45 ACP with CLAYS

[Marcduper]

Hey everybody,

I ran a lot of 100 rounds through my XL650 of 230 lead with 5.0 gr of CLAYS. I know, I know, this is over the max of 4.0grs. 40 years of reloading and I made a mistake!!! I shot these out of my SW4506 and SW45M&P. Both shot amazingly accurate. Single ragged hole at 25 yards. No signs of presure or crazy recoil. Can anyone run a QUICK LOAD calc of the estimates presure??
The load was:
230 LRN
5.0 gr CLAYS
COAL of 1.245"
FED cases (LPP)

I am not recommending this load by any means, it was a mistake.

Thanks you

[Forrest r]

Don't have quickloads but yes, clays is a fantastic powder for the 45acp's. 4.3gr of clays and the 3 different 200gr swc bullets in a 1911/45acp hold their own. 5-shot groups @ 50ft.
https://i.imgur.com/N17hNIE.jpg

[ddixie884]

Watching with interest.

[ShooterAZ]

I agree, Clays is a really great powder in the 45ACP. I use it for mostly the lighter boolits though, typically the 175, 185, and 200 grain semi wadcutters. It burns really clean and gives very consistent accuracy in my 45's. I would take that 5 grain load with 230 grain boolits down to 3.5 or so, and work up a little and see what happens. 4 grains +/- a couple of tenths has the sweet spot for me too, although with lighter boolits.

[Divil]

When I was shooting .45 acp, and if I ever return to it, I think 4.3 grains of clays with a 185 grain lead rnfp was soft shooting and accurate.

[DDriller]

QL shows 31,800 with 5.0 gr Clays

[G W Wade]

Have used with good results but have had problem making Power Factor with published loads. My chrono shows velocity much lower than published GW

[fecmech]

I vaguely remember Brian Enos using 3.5-3.7 Clays with a 230LRN and making Major.

[Marcduper]

Thanks DDriller!! That's what I was looking for. Too bad, that load was wicked accurate.

[fa38]

Would that 5.0 grain load be okay in a Ruger single action in 45 ACP?
What would be the pressure limits in a Ruger?

[rsrocket1]

I'm seeing 35-37,000 psi depending on the actual bullet profile. I can see your M&P45 handling it for a few shots but a stock 1911 was not made for these pressures. An M&P45 barrel and slide is closer to a 10mm which can handle modern 35k pressures although the 0.45" ID is wider than the 0.4" ID of the 10mm so you have a little less metal around the chamber and bore.

You're only getting about 939 fps with 5g Clays. A powder like Longshot will get you that speed with only about 20,000 psi which is safe for 45ACP. AA#9 will also get you there and stay below 21,000 psi.

[cherokeetracker]

Would that 5.0 grain load be okay in a Ruger single action in 45 ACP?
What would be the pressure limits in a Ruger?

Pressure limits the 45 ACP the same as the 45 Colt in the Ruger Single action. that is 30,000 PSI I am sure that load would be handled easily enough with the Ruger. Question you should ask yourself do I want to feed my revolver a steady diet of these loads? what is happening is you are shortening the life of the revolver with loosening the cylinder from the frame. Grease or anti seize helps to cushion the effect but inevenably wear will happen.
Second thing is disregard the QL info especially the pressure aspect. QL is just a guide line to start or give a HANDLoader an idea abbout loads. Several times the Manufactuers Load Data is quite different than the QL data. Your Chronograph should help out here somewhat.

CT

[fatelvis]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odbb8IrROz4
Check out Ken's recipe for a super soft recoiling, accurate 45ACP load. It corroborates some above comments, and works GREAT out of my pistols!

[Baltimoreed]

Thinking that I use 5.2 gr clays in my .45colt Marlins/Ubertis with a 250 gr swc.

[45DUDE]

A 1911 460 Roland has 40000 pressure.:popcorn: Bet that kicks like a Georgia mule.