Good use for CFE 223 Powder

[JEBruns]

Haven’t tried those. I do use the Barnes 52 grain Match Burner from my 20” FN barreled upper. Shoots great and very flat.

I love the Match Burners in my 6.5CM. Haven't been able to source them locally for my .223's yet. But the SMK's work so well, I'm not a big hurry to find them either.

The 75 grain Hornady is commonly available. Maybe that will work.

Stay away from the 75gr Hornady ELD-M's, unless you like feeding bullets one at a time. The suggested COL on those makes them too long for a magazine.

 

[Charlie98]

But the SMK's work so well

They really do, don't they? I've tried most of the mainstream bullets, but the SMK always wins. Conversely, I have not had much luck with Hornady match bullets, not when they are up against the SMK's... in the .30's or the 6.5ManBun, the exception being the .22 cal 62grn bullets... either FMJ or BTHP... just flat work. I was surprised to find the Hornady 62grn FMJ shot as good as the BHTP...

 

[DMW1116]

I love the Match Burners in my 6.5CM. Haven't been able to source them locally for my .223's yet. But the SMK's work so well, I'm not a big hurry to find them either.


Stay away from the 75gr Hornady ELD-M's, unless you like feeding bullets one at a time. The suggested COL on those makes them too long for a magazine.

Roger that. The ELD-M 75 grain bullets are too long. I've always used the 75 grain BTHP.

 

[Lennyjoe]

We still talk about CFE223 uses?

 

[roval]

i use cfe 223 for 223 rem loads with hornady 55 gr vmax. it's very accurate in my savage12 with a 1:9 twist. this was my first 3 shot 100yd group after doing a ladder workup and settling on a load. i then adjusted the elevation. it was my first rifle reload.

 

[small town life]

I bought cfe223 for 5.56 and 308win loads along with tac and imr4895 strictly for AR's.

 

[Random 8]

Thats good information there. I've tried a couple of times with a 25-yard pistol target (5.5" diameter). That's pretty rough with iron sights for me. Not bad scoped, but irons are tough. I have a 10/22 set up for 100-yard practice with Tech Sights to save some money. See, it saves money for me to buy another rifle. No really, it does.

The service rifle targets have a pretty good black that shows up in M1, M14 and A2 sights pretty well. As of several years ago, an AR15 based service rifle may have a 4.5x optic installed. I know 2 shooters who switched to CFE223 in the last shortage and do quite well with it. I don't think the powder selection is costing them any points. It's a rather large target, and scores have more to do with the nut behind the trigger than carefully tailored loads. I shoot the 75 Hornady BTHP and the ELD-m single loaded for 600 yards. I think your CFE will do fine with a 75 Hornady or that RMR bullet to at least get your feet wet with sling shooting, and either of those bullets will hold up at 600 yards if you wish to try the full course of fire. I shoot the ELD-m as I'm at the level where if it might shave a point, I'll try it. Add an M1 Web sling and a shooting mat to your kit, and you pretty much will have what you need to dabble with a 20" AR.

 

[GooseGestapo]

In a different vein, I find CFE-223 to be slightly better than LVR in the .308MarlinExp and .338MarlinExp.
Near equal charge weight but slightly better velocities and accuracy.

My favorite use however is in the obscure and long out of production .25-36Marlin.
From the 1893’s 26” barrel with a near pristine bore, I get 2,300fps with the Hornady 110gr FTX bullet. Groups at 100yds run around 2” (5 shots), which is as good as I can do with the iron sights. The load is 27.5gr of CFE-233, which is a starting load for the .25-35Win.

 

[Saluki91]

The issue with using it in my AR-10 so far is the need for a different gas block setting that has little margin for error. You make a good point though. It might not be an issue with a different bullet. That 168 gr Amax has given me trouble with nearly every powder I've tried. I'll check the Hornady app and see what they say. CFE 223 seems to be a gassy powder. It shows symptoms of overgassing with my 223 loads too.

308 147gr FMJ PULLED - 500ct - American Reloading

Minimal pull marks - FMJ from mixed manufacturers

americanreloading.com

147gr Ball $.13 per trigger pull… just in case you are still looking.

 

[gwpercle]

Keep It . You never know what will happen in a few years . The price of powder will likely double at least once and you never know what new rifle will fall in your lap ... just when that new rifle does you wont have to search and scratch for powder if it's sitting on the back shelf .
Powder has a long shelf life and it doesn't eat any hay or ask for rent .
My advice ... Stash it for later ... the day will come when you will need it !
Gary

 

[DMW1116]

That sounds like a good plan. I have loads for all the stuff I use. Maybe I’ll do a couple of load work ups with the open jug I have and save the rest. If I need to load it I’ll have something to start.

 

[DMW1116]

308 147gr FMJ PULLED - 500ct - American Reloading

Minimal pull marks - FMJ from mixed manufacturers

americanreloading.com

147gr Ball $.13 per trigger pull… just in case you are still looking.

That’s a helluva deal there.

 

[Bronco72]

DO NOT SELL !!!!! Save for future.
Reloading supplies will get harder and harder to get along with the price always reaching for the sky.

 

[N555]

Have you tried the RMR 75’s? I like them a lot.

Yeah RMR bullets are like half the price of "cheap target bullets" and they're more consistent.
They're so consistent it's like they use 1 bullet forming die for each lot.

 

[DMW1116]

The 69 grain ones seem good. I just couldn’t get them to shoot with CFE 223. I should probably revisit them though. I fooled myself into thinking they could shoot, so maybe I’ve fooled myself into thinking they can’t.

 

[DMW1116]

I found some CCI 41 primers I forgot I had. I think I’ll cook up a spicy 55 grain FMJ load and the try a 150 grain FMJ load in 308.