The New Canadian "Clays" Powder

[Wobbly]

Good news!! Clays is back !!



Today I saw the new Canadian Clays on the shelves of one of the reloading stores I frequent. They always hold a lot of powder in stock, but the last 3 times I visited it was 98% rifle powder.

I rarely buy from this store because generally their powders are in the $27-$29 range. But I check this store to get a feel for what's generally available. Their prices are high, but if it can be had, then this place will have it in stock.



Today they had a full selection of powders and primers and the prices on new stock had come down about 15%. So I bought a 1lb can at the (to me) surprising price of $23.



NOTE
While there, I met a friend from my gun club who is a distributor, avid shooter, and generally knowledgeable about and up-to-date on the industry news. He advised me that the Clays formula is the same, but the product coming out of Canada is a different density.

To verify this before reporting it to you, I took a can of Australian Clays and ran it through my powder measure. Then did the same for the new can of Canadian Clays. My pal was correct. When I set the PM to meter 4.0grains of Australian Clays, the same volume of Canadian Clays weighed 4.2grains. This is very important to those of you who use a PM with a fixed volume bushing. You must re-calibrate your powder measure before using this powder.

I took every precaution I knew of to make this measurement, so I was really surprised at the difference.

Hope this helps. 

[ReloaderFred]

That's good news on Clays being available once again.  I use a couple of 8 pound kegs of it per year for shotgun loading, and I'm looking at my last unopened keg on the shelf in my shop.

It's also good to know that the density has changed slightly.  I'll have to check that when I buy new Clays.

Fred

[Dan_69GTX]

OK, enlighten me oh Wobbly the Wizard!

What do you use Clays for and why do you like it?  How does it compare to other powders you like?

Thanks!

[IDescribe]

What do you use Clays for ?

For skeet, trap, and... what's the third one?  Oh, skeet, trap and clays. 

It's a fast, clean, accurate shotgun powder that is also a great target powder for .45 and .38 special.  And lots of people love it for soft-shooting 9mm minor gamer loads.

[Wobbly]

And a lot of people use it in 9mm reloads. At one time it was a single-base powder. Now they've added just a tiny amount of nitro. Supposedly it runs very clean, but I've never had it over a chrono. But we're going to cure that in about a week.

[Wideload]

Works great for .45acp major and .40s&w bunny farts (minor) loads.

[1SOW]

Shooter friends of mine can't shoot without it for their .45 comp. loads.
During the shortage they were asking for help finding some for "any" price.

[Wobbly]

During the shortage they were asking for help finding some for "any" price.

Oh sure, now you tell me !! 

[Wobbly]

Had some fun this afternoon with some follow-up testing to see if there was a load difference between the 2 Clays.





Starting and Max Load were used from the Lyman #49 in 38 Spcl for Clays.
Bullet:  MBC 148gr DEWC
Primer: Federal #100
Brass:   Armscore
10 rounds each. All 40 rounds fired. All 40 rounds registered on the chrono.
Fired from a Ruger GP-100 6" across a Competition Electronics ProChrono Digital.



Australian Clays
2.7gr averaged 764fps
3.0gr averaged 822fps

Canadian Clays
2.7gr averaged 760fps
3.0gr averaged 819fps



There was no discernible difference in the 2 versions of the powder. You can use all your existing load data with the Canadian version of this powder.

[ReloaderFred]

Thank you, Wobbly.  That's exactly the kind of information reloaders need.  I was pretty sure Hodgdon wouldn't market a powder under the same name if the ballistics weren't the same, and now you've confirmed it.

Fred

[Wobbly]

More load testing today with 124gr bullets and the new Clays...

Bullet:   124gr Precision Delta JHP loaded at 1.100" OAL
Primer:  Federal #100
Brass:    Winchester
Caliber:  9x19 Luger
Pistol:    CZ SP-01 with 12# recoil spring

Tested with 10 rounds at each load. All 10 rounds registered on the chrono.

3.1gr = 926 fps
3.2gr = 947
3.3gr = 974
3.4gr = 1012
3.5gr = 1029

Observations:
? Gosh I love my new ProChrono Digital !
? Load info from Lyman #49 quotes max load of 3.6gr with velocity at 960fps
? This is very clean shooting powder, maybe the cleanest I've ever tested
? Powder will not make PF, but would be an excellent 9mm plinking powder
? I'd love to try this powder in 45ACP

 

[jameslovesjammie]

Australian Clays
2.7gr averaged 764fps
3.0gr averaged 822fps

Canadian Clays
2.7gr averaged 760fps
3.0gr averaged 819fps

That's good enough for the girls I go out with!   

Thanks for the test!

[Wobbly]

More load testing today with 115gr bullets and the new (Canadian) Clays...

Bullet:   115gr Remington JRN loaded at 1.140" OAL
Primer:  Winchester SPP
Brass:    Winchester
Caliber:  9x19 Luger
Pistol:    CZ SP-01 with 12# recoil spring
Load Data:   Hodgdon 2008 loading guide, 3.5 to 3.9gr @ 1.100"
Max Load:    1095 fps

Tested with 10 rounds at each load. All 10 rounds registered on the chrono.

3.5gr = 1028 fps
3.6gr = 1044
3.7gr = 1069
3.8gr = 1074
3.9gr = 1092   (PF = 125.5)
4.0gr = 1110 (5 shots only)

Observations:
• Shot info followed the Hodgdon data very closely.
• I loaded 4.0gr just in case my longer OAL lowered the results, but it did not.
• This is very clean shooting powder, maybe the cleanest I've ever tested
• Powder will barely make PF, or would be an excellent, inexpensive 9mm plinking powder

[1SOW]

I've never realized a benefit for using a "plinking powder".  Do some ranges limit their allowable load to "plinking powders?  Is there a plinking competition?  Is there a special "Plinking Target"?  Are there there common varmints that require plinking powders? (could be)  Do plinkers need ear protection? 

.

[Dan_69GTX]

Plinking is a higher pitch than plunking, so yes, it still requires hearing protection.  Plunking is much lower pitch - kinda like dropping a large rock into a lake - has a lot of bass.

Yes, ranges limit to plinking only.  The range my brother goes to will not allow a canon in there so no plunking allowed.  Again, it has too much bass.  Since the low frequency carries too far it disturbs the neighbors.  Kinkda like those cars with the large subwolfers.