Anyone try CFE 223 in a .204 yet?

[MATT .45-70]

I was wondering if anyone has tried Hodgdons new CFE 223 powder yet, and what kind of results you got compared to other powders you have tried. I have been thinking about giving it a try in my .204 to help eliminate copper fouling.

Has anyone noticed reduced copper fouling?

Has accuracy suffered or improved?

I have several excellent loads worked up now using Varget
(5 shot group .375" at 100 yards)
and about equal results with reloader 10x,

I have also tried Benchmark with poor results.

I am shooting a savage .204 12LRPV with a 26" barrel with 1 in 12" twist
I primarily shoot at 200 yards target shooting only

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

The 2012 edition of Hodgdon's reloading manual has an article on this new powder. You can get it for $9 from any supermarket, Barnes & Noble, or Amazon online.

 

[NCsmitty]

According to www.hodgdon.com data, it should give top velocities in the 204 and mirrors BLC2, as it sits next to it on Hodgdon's burn rate chart.
If the claim of reduced fouling is true, that's a positive, especially in the under 22 caliber bores, as they are often plagued with fouling issues. Only one way to find out.


NCsmitty

 

[A-FIXER]

I have great results with 28.0 W748 with a 32gr v-max and the C.O.A.L. will be up to what it likes and of course no crimp for me.

 

[MATT .45-70]

My main reason for cosidering it is the claim of reduced copper fouling. In my 204 I have two shots to condition my barrel, then it settles in and I can get another eight shots out of it before my barrel is copper fouled, and groups start to be very eratic, then I need to clean again. I shoot in varmint matches with this rifle and if could get an extra few shots out of it I would be thrilled.

I found the biggest thing that reduced fouling and improved accuracy was hand lapping the barrel. But if the powder reduces fouling then every little bit helps.

I plan on buying a bottle of the cfe 223 next time im at the gun store, just wanted to see if anyone tried it yet

 

[MATT .45-70]

A-FIXER,

What kind of rifle are you shooting?

Barrel length?

Twist rate?

just wondering since your rifle likes the 32 gr V max

My rifle seems to like the same bullet but since I lapped the barrel it also seems to like the 40 gr V max sometimes, and they seem to shoot almost similar groups out to 200 yards, I have not tried them out to 300 yards yet though, who knows that might be when I start to see the difference in bullet weight