Anyone had much experience with this powder? Thinking of trying it behind some behind 178g Hornady BTHP Match in my .308 since I happen to have a jug of it sitting around. How is the temperature sensitivity?
CFE-223 for .308?
- Thread starter C Valentine
- Start date
Search for forum member Amlevin on here and shoot him a PM as he was into the CFE-223 powder behind 168 class bullets. I tried exact same load based off some comments he posted and my .308 has never shot better! 46.8 grains of CFE-223 in Lapua brass with Fed 210 Match primer and 168 A-Max. Incredible load. I can't answer your question about sensitivity as I've only been using it for 2 weeks. I will say you'll get good velocity. I'm getting 2,798 fps in a 26 inch barrel 12 twist.
Frank
Frank
I finally found some threads on it. Search engines can be finicky....tried CFE-223 and CFE223, but not CFE 223.
Personally I think it's a great powder. Love it for my progressive press when loading .223 or "blasting ammo" in .308.
I've not had a single bullet it hasn't performed excellent with with great speed. I've shot the same load(s) from 15 degree days to just under 100 degree days and it's still maintained accuracy with no pressure sign.
Like it so much i bought 32 lbs in 2012 (just before the election) and am down to my last full jug.
I've not had a single bullet it hasn't performed excellent with with great speed. I've shot the same load(s) from 15 degree days to just under 100 degree days and it's still maintained accuracy with no pressure sign.
Like it so much i bought 32 lbs in 2012 (just before the election) and am down to my last full jug.
Brians356
Gold $$ Contributor
In addition to the many anecdotes about accuracy and velocity, need I point out it very effectively reduces copper fouling? No more copper buildup, just a a light blue wash on the patch using Patch Out (there'll always be a trace of copper, especially if use use a bronze brush) and even that cleans away very quickly. I spend more time removing the black stuff now than the blue. I use nylon brushes only now, too.
Have loaded up a few 178s as well as some 168s to try next range trip.
Brian...about the only things I use for cleaning any more are C4 Carbon Remover and Wipe Out Patch Out. That's after trying just about everything out there! When I finish, there is not a trace of anything on the patches...I could reuse them. Used to think my barrel was clean until I got some C4 patched it in and left it for an hour! ;D
Brian...about the only things I use for cleaning any more are C4 Carbon Remover and Wipe Out Patch Out. That's after trying just about everything out there! When I finish, there is not a trace of anything on the patches...I could reuse them. Used to think my barrel was clean until I got some C4 patched it in and left it for an hour! ;D
I use it with 208 Amax bullets in my 10 twist Krieger cut to 28 inches on a trued Remington action in a Manners T5A stock with a Jewel trigger.
When I worked up a load,I shot 3 shot groups at ,3 grain intervals from the bottom to the top of Hodgdon's load recommendations.In the whole series of groups the largest was .4 inch.
It had a low node in which it shot a group in the mid ones , and a high node in which it shot a group in the high ones.I went with the high node with a velocity of 2550.I believe I was .010 out of the lands .I was amazed at how well it shot in that gun.
When I worked up a load,I shot 3 shot groups at ,3 grain intervals from the bottom to the top of Hodgdon's load recommendations.In the whole series of groups the largest was .4 inch.
It had a low node in which it shot a group in the mid ones , and a high node in which it shot a group in the high ones.I went with the high node with a velocity of 2550.I believe I was .010 out of the lands .I was amazed at how well it shot in that gun.
Ive used it in a variety of 308W's and it has proven very good and consistent. Bullet wgts are 165, 168 and 175. In my clunker 308 hunting rifle, with 165 ABs it has turned in benchrest accuracy, with the only negative being a very noticeable fireball at twilight. Did not check velocity, but trajectory seems consistent with 2600+. Works well in AR platform also with 175grs.
brians356 said:
CFE223 doesn't vaporize copper any more than any other powder. The "copper fouling eraser" feature of the powder is achieved by using metalic compounds that PREVENT copper from adhering to the surfaces within the bore.
The flash is the product of a slower powder not fully burning within the confines of the bore.
Brians356
Gold $$ Contributor
amlevin said:
But the copper has to go somewhere.
According to Dick Metcalf, writing in the 2013 Hodgdon Annual Manual,
"First, it forms an oxide with the molten and still-malleable copper smeared from the bullet, which then leaves the barrel in microscopic fragments as part of the muzzle blast."
Ok, so not vaporized, I grant you. But you can color and enhance the brilliance of a flame (as any high school chemistry student can tell you) by introducing powdered metal.
It's therefore possible that a prominent CFE muzzle flash could have something to do the the presence of copper in larger amounts than with regular powders.
Really late to this party, but if there is a better powder out there for accuracy and efficiency in the .308 that CFE-223 with mid-weight bullets I have not found it. 2K-MR may be a close second. My experience with CFE is that it is about 2 grains faster in top loads than 2K-MR. My gun is a SA M-70 with a Hart cut-rifled (rebore) 1 in 8" twist, 18.5" long. I'm getting 2665 fps with my mid-forties load in Federal cases with Fed 210 primers and the 168-grain A-Max. Bless Larry Potterfield. He still has some of those bullets.
I have found my ES/SD to be all over the place when using the powder at different temps . I only shoot in the 60s to about 100 degrees. Any chance you’ve chronographed the load at those extreme temps . If not if you could that would be great , I’d love to have more info on this powder . I’ve had good results as far as on paper but that’s only out to 300yds . With my bad ES/SD’s I was reluctant to keep using it because I already have similar powders that shoot more consistent.
It will gain elevation as the ambient temperature goes up but at the same time not going crazy with pressure like MR2000 will do. I shot it in both my .223 and. 308 with similar results. To me it does have a little stiffer recoil response than some other powders. .223 was 68 and 70 grain bullets, .308 175smk.
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