Clays metering

[mr.steve]

I've been reloading for a short while now and have used A#5 and Win 231. I tried Clays the other day and found it hard to meter consistently. I'm using a Lee Auto Disk with the Pro upgrade. The Clays looks bulkier than #5. I checked each round on the scale before assembly just to insure I was right. I liked the results of my test rounds using Clays, It left the barrel cleaner and had a good grouping. I was using 125gr cast over 3.1gr of powder in 9mm. My guess is the powder measure isn't good with that form of powder.

 

[Leo]

Yep, Clays is tough to really meter with a tight tolerance in small pistol charges. In the higher volume shotshell charges that little difference is not significant. I use Clays in 12 guage trap loads, and buy it by the keg, so I also use it in low velocity pistol loads. If I didn't reload shotguns, I would not use Clays in pistols. There are lots of other powders that meter easily for small charge pistol loads. Like Titegroup, Universal clays, 231, etc. I have tried quite a few different powder measures, your LEE set up is not the only one that has problems with light flake style powders.

 

[mr.steve]

I'd like to try Titegroup and Universal powders. So far this year I haven't seen either one in shops. I did stumble upon some #5 and snatched it up. Win 231 is impossible for me to find right now. I thought I'd try Clays since I can find that. Are there other powders that don't fly off the shelf which would work for 9mm and 45ACP?