for Major PF and well beyond what is needed for 125k minor. So why would people have such a hard time making major with 40 sw when its a natural? Or is that just because of the clays powder, and there is a better powder out there for this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noexcuses Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 (edited) clays is a great powder for minor in 40S&W but burns to fast for major, uness you load it long. (I like it for 9mm also but load it out to 1.15") Edited March 6, 2013 by noexcuses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiger49931 Posted March 9, 2013 Author Share Posted March 9, 2013 Thank you all for the information Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MustangGreg66 Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 I shot it minor in my glock for production. 3.3gr Clays with the 180gr Bear Creeks at 1.135" OAL. Great minor load. I have switched to a 34 for production and load Solo 1000 for the 9mm and 40 major for limited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2MoreChains Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 Here are some of my loads with the 180 gr FPs from Bear Creek: Major (170-ish PF): 4.6 gr VV N-320, 1.180" OAL 4.8 gr WST, 1.180" Minor (135-ish PF): 2.9 gr Clays, 1.180" if I'm shooting it in my STI's or 1.140" if in my Glock 35 I'm not brave enough to use Clays in .40 major loads... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmbaccolyte Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 ok then what powder would be better i have a few LBS of wst that i was gonna use for my 9MM loads. i can keep my clays for my 45. WST works great for major in the .40. Hogdgon's reloading data website lists max velocity as 888fps with a jacketed bullet @ an OAL of 1.125" and with the Bear Creeks you might make major with their listed maximum load, because jacketed bullets tend to be slower. Get (or borrow) a chronograph and work up from say 4.0 grains of WST or so at your OAL and in your gun (other guns may differ and shorter OALs will differ and can cause severe problems). Happy reloading and take care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulm540 Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 2.9 to 3.0 clays with bear creek. Gun is a 35. Very soft load. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulm540 Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 Anybody know if bear creek is accepting any orders. Most of the moly coated manufacturers are not accepting any orders right now until they get caught up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiger49931 Posted March 18, 2013 Author Share Posted March 18, 2013 ya they are i just ordered 3k 9mm and 2k 40sw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noexcuses Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 (edited) Anybody know if bear creek is accepting any orders. Most of the moly coated manufacturers are not accepting any orders right now until they get caught up. placed an order for 1500 180gr .40's and 1500 125gr 9mm's on 3/6 and they said they were in stock but still have not recieved them yet. . Edited March 19, 2013 by noexcuses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulm540 Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 Thanks, Finally got a hold of him and ordered bullets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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