Anyone using Clays?

[Ithaca33]

I'm thinking about reloading some 3/4oz 12ga skeet loads. Is anyone currently using clays for this in their foxes?

Theres far more data and recipes for 7/8's but if I can save the lead, why not right? I just shoot for fun.

Thanks as always for your input.

I am currently shooting

~20 grains of IMR PB
Sts/nitro hull
Win 209 primer
1 oz shot
Cb1100-12 wad

[Silvers]

I can't help you with 12 gauge 3/4 or 7/8 ounce, but I use IMR "PB" and IMR SR-7625 exclusively in my Foxes and other S x S's. For clays I mostly shoot 1 ounce, and 1-1/8 ounce for longish birds. I don't do load recipes on the internet but I will say I use less PB than you reported, with my one ounce loads, and they are plenty fast. I can barely discern their flight time difference as compared with the stronger/faster loads of IMR 700-X that I use in my competition over & under. I use Remington and then Fiocchi primers exclusively for the Foxes because many but not all will open harder with Winchester primers. BTW I started loading about 3 years ago and am now on my 4th 8-pound bottle of "PB". I do like its somewhat acrid smoke smell (reminds me of chem labs while in school) but SR-7625 is cool too - its olive green-colored smoke is kind of mysterious looking. Both have lower deflagration rates as compared with other powders oft recommended by others for economy, cleaner barrels, etc. That's probably not a big deal but I personally like to use "period type powders" with slower rates, in vintage S x S guns. Silvers

[DarylC]

Check the Hodgdon reloading site for some good loads using Clays. I like the 3/4oz. loads using either a AA or Rem. hull, low pressure (6400psi) @1200fps. You'll love them.
Daryl

[2lo8s]

I love this pillow soft load!!
Data for a MEC reloader using a #33 and #34 powder bushing rescpectively.
Federal Paper Hulls
Lead Shot 1 oz. Clays 18 gr. Win. 209 primer, Windjammer Wad, 5,800 PSI 1180 fps
Lead Shot 1 oz. Clays 19.5 gr. Win. 209 primer, Windjammer Wad, 7,300 PSI 1235 fps

[mc15426378]

Nothing wrong with Silvers suggestions but I prefer Clays due to the cost and the lower charge weight. I also do not use Win. primers due to the hard opening on most of my guns.

Have not loaded any 3/4 oz 12 loads but I do load a good many 7/8 ozers and for these I prefer the CB-4100 wad. This is an 8 petal wad which can sometimes cause an issue with progressive presses due to the petals. If you try these and the petals are bent inwards, drop the wads in an old pillowcase & run them in the drier on low heat for a few minutes.

Good luck and let us know how Clays works for you.

Mike