CFE223 my least favorite powder

[Linko]

Anyone else find this powder difficult to work with? I find it sticks to everything, and is difficult to handle in general. I pulled a few rounds and couldn't get it off my hands or completely out of the cases. Not easy to weigh rounds and trickle either.

 

[strut64]

I have tried to use it for 223 Rem. Failed on each occasion. I have most of a 1# bottle and I might as well just go pour it the grass outside.

 

[JSH]

No complaints from me.
Actually a new favorite.

Sticky,gummy sounds like it got real hot or cross contaminated.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I shoot it in my .223 PRS trainer, .308 PRS rifle, no complaints. I have two accurate loads. .223 to 600 yards, simply because the bullet is 68 grains. The .308, 175 SMK, out to 1000 yards with excellent accuracy.

Small issues I can deal with when I'm getting accuracy.

Don Dunlap

 

[Zero333]

If you weigh each charge, then there is no reason to use a ball powder.

I only use ball when loading on my xl650 for mostly gas guns.
My favourite ball powder around that burn rate is W-748.

 

[Ol’ Ed]

I love the stuff. 29.5 grains of CFE223 pushes a 40gr Nosler out of my .204 at a little over 3,900 ft/sec with fine accuracy!

 

[Robert Weidler]

CFE 223 works great in my 6.5 Dasher. 36.2 g sends 123 SMK at 2910 fps with good accuracy. Rang the bell at 1200 yds a few weeks ago. No issues with ease of use, it meters and trickles with ease and no mess. Only complaint is dirty barrel after shooting.

 

[SSL]

It has been the absolute best powder for my .17 Remington and .22/250 that I have ever used. Top velocity without undue pressure, excellent accuracy and easy cleaning. Never noticed any handling difficulties and meters very well. I was so impressed with it that when CFE Pistol came out I began using it for my .45 Colts and .44 Magnums for mid-range loads with excellent results.

 

[longtrapshootn]

I dislike CFE 223 in both .223 and .308. I have used it in .308 for 147 gr fmj's and 168 gr smk and in .223 with 62 gr balls and 69gr smk's. It gets great velocity, the best actually of any Powder I have tried. And it meters outstanding. But after 5 shots on a hot day the poi shifts. I have tried the same loads in several rifles, none of them shift poi with powders like Benchmark or even ball powders like H335. But CFE sure does. It will group great for 4-5 shots. And if you let the barrel/chamber cool all the way down, and keep your ammo at the same temp, it will work great.

 

[CharlieNC]

Try grounding yourself to dissipate static electricity, and wipe down your loading gear with a dryer sheet for static as well. The power is so fine it will adhere to surfaces with even the slightest amount of oily residue. No problems for me using these techniques.

 

[DustyKat]

I have not noticed any stickiness in loading this powder. I use it in my 35 Whelen behind a 225 Sierra SBT with great accuracy and phenomenal velocity for this old timer. Will use it this coming November on Elk. Meters like water.

 

[Alaska Bush Man]

CFE 233 works very well in 20” 308 Win with 168 MK @ 45.4

 

[grovey]

I haven't used it in quite a spell, but I agree with it clinging to everything.

 

[Herzo]

Could not find a load that worked with a 77 grain SMK in 223, but it works great with a 69 grain TMK in a carbine.

 

[jepp2]

Anyone else find this powder difficult to work with?

I had a can I hadn't tried. Then I bought a 223AI used. Asked the previous owner what load he used. Said CFE 223 with 40 gr Nosler BTV's. Humm. I wouldn't have picked that slow of powder for that light of bullet, but I tried it. He was right!

It is becoming one of my favorites. Getting ready to load some today with Hornady 80 ELDM for my long range 223. Again previous owner said great load.

Cheap - check
can load volumetric - check

Meets my criteria. And I work with it in humidity in the 10-20 percent range and have none of the problems you described.

 

[Laurie]

I love the stuff. 29.5 grains of CFE223 pushes a 40gr Nosler out of my .204 at a little over 3,900 ft/sec with fine accuracy!

Bulk versions of CFE223 were reputedly used in Hornady 204 Ruger ammo on its introduction, and I wouldn't be surprised if that's still so. Pressure / velocity relationship aside, the then rare anti-coppering additive was important as Hornady was well aware of an earlier generation velocity superstar, the .17 Rem, being nearly killed off by (now believed exaggerated) excessive barrel fouling criticisms.

 

[Justin B]

I liked it in the 20 Practical minus the smell it made when shooting was pretty bad. Shooting suppressed in the pickup with the AR on a rat patch would about gag a maggot.

 

[SPQR70AD]

CFE 223 works great in my 6.5 Dasher. 36.2 g sends 123 SMK at 2910 fps with good accuracy. Rang the bell at 1200 yds a few weeks ago. No issues with ease of use, it meters and trickles with ease and no mess. Only complaint is dirty barrel after shooting.

you must mean powder fouling left in your barrel cause it will even clean old copper out of the barrel without leaving any new copper

 

[SPQR70AD]

CFE 233 works very well in 20” 308 Win with 168 MK @ 45.4

in the hodgdon manual it states 3000 fps in 308 with 24" barrel and 155 gr bullet. that is serious velocity for a 308

 

[linebaugh]

Nothing sticky about it here and no more static cling than any other powder. I shoot it in my 223AI prs trainer and love the stuff. Meters very well right off the drop, great velocity and no problems noted. I run 10-12 round rapid sessions and a warm to hot barrel is not uncommon if I actually shoot matches with it. Never noticed a POI shift but I am not shooting paper matches so you may be correct.
I would not be surprised to learn that it has a higher temp sensitivity and would need to check my strelock but I bet I am set at .7fps per degree or something like that over the course of about 40 degrees... 60-100 degrees for my area.

I wonder if you have a moisture issue or just got a bad can that was exposed to something?