Anyone using CFE in a 223 AI?

[AckleymanII]

would love to hear your experiences.

 

[varmintshooter]

would love to hear your experiences.

tried it in a 223 but didn't like it, to temp sensitive.

 

[scope eye]

I like it in my 223 AI, it meters nice and you can really pack it in and get some half decent speed, I haven't really noticed if it is cleaner burning than any other powder.

Dean

 

[timeout]

I like it in my 223 AI, it meters nice and you can really pack it in and get some half decent speed, I haven't really noticed if it is cleaner burning than any other powder.

Dean

IME it burns very sooty.

 

[scope eye]

They were claiming cleaner burning when it first came out.

Dean

 

[timeout]

They were claiming cleaner burning when it first came out.

Dean

My understanding is it was developed for the military as a CFE, copper fouling eliminator. I shot some in a 22-250 and never saw so much soot. May well slow copper fouling?

 

[benchracer]

The "soot" produced by CFE 223 is the mechanism used to control copper fouling, which I have found to be effective. I worked with this powder and 6 different bullets in my 5.56 chambered bolt gun last summer and was happy with the results. It produced good velocity and good accuracy, while controlling copper fouling. It is a slower burning powder and seems to do its best work with heavier for caliber .224 bullets. I think CFE would be an excellent choice for high volume shooting, such as over a prairie dog town.

When loading ammo for a match, my choice is IMR 8208 XBR. IME, it produces lower ES/SD numbers than CFE 223 and has a reputation for temp stability, though it tends to give up some velocity.

For a balance of copper fouling control, velocity, and temp insensitivity, I believe AR-COMP is worth a look. I haven't done as much work with this powder, but it shows a lot of promise.

 

[Deleted old_dood]

I like it alot. 26.1 gr with 75 Amax and 26 gr with 69 TMK. Better than 1/2 MOA, off bipod, at 200 yds.