CFE223 powder in the 358 Winchester - test results

[Ru4real]

No loading table info that I could find. Thought I’d share my results.

I did a primer test with CFE223 today and the result was that perhaps magnum primers work better with CFE223 in my gun. I’d read people are using magnum primers for more consistent ignition with CFE223 and decided to test that idea.

Both primers shot pretty well, so I’d be confident using either magnum or standard primers.

I compared CFE223 to IMR-3031 using same gun, same cases, same primers and bullets (IMR is my longtime go to load).

Gun info: Savage Axis II compact, 358 Winchester ER Shaw 24 inch free floated barrel, Vortex Crossfire 4-12 X 40mm scope

Bullet / Cartridge Info: Hornady Interlock 200 grain 358 caliber SP loaded to 2.670” cartridge overall length; Win 358 brass

Powder Info: Hodgdon CFE223 at 53.0 grains - my maximum weight

Primers tested: Federal 215 Magnum and CCI-200 Standard

Comparison load: 200gr Hornady Interlock 200gr 358 loaded with 45gr IMR-3031 @ COAL 2.670” (49gr is published max)

Velocity Information

IMR-3031 with CCI-200
Avg = 2537 fps
StanDev = 21.5 fps


CFE223 with CCI-200
Avg = 2569 fps
Stan Dev = 15.0 fps


CFE223 with Federal 215
Avg = 2556 fps
Stan Dev = 7.64 fps (about half standard primers)

I feel pretty good about CFE223 replacing RL15, BL-c(2) and IMR-3031 in this gun and in my inventory. I have a couple pounds of CFE223 for now, and when things return to normal, I’ll get an 8 pound keg for use in 223, 30-30 and 358.

Both groups I shot were sub MOA.

In the case head stamp photo, upper two cases are CFE223, and bottom two cases are IMR-3031. CFE223 appears to have more pressure than IMR (mild load) but doesn’t appear to be excessive pressure.

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View attachment 992586

 

[Ru4real]

I should add that I shot a group with Speer 250 grain Grand Slams that I loaded 15 years ago. Those shot pretty good as well, but I had two misfires in 15 rounds. One fired on a second try, the other didn’t.

 

[Ru4real]

CFE223 seemed to work well in the 358 Winchester. It is slightly slower burning compared to IMR-3031. It meters very well.

I have quite a few partial boxes of 358 bullets that I should get rid of. 180 grain Speer flat point. 250 grain Speer spitzer. 250 grain Speer Grand Slam. 200 grain Hornady round nose. I could give them away, or load em up and shoot boulders

 

[Nature Boy]

Pretty much any powder that works well for .223 and .308 should also work in .358 win. I’ve found really good loads with Varget, H4895, and VV N140

 

[Bfh_auto]

CFE223 seemed to work well in the 358 Winchester. It is slightly slower burning compared to IMR-3031. It meters very well.

I have quite a few partial boxes of 358 bullets that I should get rid of. 180 grain Speer flat point. 250 grain Speer spitzer. 250 grain Speer Grand Slam. 200 grain Hornady round nose. I could give them away, or load em up and shoot boulders

Don't waste the 180gr hotcore.
CFE-223 and 180 Speer is my deer load in a Whelen.
It's mild on recoil and deadly.

 

[bluejay75]

How did the 3031 loads do accuracy wise?

 

[Ru4real]

Free 35 caliber bullets to whoever wants them.

Pick one (1) box you want and PM me, and post up here to let others know which bullets you PM’d me about, first come first served. Times are tough, and I got lucky last weekend, so I want to give away bullets I value a whole lot less now, but others may really want or need. I’m keeping the Barnes and Hornady SP on the left in the photo.

Last weekend I made my 45 mile drive to my favorite gun store. Shelves were mostly empty. Surprisingly how easy it was to see something I probably looked at 25 times but didn’t “see”. Boxes of 200 grain Barnes TSX flat base. Marked at $34 per box, LOL, that’s how long they’d been there, so I bought em all.

About 7 years ago I bought 1000 Hornady Interlock 200gr 358 SP, of which I still have 700 left. These new 200 gr Barnes fly exactly the same as the Hornady out to 300y. So thus, time to get rid of the center and right bullets in the photo. No more sight adjustments!


View attachment 992783

 

[Bfh_auto]

Free 35 caliber bullets to whoever wants them.

Pick one (1) box you want and PM me, and post up here to let others know which bullets you PM’d me about, first come first served. Times are tough, and I got lucky last weekend, so I want to give away bullets I value a whole lot less now, but others may really want or need. I’m keeping the Barnes and Hornady SP on the left in the photo.

Last weekend I made my 45 mile drive to my favorite gun store. Shelves were mostly empty. Surprisingly how easy it was to see something I probably looked at 25 times but didn’t “see”. Boxes of 200 grain Barnes TSX flat base. Marked at $34 per box, LOL, that’s how long they’d been there, so I bought em all.

About 7 years ago I bought 1000 Hornady Interlock 200gr 358 SP, of which I still have 700 left. These new 200 gr Barnes fly exactly the same as the Hornady out to 300y. So thus, time to get rid of the center and right bullets in the photo. No more sight adjustments!


View attachment 992783

I would got you up for the 180s but I have 300 plus a partial.
It you put it on the PIF thread I'm sure someone is in need.