IPSC 40SW recipe for major using clays

r1rich

New member
Rating - 100%
5   0   0
Location
Toronto
Does anyone here have a recipe to make major in 40SW. using clays?
I was told that similar loads with clays will recoil less.

I've been loading with 5.0 gr of titegroup and a Zero 180 gr JHP bullet for an OAL of 1.185

Gave me a Powerfactor of 176.

Looking for a load using clays but just not sure how much powder to start with.

Your input would be much appreciated.

Thanks
 
Does anyone here have a recipe to make major in 40SW. using clays?
I was told that similar loads with clays will recoil less.

I've been loading with 5.0 gr of titegroup and a Zero 180 gr JHP bullet for an OAL of 1.185

Gave me a Powerfactor of 176.

Looking for a load using clays but just not sure how much powder to start with.

Your input would be much appreciated.

Thanks

International Clays,
I use this powder and actually yesterday I was chrono Zero bullets with OAL 1.180" loading 4.8 and 4.7gr.
4.8gr in my Infinity was going around 180-182PF, 4.7gr was at 174PF
Primers-Federals

Good Luck
 
clays

hi rich

a while back i use to shoot a cam-pro 180 bullet and 4.6 gr of clays at 1.200
and alexZ was shooting the AIM 180 at 4.7 at 1.210

that is pretty long bullet
over the time i check accuracy with that load and i was not really impressed
the recoil is really soft but i prefer good accuracy over soft recoil

what impressed me the most was UNIVERSAL CLAYS for accuracy in 9mm and 40 sw it give me a better grouping at 25 meter
4.6 gr on a cam-pro 180 at 1.150

:rockOn:
 
A lot of dudes have blown up guns with that powder. I don't think it's worth it with Tightgroup being available and cheap. I would advise against it but have used it with good results. Very distinct smell - experienced shooters will stay away from you when they smell it. Good luck.
 
A lot of dudes have blown up guns with that powder. I don't think it's worth it with Tightgroup being available and cheap. I would advise against it but have used it with good results. Very distinct smell - experienced shooters will stay away from you when they smell it. Good luck.
When I hear of people saying "that" powder blew up my gun, more often it's because they were careless with the re-loading....I've reloaded my 45 Colt (for Cowboy Action) with Clays for the last 18 years, and I have never had a problem....Once I finish with my current powder Win231, I'm going to switch to Clays for a .40 reload....Reloader's are sensitive people: they do not like to advertise the fact they screwed up the amount of powder, and thus, blew up their gun....Much like those that claim, "I had that varmint dead on in my sights, but the gun wasn't accurate enough!"....Also the same people who blame Glock's for their Ka-Boom's.....
 
When I hear of people saying "that" powder blew up my gun, more often it's because they were careless with the re-loading....I've reloaded my 45 Colt (for Cowboy Action) with Clays for the last 18 years, and I have never had a problem....Once I finish with my current powder Win231, I'm going to switch to Clays for a .40 reload....Reloader's are sensitive people: they do not like to advertise the fact they screwed up the amount of powder, and thus, blew up their gun....Much like those that claim, "I had that varmint dead on in my sights, but the gun wasn't accurate enough!"....Also the same people who blame Glock's for their Ka-Boom's.....

Thanks for the info on the 100 year old cartridge that you can double charge and get away with it gramps.

40SW and Clays is a different story. Good luck with the combo. Just to be clear - I'm not saying don't. More of a heads up for the inexperienced.
 
One load I was told about was 4.5 clays behind a 180 and a small rifle primer at 1.2". Should just make major. It felt nice and was accurate. He was a little apprehensive about telling me though. Just watch your charges and you'll be fine.
 
I would rather go with IClays then TG. TG is easy to double charges, IClays not so much. And all this dilemma around this powder is due to its designation rather its applications. In Australia, it has been use and designated as a pistol powder not shotgun.
Anything involving firearm is risky. Just owning them. So please stop saying:
..." a lot of guys blow...blah-blah"... Who, please tell me who? and read that person story. If anyone blows anything it happens due to not paying attention while loading.

Good Day
 
If you are going to use Clays make sure you are doing so in a fully supported chamber. Any gun with a standard chamber need not apply because you will absolutely have case head separations which will blow metal fragments back into your face. Peak pressure is extremely high with Clays, bordering on proof-testing pressures. It's also extremely fast; pretty much everything that happens when the primer ignites the charge happens before the bullet leaves the case....NOT the muzzle. It is not linear either. You may add powder a tenth at a time trying to get that perfect load, but with no increase in velocity. Then suddenly after adding say, 4/10ths of a grain it finally spikes upwards.

