Cfe 223
- Thread starter kelbro
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JamieC
Member
I just started using it, (just started reloading 223 FWIW), working on loads, goes 'bang', cycled the gun at a starting load. Seemed at least as accurate as factory, I was surprised how clean the gun was when I cleaned it. I have three more loads to try, wasn't super paying attention to accuracy the first time, the gun is new and was playing with a new red dot which isn't the proper way to really test anything, LOL. Once fired brass, 55gr Hornady FMJ. I have some H335 I will compare it to once I settle on a load with the CFE223
so I swapped back to H335
Here's how I use it:
Hornady 55gr fmjbt
OAL 2.2
27.4 gr CFE223
CCI primers
plain jane bushmaster with 16" 1:9 twist barrel.
My 5 shot groups are between 1 and 1.5 inches. (which is average for me and this bullet/gun combo.)
It produces above average velocities (I don't have chrono, but the groups are about 1/2" higher than similar loads with H335).
It meters smoothly and consistently
There seems to be above average powder residue, but remember it doesn't claim to be clean, it claims to minimize copper fouling. I haven't shot enough of it to speak to that claim.
Overall, it doesn't strike me as a "miracle powder," despite Hodgdon's best marketing attempts. It's on my list of good powders, but I don't see it as too much different from the likes of win748, H322, and H335. It'll produce good velocities, but it's not more accurate in my experience.
Hornady 55gr fmjbt
OAL 2.2
27.4 gr CFE223
CCI primers
plain jane bushmaster with 16" 1:9 twist barrel.
My 5 shot groups are between 1 and 1.5 inches. (which is average for me and this bullet/gun combo.)
It produces above average velocities (I don't have chrono, but the groups are about 1/2" higher than similar loads with H335).
It meters smoothly and consistently
There seems to be above average powder residue, but remember it doesn't claim to be clean, it claims to minimize copper fouling. I haven't shot enough of it to speak to that claim.
Overall, it doesn't strike me as a "miracle powder," despite Hodgdon's best marketing attempts. It's on my list of good powders, but I don't see it as too much different from the likes of win748, H322, and H335. It'll produce good velocities, but it's not more accurate in my experience.
MtnCreek
Member
Anyone here found a really good load with heavy(er) match bullets and a good match quality barrel?
I'm working on a load for 77 grain HPBT bullets. I got very good accuracy at 24.1 gr of CFE223. I'm using a 20" 1:7 douglass bbl from Compass Lake engineering.
It's a new bbl and a new build and I'm an AR noob. But the last time I took it all to the range it shot a 5 shot group you could cover with a quarter.
It's a new bbl and a new build and I'm an AR noob. But the last time I took it all to the range it shot a 5 shot group you could cover with a quarter.
W.E.G.
Member
What chemical is added to it to reduce copper fouling?
Ammonia?
Do chemicals that eat at the bad metal in your bore also eat at the good metal?
If I use this powder, does it mean I don't need to clean my gun?
With the gazillion different flavors of powder out there, and the shortage of the most popular powders, it concerns me that the powder manufacturers are committing production resources to this sort of thing.
Ammonia?
Do chemicals that eat at the bad metal in your bore also eat at the good metal?
If I use this powder, does it mean I don't need to clean my gun?
With the gazillion different flavors of powder out there, and the shortage of the most popular powders, it concerns me that the powder manufacturers are committing production resources to this sort of thing.
TheCracker
Member
Does it actually work! I'm no scientist but how does the powder reduce copper fouling?
And no I
And no I
MtnCreek
Member
I'm not sure if it makes any difference on copper fouling. I cleaned my barrel during workup hoping it would help accuracy. Barrel was carbon fouled, but very little copper. Accuracy was as poor as before cleaning.
LightningMan
Member
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2008
- Messages
- 1,029
Hello, I bought a 1 lb. container but haven't tried it yet, as I was looking at load data for .308/7.62x51 and seemed like a good powder for that caliber. How do you folks whom have tried it, like it for that caliber or should I stick with IMR 4895? Thanks, LM.
I use 150 grain Hornady FMJBT with 49 grains of CFE and an OAL of 2.705 inches to emulate the Federal American Eagle 150 grain FMJBT. This is on the low end of comparable loadings recommended by Hodgdon. It is every bit as unpleasant to shoot as the FAE. In a bolt gun, I have to shoot with a sissy pad.
GooseGestapo
Member
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2003
- Messages
- 6,153
I shot about 200rds of it yesterday through a Mossberg MVP (20"bbl, light wt./fluted). .223Rem/5.56x45.
I was using 27.8gr (what my powder measure threw) with a 60gr bullet, and likewise with a 55gr bullet. I used 28.5gr with a 53gr V-max. I used 27.0 with a 63gr Sierra. I prefer RL15 with this bullet.
Velocity was on par with RL15 and BLC2. However, charge weight was ~1.5gr heavier and accuracy no different.
Rl10X was somewhat slower but at only 24.3gr (53gr bullet) However, accuracy was way, way better and extream spread for 10shot with 10X was only 19fps !
CFE is "ok", but I'll stick with BLC2/Win748/RL15; whatever I've got on hand when I load .223....
If I was running an AR15 "hard" (blasting....), CFE would have it's place,(reduced fouling) but the high charge weights make it less economical.
I was using 27.8gr (what my powder measure threw) with a 60gr bullet, and likewise with a 55gr bullet. I used 28.5gr with a 53gr V-max. I used 27.0 with a 63gr Sierra. I prefer RL15 with this bullet.
Velocity was on par with RL15 and BLC2. However, charge weight was ~1.5gr heavier and accuracy no different.
Rl10X was somewhat slower but at only 24.3gr (53gr bullet) However, accuracy was way, way better and extream spread for 10shot with 10X was only 19fps !
CFE is "ok", but I'll stick with BLC2/Win748/RL15; whatever I've got on hand when I load .223....
If I was running an AR15 "hard" (blasting....), CFE would have it's place,(reduced fouling) but the high charge weights make it less economical.
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