v1911 Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 Like many of you, I love Clays. Load it for 9mm, .40 S&W and .45ACP. Unfortunately the current reloading climate (and a factory fire) has really put a hurt on powder selection. So when I began to run low on Clays, I read up on ClayDot. Was able to acquire a few pounds just as my supply of Clays dried up. Had a chance to compare two loads to really see for myself if they were in fact identical to each other. Test Bullet: Bayou Bullets 147gr FN Test Gun: Gans Gun 2011 5" 9mm Clays 2.8gr. 1.150 OAL 856 906 896 894 873 Avg. 892fps 131PF ClayDot 2.8gr 1.145 OAL 859 881 887 887 889 Avg. 880fps 129PF It could be the small test sample, but it would appear that ClayDot is a perfect replacement for Clays. Increasing the charge to 3.0gr yielded a miniscule difference in fps. Reducing the OAL to 1.115 also had no impact in fps. ClayDot 3.0gr 1.145 OAL 897 889 890 879 882 Avg. 887 130PF ClayDot 3.0gr. 1.115 OAL 881 880 885 878 949 - discarded from results Avg. 881 129PF Again, just a small test sample but I do like that ClayDot seems to be more consistent shot to shot than Clays. These were my results, YMMV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowenbuilt Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 This is very good information. I would have thought that shortening up your OAL That much would have caused an increase in pressure and velocity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LikesToShoot Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 Thanks for the report. I was going to jump on the next Clay DoT I came across based on what I had read too. In your first sample why did you change the COL between the two powders? Was the brass, bullets and primers you used the same brand? Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onagoth Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 how well does clays meter? Is it a clean burning powder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v1911 Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 (edited) Mixed brass was used during testing. All rounds fired used bayou bullets 147gr fn and ignited with Winchester SPP. My original load for my 2011 used an OAL of 1.150. But I started shooting an XDs for an upcoming BUG match and an OAL of 1.145 worked best. There was no impact in using the shorter OAL in my 2011 so for simplicity sake, I load all my 9mm at 1.145 now. By all accounts Clays and ClayDot are clean burning. I haven't had any issues with metering but others have had to take steps to insure consistent throws. If you do some searching I'm sure you can find a few threads concerning Clays and Dillon powder hoppers. Edited March 11, 2014 by v1911 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Service Desk Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 how well does clays meter? Is it a clean burning powder? In my experience ClayDot is a direct replacement for Clays.... I have used up 10lbs so far and can see no need go back to Clays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onagoth Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 how well does clays meter? Is it a clean burning powder? In my experience ClayDot is a direct replacement for Clays.... I have used up 10lbs so far and can see no need go back to Clays. The reason I asked about clays is because its one of the few powders still on the shelves where I'm at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v1911 Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 If it isn't price too high, buy it! Prior to the powder price hike, I was able to walk in and but a pound of Clays for $18. That shot up to $25 overnight then became unobtainable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CeeZer Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 Cool, thank you for the info! I'm a Clays fan shooting 124gr plated. Good to know Clay Dot is very close to it if not quite same Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBBB Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 Thank you for sharing this information. I have been wondering about this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dee loo Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 Thanks for the data, great to know for when my jug of clays runs out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onagoth Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 So the actual powder I got was universal clays....didn't know there was so many variations. Hodgdon has the max listed at 3.3 grs...which according to their chart doesn't make the 130PF I'm looking for. Has anyone used universal with a 147gr plated bullet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gm iprod Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 The Hodgdon Data is for a 4" barrel in a 5" barrel I generally get 900fps for the 147gr Plated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Service Desk Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Pretty close to Unique, VV330 and a bit faster than Power Pistol, very clean, soft recoil and good accuracy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onagoth Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 The Hodgdon Data is for a 4" barrel in a 5" barrel I generally get 900fps for the 147gr Plated. That's what I hoped for....thanks for the feedback. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanc Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Thanks for the data. Likewise my clays was desperate and I scored an 8 lbs jug of clay dot off powder valley about a month ago based on the clays = clay dot posts I found. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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