Anyone using CFE223 in 308 FTR rifles?

[savageshooter86]

Anyone have any positive experience with this powder?

Temp sensitive as some claim?

And does anyone know if Berger lists this combo in their manual?

 

[fourpower]

I will just give you my load in .308. we cant find varget anywhere around here so I tried cfe. it works great at 48.5 grs with 168gr berger and is now my goto load. my bbl is 26in and I average 2835 fps. shoots great and cleans up great.

 

[amlevin]

I will just give you my load in .308. we cant find varget anywhere around here so I tried cfe. it works great at 48.5 grs with 168gr berger and is now my goto load. my bbl is 26in and I average 2835 fps. shoots great and cleans up great.

Another fan here. Love how little copper I see in the bore after several hundred rounds. It does leave some soot behind but cleans up easily.

I've shot it in the "teens" and at temps approaching 100 degrees. Doesn't seem to be any more or less temp sensitive than IMR4064 or Varget in that range.

BTW, my pet load is 48.1 gr under a 168 gr SMK 2815 fps from a 24" Benchmark bbl.

 

[rogn]

It shoots very well in my AR10 with both 168 and 175 grains. I haven't done extensive work since hunting started ,but indications were about 1/2". I won't give loads since Im mostly using IVI cases and they weigh over 190 grs.

 

[savageshooter86]

anyone else care to share experiences with this combo?

This is good to know

 

[The6.5Lapua]

I just picked some up and plan to try it for my 20" aac-sd. I will be trying 155s up to 208 amax. Any loads and starting points are appreciated.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I have an unopened 8lb keg I bought in June. I've been waiting to learn alittle more about what others are getting from it in .223 and .308. When I started shooting my .308 FTR rifle mid last year I bought 2 kegs of H-4895. I like it so far.

 

[savageshooter86]

yeah I have wanted to try H4895 and IMR 4064 but am waiting until they get it back in stock. Just happened to get 8# of this and thinking it may have to work when I run out of Varget here very soon

 

[amlevin]

yeah I have wanted to try H4895 and IMR 4064 but am waiting until they get it back in stock. Just happened to get 8# of this and thinking it may have to work when I run out of Varget here very soon

Of the two I'm liking the IMR 4064 far better in my .308 loads. Yesterday was another "1/4 MOA Day" using 42.3 gr in a Lapua Case with Tula primer and a 175 SMK. 2704 fps avg with an 8.3 SD (10 rounds).

When Varget disappeared I fell back on some H-4895 with less than satisfying results. Then found a couple of cases of IMR-4064. Works so good I may never use up the last of my Varget.

 

[rcmojo]

Using 47.1gr of CFE223 under 175 SMK, Fed 210 match primer, LC brass, through a Rem 700 5R, 24" barrel, 11.25:1 twist, 40 degree temp at 3500 ft altitude, yeilded great results in my last test runs. Pulled the first 3/8 inch right, then stacked the next 4 in a 0.10 inch grouping. I will definately be checking this load out further. I didnt have the chrono set up but will definately have it running next time.

 

[gaboon]

My only question about the cfe 223 is the amount of powder. It's 2 to 3grains higher then other powders. Will it affect rounds per lb vs cleaning a little more. What chemicals are they using to remove copper and how will it affect barrel metal. Ok a couple of questions.

 

[broncman]

After some research I HIGHLY SUSPECT they are using calcium carbonate to control the copper mechanically.....think JB Bore paste here....

I do have a chemist buddy that says if I get him a sample he can tell me what is in it

 

[amlevin]

After some research I HIGHLY SUSPECT they are using calcium carbonate to control the copper mechanically.....think JB Bore paste here....

I do have a chemist buddy that says if I get him a sample he can tell me what is in it

Most others feel that the company just went back to using the same "anti fouling" methods used in the early 20th Century. Tin and/or Bismuth compounds that prevent the copper from adhering to the barrel metal when fired.

Not a "polishing compound" or "scouring agent" but merely altering the barrel gases to provide a barrier.
I've shot 18 pounds of CFE223 through my .308's and AR-15's. Other than a little soot which cleans out easy there's nothing happening to the barrels.

As for the extra .2gr of powder? Wow, a whole $0.004 per round. Consider what one pays in Copper Removing Cleaners, the extra time "scrubbing", and patch expense. I'll take the CFE223 any day.

 

[savageshooter86]

I am trying it this weekend in my AR using 55vmax and 69SMK and then will try it in 308 later. It throws from my Uniflow within 0.05 gr. That is more than accurate for what I am wanting to do(I think). Tried weighing on digital scale and using Omega trickler but too much hassle

More testing with how accurate/consistent it will throw but that could be used in my FTR rifle possibly if it continues to show these results

 

[amlevin]

does anyone know if Berger lists this powder with the hybrids?

I am planning on working up to 49.0gr

Last time I asked Berger for load data on one of their bullets I merely got a printout from QuickLoad.

I found 48.1 gr was great for me using a 168 gr SMK and 46 gr with a 175 gr SMK. Pressure seems to build quick as you pass the mid-point of the load range (based on Hodgdon data) but for me the best performance was just between "Flat Primer" and "Stiff Bolt Lift".

Not sure how much different the hybrids will do.

 

[savageshooter86]

anyone know if this really is the "same" as PowerPro 2000? Been reading this might be the same powder

 

[SmokinJoe]

CFE seems about 3 grains faster in the small amount of shooting I have done with both powders.

 

[amlevin]

anyone know if this really is the "same" as PowerPro 2000? Been reading this might be the same powder

My guess is that unless it's manufactured in the SAME factory it won't be the same, merely similar.

 

[savageshooter86]

was told it was produced at same factory? But then again I don't know

 

[Jeffvn]

It works great in my 27.5" Keiger AMU contour .308. Pushes a 175 smk @ 2,850 fps with no pressure signs and holds tight waterline at 1,000 yard line.