Load long and start low and work your way up. When changing batch lots check your loads again for pressure. Be extra cautious.
 
Thanks for the info on the 100 year old cartridge that you can double charge and get away with it gramps.

40SW and Clays is a different story. Good luck with the combo. Just to be clear - I'm not saying don't. More of a heads up for the inexperienced.
Beg pardon, Sonny?....Try double charging a 45 Colt case with some fast powders, then try firing it for awhile from a Uberti SAA....Let me know how that works out....

As for the 40 S&W and Clays..."Good luck with that combo"?...Luck?....You sound more like somebody that just started to reload....

Move on, sonny...:)
 
Last edited:
If you are going to use Clays make sure you are doing so in a fully supported chamber. Any gun with a standard chamber need not apply because you will absolutely have case head separations which will blow metal fragments back into your face.
Seriously, I don't know where some people get their ideas from...."you will absolutely have case head separations?"....I've had my Glock 22, 2nd gen, for 18 years, with the standard barrel....I mostly reloaded with Clays (used Win231 for awhile, but now I`m switching back)....I NEVER had a problem...Other people at my gun clubs, who use their Glock 22's, factory barrels with Clays, have NEVER had a problem....

As I said earlier, this Ka-Boom stuff is almost always the fault of the reloader....They either over charged the case, or they reloaded a case well pass it's prime (continuing to reload a case even when there are sights of case fatigue).... Reloaders are cheap bastards, and all too often they will "push their luck" with a case, rather than toss it....

As for "blowing metals fragments into your face", you may need to rethink that about "unsupported chambers"...If there is a case head separation, it blows downward, through the magazine well, rarely into the face...However, will a fully supported chamber, if you have case head blowout, the blast will always be directed back into your face...

Plus, lets not hyperventilate over he term "unsupported chambers" like it's a nuclear device just waiting to explode...

Let's not scare away new reloaders with misleading stuff....
 
As for "blowing metals fragments into your face", you may need to rethink that about "unsupported chambers"...If there is a case head separation, it blows downward, through the magazine well, rarely into the face...However, will a fully supported chamber, if you have case head blowout, the blast will always be directed back into your face...

Plus, lets not hyperventilate over he term "unsupported chambers" like it's a nuclear device just waiting to explode...

Let's not scare away new reloaders with misleading stuff....

Had it happen to me personally ok? I'm not talking out of my ass here. I won't say which gun but it had what was supposed to be a supported chamber but had been a little "over-tuned" at the factory and with a major load it blew. Brass and whatever other particulate matter blew down AND back through the slide rails into my face. Got a few nicks and my glasses saved my eyes. Magazine blew out the floorplate.

I'm not hyperventilating or screaming that the sky will fall; I'm telling the guy to be careful with a high pressure load. I think that is prudent under the circumstances. In your guns everything may work fine. In someone else's it may be dangerous is all I'm saying. Variances in case web thickness from manufacturer to manufacturer, metalurgy, number of firings, etc. These can all be factors for which a fully supported chamber will provide some cushion in the event of failure. .40 S&W major loadings Clays is way beyond saami spec. and people need to proceed with caution.
 
Rob,
Show SAAMI data for loading .40 with clays

Was the caliber in question .38super?

No Peter; it was .40 S&W, which was the subject of the conversation. I haven't been shooting Super forever you know and in fact, why in god's name would anyone load Clays in a Super? In any case, your requested back-up has been posted by F.V. (thanks for saving me the trouble Sean).

Edit to re-state: I am NOT advising anyone to avoid using Clays in major loads. I am advising them to be cautious. Dimensional variances being what they are, I don't want to see anyone hurt after taking advice that I have offered. Forewarned is forearmed. I'll leave it at that.
 
Rob
If you remember what was your OAL and how much you have loaded?
I have been loading for years, before 2006 was rifles only and if I will see any spikes or pressure signs loadin IC I will be first to stop.
I do not check what is the life of my brass usin than powder but they last.
Also, primers are fine after firing and no signs of higher pressure loads.
At the end all my firearms are fine, both Svi and Glock 22.
I load very carefully, every charge is visually inspected, lamp is attached to the loader to have better visual.
Myself I actually like IC betterthen TG and find it safe.
 
Back
Top Bottom