Clays in 44spl Unburned powder

[Snake-eye, SASS#45097]

I started to loads some 44 spl using Clays. I loaded 3.7 gr under 160 gr lead rnfp Looking down on the table I was shooting from I noticed a lot of unburned powder. I thought I used a reasonable amount of roll crimp. They all went bang and there was reasonable amount of recoil. Any thoughts on this or is it just a characteristic of this powder. I’ve used Clays in. 38 spl without this issue in both rifle and pistol.

Edited September 6 by Snake-eye, SASS#45097

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

That's a fairly light load for .44 spl.   I'd try 4.5 grains as a minimum.  Clays works well in .45 Colt above about 4.8 grains for me.    Clays usually shoots very clean even with light loads. 

 

good luck, GJ

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Unburned powder because the pressure is too low.  As Joe noted up the charge.

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

My first thought would be to up the charge, but you are within Hodgdon's data range (3.6gr minimum).  I have used Hodgdon's minimum with Clays for years in .44 and .45 with never any unburnt powder, but I was using 180gr and above bullets for .44 spcl.  Still, the minimums worked well, so I'm not sure why yours don't (this time of year I would discount cold weather).  If you're sure you had a good crimp, then more powder is about all you can do.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Why to 'lite' of a load.

Use a firm roll-crimp! 

[Nimble Fingers SASS# 25439]

I loaded 4.4 grains of Clays with my Square Deal reloader, thinking I had a 200 gr RNFP and they went bang with no powder left so I would agree your load is a little lite. 

[Crisco]

I use a similar load (bottom end of Hodgdon's data) in .38 with HP-38 and a 100gr bullet for my wife's pistol ammo, and they shot great but there was enough unburned powder to give her problems loading the pistols midway through a match.  Changing to magnum primers made them burn clean.

 

[watab kid]

i use clays in my 45colt , my 38spcl , and in my shotgun shells , ive not had this issue , it might be a storage issue with your powder , 

[Rye Miles #13621]

When I shot .45Colt I used 5.4 grs of Clays with a 200 gr bullet. Never had a problem with unburnt powder.

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

Just looked at my data.  I've loaded 1587 44 Spcls with 3.5gr Clays or Clay-Dot and a 180gr RNFP (Hodgdon minimum).  Great round.  Brass falls out of the cylinders and is pretty clean.  You said "a lot of unburned powder" which makes me wonder if Watab Kid might be right about the powder.  Have you loaded anything else with that?  

[M.T Chambers, SASS#76185]

 Had the same issue when I went from 180gr to 160’s, why I now use Bullseye 

[Snake-eye, SASS#45097]

I increased the powder by 10% and increased the crimp, no more unburned powder.

[Sedalia Dave]

General rule of thumb is lighter bullets will require more powder to obtain a clean burn.  

[watab kid]

On 9/5/2025 at 10:30 PM, Rye Miles #13621 said:

When I shot .45Colt I used 5.4 grs of Clays with a 200 gr bullet. Never had a problem with unburnt powder.

i use 5 grns and have no issue with that , a bit of blowback but that cleans up in the tumbler , no problem , 

 

if your really upset - try some promo 

Just now, watab kid said:

i use 5 grns and have no issue with that , a bit of blowback but that cleans up in the tumbler , no problem , 

came back to add i use the same 200 grn bullets 

Just now, watab kid said:

 

if your really upset - try some promo