Anybody try the CFE223 in a 7mm08 with lighter bullets? Put one together and starting to work up some loads but kinda stuck on powder choices for it. I know just about anything will run in it but hoping to eliminate a lot of guess work. Sierra's accuracy load is the CFE223 for the 120gr so I figured I'd start there but there is also a huge load difference between Hodgdon's data and Sierra's data?
7mm08 and CFE 223 for 120gr Vmax
- Thread starter Lefty Trigger
- Start date
Adam in WI
Practically lives here
H414 was the stuff for me when I ran 120s, but I don't recall having CFE available at that point. It's all guidelines anyway, I'd just pick a few grains under the lower max and work up.
Go hot, go hot.
I trust hogdon load data, i always load to their max or a tiny bit over with no pressure signs. It looks like you could go to 50 with no problem. I load my 308 /110vmax with 56 cfe223 and it's excellent.
I had tried CFE223 in my 7mm-08, 7mm-08AI.
I didn't like it.
Velocity was decent, but accuracy at longer ranges (300-500 yards) wasn't good.
A trip through the chrono showed why.
ES, SD where both high.
Also note on hot days people have been complaining of overpressure from CFE223.
RL17 gave best velocity (120-150gr bullets)
H414, H4350, PP2000 gave good results accross the board.
Of those Alliant PP2000 gave lowest velocity spread. ES-6/SD-2 fps.
I didn't like it.
Velocity was decent, but accuracy at longer ranges (300-500 yards) wasn't good.
A trip through the chrono showed why.
ES, SD where both high.
Also note on hot days people have been complaining of overpressure from CFE223.
RL17 gave best velocity (120-150gr bullets)
H414, H4350, PP2000 gave good results accross the board.
Of those Alliant PP2000 gave lowest velocity spread. ES-6/SD-2 fps.
As much as I hate Varget powder I did buy a couple of pounds to try in this rifle. Looks like I need to be around 43.8 to 44.8 for the 120gr so I will try it again.
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
std7mag,
I shoot Alliant 2000 mr in my 7-08 I haven’t heard of pp 2000 is it the same or two different powders.
Wayne
I used it (CFE223) with 120gr Barns TTSX, 9.5:1 twist, it shot well (sub MOA) @ 100yds but because I'm sitting on a bunch of free Hornady 139's I am shooting them with Varget. No chronograph data yet, but I would not hesitate to shoot a 120 TTXS CFE223 load for WT season around here.
Attached are the CFE223 and Varget target CFE223 is 8 shots Varget is 5
Attached are the CFE223 and Varget target CFE223 is 8 shots Varget is 5
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I know this post is a little stale, but I sampled 120 nbt, with cfe223, this past weekend. Results were encouraging, sub 1/2 inch group, on three samples. Chronograph data not avail, Hodgdon data puts the load I used at about, 3150. This was a throw together sort of load, but a definite revisit, and fine tune!
Why do you hate Varget? Varget has been good to me in my Son's 7-08 and my 6.5x47.
Be careful with your workup with the StaBall. I've been working with it, in a few bullet weights, and this stuff, while doing ladder tests, will suddenly spike, with minimal upcharge. I had one load, actually two, that spiked, and I was 2.0 + grains LOWER, then max, and I got bolt swipe, and ejector Mark's. No chronograph data. But another friend has had the same issues. I aborted it for now, as I've found that RL16 is really giving great accuracy, and no pressure at all.
The cfe223 is impressive stuff on the lighter stuff. Burns clean too!
I think the whitetail would be in trouble with either one of those loads. I can tell you, the 120ttsx is a badass bullet, and at that velocity, with stiff charges of either one of those powders, boom, out goes the lites.
My 7-08 has shown me it will shoot everything from 120, to 168 grain bullets, without too much fuss. I haven't decided which bullet, and weight, I'll use, come deer season, but the 120ttsx is definitely on my radar. Some have even said the 110 is no joke either. Good luck with your choices, it wouldn't be hard, flip a coin on those two loads.
JEFFPPC
Gold $$ Contributor
If you run out of Imax try Hornaday 120 HP. Every 7mm I have owned from 7TCU thru 7Mag shoots them into bugholes. Not sexy looking but they just work.
A few years ago I was working up some light loaded 120 TTSX's for my wife to shoot in a Browning MicroHunter with a 20in barrel. I thought Varget would be the ticket. It was not. CFE223 and for sure StaBall 6.5 was not around yet. IMR4350 was the powder of choice on the lighter end loads for that particular rifle. I have a heavier barreled 7mm-08 on a trued 700 action with a Krieger 1-9 twist barrel that doesnt like H4350 or IMR 4350 with any bullet but loves Varget. Historically, across the board I haven't been to successful with Varget. For hunting, I am more of a long action, standard caliber guy 270, 30-06, but 7mm-08 is my favorite short action caliber. I and do hunt with it quite a bit with great sucsess. I have even made my longest kill with that rifle. If I had to build that 700 again I would probably do a 7MM-08 AI just to be different no other reason than that.
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