Hodgdon Clays Series
Hodgdon Clays
A clay-target powder for 12-gauge light and standard target loads that also serves as a handgun target powder.
A clay-target powder that handloaders adopted for light .45 ACP and .38 Special target ammo because it burns clean and shoots soft. In 12-gauge light and standard target loads it is exactly right and there is nothing to argue about. In a handgun case the charge volume is small and the pressure curve is steep, so a double charge in .38 Special will not look obviously wrong and the top end arrives without much warning. Superb at target levels, unforgiving if you wander upward.
- 12 gauge light target loads
- 45 ACP target loads
- 38 Special wadcutters
Who has Hodgdon Clays today
Checked October 10Out of stock at every store we track
| Store | Size | Shelf | In hand /lb | Stock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Shooters Supply$26.95 hazmat + $19.95 ship | 8 lb | $272.99 | $39.99 | Out |
| Hodgdon (direct)Terms not published | 8 lb | $309.99 | $42.68 est. | Out |
| Lohman ArmsHazmat charged, amount not published | 8 lb | $315.95 | $43.42 est. | Out |
| Graf & Sons$23.50 hazmat per package | 8 lb | $314.99 | $44.05 | Out |
| Bruno Shooters Supply$26.95 hazmat + $19.95 ship | 4 lb | $145.99 | $48.22 | Out |
| Hodgdon (direct)Terms not published | 4 lb | $161.99 | $48.36 est. | Out |
| Lohman ArmsHazmat charged, amount not published | 4 lb | $172.95 | $51.10 est. | Out |
| Graf & Sons$23.50 hazmat per package | 4 lb | $169.99 | $51.86 | Out |
“In hand” is the shelf price plus that store’s hazmat fee and shipping, spread over one container. Stock is checked once a day — confirm on the store’s page before ordering. Compare all powders →
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Hodgdon |
|---|---|
| Product family | Hodgdon Clays Series |
| Status | Currently produced |
| Application | shotshell, pistol |
| Grain form | extruded |
| Lee VMD (bulk density) | 0.1462 cc per grain · 0.44 g/cc |
| Composition | single-base |
| Temperature stable | Not marketed as temperature-stable |
| Burn-rate position | 13 of 198 (fastest = 1) — what this means |
| Typical cartridges | 12 gauge, 45 ACP, 38 Special |
Grain shape
A fine flat flake — the most degressive geometry there is, with maximum burning surface at ignition and surface falling away immediately after. That is why it feels soft at target charges and why the pressure curve stands up so quickly if you overcharge.
Why geometry decides burn rate more than chemistry does: Shape Is the Product.
Hodgdon lists the form as extruded and the base as single. Known for clean burning and soft, smooth recoil, which is what carries it over into light target handgun loads. Manufactured in Canada.
Burn rate
Fast, near Alliant Red Dot and Clay Dot.
Chart agreement: consistent across the three charts that list it Ranked by: Hodgdon, Vihtavuori, Wolfe/LoadData.
Powders charted near it — neighbours on the chart are not substitutes, and adjacency tells you nothing about what charge either one takes:
- Ramshot Competition (position 10)
- Alliant Red Dot (position 11)
- Alliant Promo (position 12)
- Alliant Clay Dot (position 14)
- Hodgdon Hi-Skor 700-X (position 15)
- Alliant Bullseye (position 16)
Sources
The specifications above come from Hodgdon's own published documentation, linked below. The two “RCM's read” sections are ours, not theirs — our assessment of what this powder is like to load, drawn from its published characteristics and from what handloaders consistently report. No manufacturer endorses them and no source below backs them. If you think we have one wrong, tell us — we would rather fix it.