I have recently started loading my .40s using Universal Clays. Prior to this, I had good success with Titegroup and it's my fall-back if everything just falls apart. I got a case of the "what if's" and decided to try another powder.
Currently, my charge weight is 5.7 grains of Universal Clays, using an OAL of 1.135 with a 165 grain X-Treme Plated Bullet. From what I've read and been told, the X-treme has such thick plating that it can be treated like a traditional jacketed bullet.
Everywhere I look, the load data for 165s and Universal is different. My Lee manual doesn't have 165 data, but DOES have 170 grain XTP data and suggests 5.6-6.3, with the length at 1.125.
Speer suggests something like 5.7-6.3.
Hodgdon suggests 5.0-5.6 as a max if I remember it right. However, the overall length for this load is 1.125. Having my length longer, I know that I can bump up the max just a tad.
I have tested my 165/5.7/1.135 load and it groups decently, doesn't seem to recoil too harshly, and isn't launching my brass into orbit. Am I making a safe load? It feels fine to me, but Hodgdon's lower charge data makes me wonder.
Currently, my charge weight is 5.7 grains of Universal Clays, using an OAL of 1.135 with a 165 grain X-Treme Plated Bullet. From what I've read and been told, the X-treme has such thick plating that it can be treated like a traditional jacketed bullet.
Everywhere I look, the load data for 165s and Universal is different. My Lee manual doesn't have 165 data, but DOES have 170 grain XTP data and suggests 5.6-6.3, with the length at 1.125.
Speer suggests something like 5.7-6.3.
Hodgdon suggests 5.0-5.6 as a max if I remember it right. However, the overall length for this load is 1.125. Having my length longer, I know that I can bump up the max just a tad.
I have tested my 165/5.7/1.135 load and it groups decently, doesn't seem to recoil too harshly, and isn't launching my brass into orbit. Am I making a safe load? It feels fine to me, but Hodgdon's lower charge data makes me wonder.