20 PPC, 20 BR (or anything similar)loads with CFE223 and 40 grain bullets?
- Thread starter Tommie
- Start date
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
I've got a 20 PPC in the works and CFE 223 powder on hand but cant help until the rifle is done. Seems the 20 PPC and 20 BR isnt very common. I'm sure the guys on Saubier know all about it. I would like to hear any info on this thread or any info you find other places.
7315br
Silver $$ Contributor
Tommie, probably not much if any help to you, but I've had both 20 PPC and 20BR rifles for a number of years. H-335 has worked best in the 20 PPC and the 40 gr V-Max. RL-15 has been the best for me with the 55 gr Berger in the 20BR. I've never tried CFE 223. I just finished another barrel for my 20 PPC. I'd like to hear how the CFE 223 loads work out for you. 7315br
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
It's a bit slower, but not quite as slow as RL15. Close to BLC-2. Pick up the latest Hodgdon reloading manual. They list loads with CFE 223 for all types of cartridges right along with 8208
According to Wester Powders burn rate chart, CFE223 is right with N135. That puts it between IMR 4064 and REL-15. BTW BL-C 2 is quite a bit faster than CFE 223. Thanks for helping!
GAnderson
Gold $$ Contributor
OK, I looked on Hodgdons web site and they list CFE for a 22PPC...it has a min. of 30grns and a max of 32grns using 40gr bullets. I kind of figured somewhere around that for the 20PPC...will probably start around 29.0 and work up using 40gr bullets and see what happens. I will see what happens and post what I come up with...probably tomorrow.
Gene
Gene
Excellent! Thanks!!!
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
Hodgdon is the biggest name in the game and they have been around since the start. They even own IMR now. I have been developing loads for Wildcats with no data using Hodgdons burn rate chart for many many years. It's the ONLY source I trust to develop safe loads using a burn rate chart.
It’s all good, my friend. I absolutely appreciate your help and respect your knowledge. Hope I didn’t come across as confrontational.
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
No not at all. I've made a very scary mistake with Wildcat load development in the past by using burn rate charts that were not correct. Nearly blew up a rifle because of it. It's a safety issue.
CFE 223 is a powder made and owned by Hodgdon. Western Powders lists CFE 223 in a completely different area of the burn rate chart than Hodgdon. Western is a small company and I'd be willing to bet they havent actually tested all the powders they list in their chart. Hodgdon has.
It is much wiser to use information from the actual manufacturer of the powder on a burn rate chart Hodgdon built over decades of testing. As stated before, I have used their chart for many years to produce safe loads never before tested in cartridges.
GAnderson
Gold $$ Contributor
Tommie, here are my results from today...keep in mind that this is a 20PPC Ackley and the loads for my rifle may not be suitable for you in yours. The CFE did well and had good velocity...my only complaint is that it doesn't have what I consider a good "case fill". I actually started out at 28grns and went up to 31grns...31 was where I started to get slightly heavy bolt lift and I didn't go any farther with it. It seemed to have 2 nodes and did the best groups at the higher node. These were all 3 shot groups at 100yds, I used 6 pieces of brass throughout testing and Rem 7 1/2 primers with 40gr V-max bullets. A few groups with 2 in one hole and one out and a couple of very respectable groups. Also have a pic of 2 patches after shooting 24 total rounds...first patch is fairly black and second patch is clean...using wipe out accelerator for these first 2 patches. Hopefully this gives you a starting point...but start low and work up.
Gene
Gene
Attachments
Gene,
Thank you so much for taking time to run those loads, especially the chronograph readings. Showing the cleaning patches was a great touch too. May I ask a few questions?
- What is the barrel length?
- Have you tried any ball powders slower than CFE223? I too prefer a full case.
- How did these SD and ES numbers compare to other loads you've run?
Again, thanks!
Tom
GAnderson
Gold $$ Contributor
Tom,
-barrel length is 24"
-no I haven't run anything(ball or extruded) slower than CFE...although there seems to be quite a bit of difference in the various burn rate charts out there as far as where certain powders align on each chart
-The sd and es numbers were actually a little better than what I have previously got with other loads...ironically though, I have had some "bad" numbers but shot some really small groups in the zero's and one's
My "go to" powder for this cartridge has been A2520...very good case fill, very good velocity and very consistent groups.
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