Cfe pistol 45acp 230gr

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nastynatesfish

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I went out and shot some of these loads this afternoon with my sierra jhp. Max book shows 6.8gr netting 940s.
Thats wayyy off what I’m getting. Granted that with a Hornady fmj at 1.200. I loaded to 1.230”
They shot ok. I’m gonna do some checking see where to go next.
I got another 900 of these bullets and just want them for general range ammo. But they just feel so weak.
This was 15 years offhand. 5 yards from chronograph
 

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nastynatesfish said:
I went out and shot some of these loads this afternoon with my sierra jhp. Max book shows 6.8gr netting 940s.
Thats wayyy off what I’m getting. Granted that with a Hornady fmj at 1.200. I loaded to 1.230”
They shot ok. I’m gonna do some checking see where to go next.
I got another 900 of these bullets and just want them for general range ammo. But they just feel so weak.
This was 15 years offhand. 5 yards from chronograph
Click to expand...
I was using up that powder as fast as I could dumping 6.0 behind a cast 230 Lee cone. Worked alright I guess, won't buy more.
 
nastynatesfish said:
I went out and shot some of these loads this afternoon with my sierra jhp. Max book shows 6.8gr netting 940s.
Thats wayyy off what I’m getting. Granted that with a Hornady fmj at 1.200. I loaded to 1.230”
They shot ok. I’m gonna do some checking see where to go next.
I got another 900 of these bullets and just want them for general range ammo. But they just feel so weak.
This was 15 years offhand. 5 yards from chronograph
Click to expand...
0.030" can make that much difference. Some powders give more of a push making them feel soft/light but the velocity will be the same. Shorten your OAL or add a little more powder (0.1gr steps) if you want the higher velocity.
 
nastynatesfish said:
Thats wayyy off what I’m getting. Granted that with a Hornady fmj at 1.200. I loaded to 1.230”
Click to expand...
Your numbers, while less than expected, look pretty consistent (acceptable SD) but did you really expect to hit book value? Even if you used the components in their spec you probably wouldn’t hit it.
Regarding the COL you loaded to, that could have impacted seating depth which is more important than COL when trying to extrapolate loads. You’d need to know your bullets‘ OAL vs what the book specs and then you could come up with an equivalent COL.
While you might think they’re weak, you‘re numbers indicate a PF near 195 which isn’t a light load. What’s your objective for these reloads?
 
No. I get book loads generally don’t match. But of the powders I’ve been playing with this one was the furthest off. I don’t have a problem pushing my charges up. I wanted to get the cfe pistol to try being i shot a lot of it in 9mm also and it does well for me. So if I can get 1 powder to load both that would make me happy. Cfe is dirty compared to the shooters world ultimate pistol I used for the first 1000 45 I loaded last week. Especially at the 1.230” col. The ones I took out and shot yesterday at 1.200 weren’t as bad. I didn’t crony them them though. I don’t really have a certain plan set for the rounds. I just want a good accurate shooting load. Maybe I’ll run out before I have to go to work tonite and see what the fps did seating them the extra depth.
 
Howland937 said:
I bought some CFE Pistol awhile back but haven't tried it in .45acp. Didn't care much for it in 9mm or 38 Super. Been using it up in very small doses loading .380. Works good for that.
Click to expand...
Cfe pistol does better closer to max loads. I run 6.5gr I think in my 9mm with 124s. Thats the reason I wanted to try it in 45. If I can stick to 1 powder for both that will make it easier. And I can get it local for 38/lb
 
nastynatesfish said:
Cfe pistol does better closer to max loads. I run 6.5gr I think in my 9mm with 124s. Thats the reason I wanted to try it in 45. If I can stick to 1 powder for both that will make it easier. And I can get it local for 38/lb
Click to expand...
Yeah, I guess I should have said it did what it's supposed to do. I just like the results more from other options and I like having lots of options.
 
It’d be interesting to see the numbers when you match seating depth. I too wanted one powder to rule them all at one time but after a lot of load development have several. For full power 9 and 45 loads you may want to try N340 or one of the higher AAs. Just a thought.
 
lordpaxman said:
It’d be interesting to see the numbers when you match seating depth. I too wanted one powder to rule them all at one time but after a lot of load development have several. For full power 9 and 45 loads you may want to try N340 or one of the higher AAs. Just a thought.
Click to expand...
I tried to go the one power route and gave it up in the end as a fools errand. The cases and different barrel lengths make that a near impossible task.
 
nastynatesfish said:
Cfe pistol does better closer to max loads. I run 6.5gr I think in my 9mm with 124s. Thats the reason I wanted to try it in 45. If I can stick to 1 powder for both that will make it easier. And I can get it local for 38/lb
Click to expand...
One should appreciate the delta in operating pressures. Powders that run well in 38 will run well in 45acp they are both low pressure. 9mm powders will run well in 357, they are both are 35kpsi cartridges. I get good results with max 38 loads of Silhouette and moderate charges in 357. Doubling the operating pressure means one will be a compromise.
 
CFE Is at it's best loaded at max.

Prefers heavier bullets, too.

The best use I've found for it is 180 gr
357 magnum.

I think max loads in 9x19, .40, and .45 with 147, 165/180, and 185+ bullets would be great, too.
 
Never tried CFE pistol but I also have found that not many propellants are best at all loads in several calibers. I found 700X to be the most accurate and cleanest burning 45 ACP 230 grain load. Load it just shy of max for best results (in my 5 45's anyway) it is a bit hard to meter but I made a custom scoop and that works well enough.
 
Those “book” load results are probably from a test fixture barrel of at least 6 inches. I’ve seen 200 fps difference between my 2.5” barrels and 4” barrels.
 
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