Cfe223

[Matt_3479]

I found some cfe223 when I can’t find much else.
Im curious is this better with the lightweight bullets, mid weight or heavy weight bullets in a 223. I’d like to maybe try this powder in a 223 rem and 20 tactical. I’m normally running 35 gr beegers and 39gr blitzkings in the 20 and 75gr eld’s in the 223.

 

[JB10]

Im using it with 75gr bthp hornadys in an AR 223 with good results. Also tried it with the 68gr hornadys. I have not tried it in anything lighter. In ur 20 cal should work as its a powder for the 204R also. I have a 204 but use h4895 in it.

 

[CJ6]

I'm using CFE 223 with the 75 gr ELDMs 8 twist......26.5 grs. 5 thou off lands The charge is Hornadys 5.56 NATO max load but NO pressure signs at all..... AWESOME.

 

[RegionRat]

CFE223 works in all the mentioned contexts.

It can work across the lighter varmint bullets in 223 and then run all the way up to the heavies. It is one of the more versatile ball powders around.

In 204 Ruger, I have used it with the 40 VMax and 39 SBK and it does well.

While it may not match the performance stats of the temp stable extruded powders, it makes up for this in ease of use and is well behaved.

 

[White Eagle]

not in the 223 but I use it in the 224 Valkyrie and 222 Remington
I like it

 

[rijndael]

I've only used it in my 308 and never got acceptable chrono numbers.

 

[Matt_3479]

Thank you! I ended up getting lucky this morning and found 8lbs of 8208xbr and 8lbs cfe223 so I got both and hopefully can make a load with the cfe 223 in the 223 and save the 8208 for the 20 tac as I have 2 barrels that need to be fed lol. I’m willing to drop down in bullet weight for the 223 as it’s a trainer anyways so I can develop an accurate load that’s all that matters for barricade practice anyways. We also have a match at 500 yards so if I can get a bullet with decent bc to shoot decent it would be fun to take it there as well

 

[jepp2]

Im curious is this better with the lightweight bullets,

I bought a used Cooper 223AI from a guy. I asked him what load worked best for him. He said CFE 223 with Nosler 40 gr BTV bullets. I would have never picked that powder for a lighter bullet due to the burn rate. But I tried it, and it performed better than any other powder I tried.

 

[Matt_3479]

I bought a used Cooper 223AI from a guy. I asked him what load worked best for him. He said CFE 223 with Nosler 40 gr BTV bullets. I would have never picked that powder for a lighter bullet due to the burn rate. But I tried it, and it performed better than any other powder I tried.

I just found a burn rate chart, I didn’t realize how slow it was in comparison to some of the other popular powders. It should work well with some of the heavier bullets then! I kind of assumed it would’ve been faster then 8208 and n140

 

[DLH_]

I found some cfe223 when I can’t find much else.
Im curious is this better with the lightweight bullets, mid weight or heavy weight bullets in a 223. I’d like to maybe try this powder in a 223 rem and 20 tactical. I’m normally running 35 gr beegers and 39gr blitzkings in the 20 and 75gr eld’s in the 223.

If you look up Jonny’s Reloading Bench on YouTube, he uses CFE223 a great deal in a range of different bullets. Maybe that could help?

 

[Bill K]

CFE 223 is a very good. all around powder, in many rifles. Check your loading manual and you will see.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Thank you! I ended up getting lucky this morning and found 8lbs of 8208xbr and 8lbs cfe223 so I got both and hopefully can make a load with the cfe 223 in the 223 and save the 8208 for the 20 tac as I have 2 barrels that need to be fed lol. I’m willing to drop down in bullet weight for the 223 as it’s a trainer anyways so I can develop an accurate load that’s all that matters for barricade practice anyways. We also have a match at 500 yards so if I can get a bullet with decent bc to shoot decent it would be fun to take it there as well

On barricade practice I've used CFE223 and Hornaday 68gr bthp, it works well out to 400 and can be pushed to 500. This was out of my 20" barrel. I'd definitely be running the 75eldm in a Match.

 

[sw282]

Jepp. You can send that ole Cooper AI to me. Keep the CFE.
Seriously CFE223/40grVMAX in a standard 223Rem will cut a prairie dog in HALF inside 300yds. Sierra manual lists top velocity in 20TAC @4100fps/32gr SBK/CFE223.
I'm about to load some 32s and CFE223 for my 20tac Cooper @4000. l like all the CFE pdrs. CFE/BLK for 221fb. CFE/Pistol in my 44 Smith IHMSA silhouette revolver

 

[Laurie]

I would have never picked that powder for a lighter bullet due to the burn rate.

I just found a burn rate chart, I didn’t realize how slow it was in comparison to some of the other popular powders.

Hodgdon's St. Marks manufactured 'sphericals' don't seem to fit well into conventional burn rate charts. The much older BL-C(2) from the same maker has moved up and down these charts over the past 25 or so years in relative terms according to their source and/or the changing seasons. CFE-223 seems to be an exceptionally flexible number so far as the small-case cartridges go, certainly by traditional ball powder standards, and does well with a very large range of bullet weights. (This is an increasingly noticeable trend no doubt reflecting the general heavy bias amongst western military establishments towards ball type propellants for smallarms ammunition, and the resulting concentration of R&D effort in their improvement by manufacturers. The Belgian made Ramshots are similarly flexible in cartridges like 223.)

CFE 223 is a very good. all around powder, in many rifles. Check your loading manual and you will see.

I agree. Ignoring burn rate charts and focussing on what handloading manuals and others sources say is a much better course with these powders. I'm a non-fan of these charts in any case and throw several pinches of salt around whenever I feel the need to consult one.

I've only used it in my 308 and never got acceptable chrono numbers.

In my sole use of the powder in 308, I found it exceptionally ignition-sensitive. It appeared to work fine with large primer Lapua brass and Italian Fiocchi LR primers, but trying the equivalent 'Palma' brass SR primer combination with the same pair of bullets produced a couple of misfires and serial hangfires. (Not low temperatures affected - c. 15-deg C / high 50s F.)

 

[jbarnwell]

I just rebarreled a 223 and have used CFE223 and 69 Sierra MK for site in loads. It's shot lights out! I look forward to working with this powder on some other load development. If its shoots as well, ill be in good shape.

 

[joshb]

Great timing for this thread! I had a pound sitting on a shelf to try. A good buddy gave me another 5-6 pounds, 1000 223 cases and 2000 55 grain bullets. I’m going to load a big batch of mixed brass plinking rounds using it.
Just got my 11th addition Hornady Manual and it has the data I need. I’ll do some testing.

 

[Jester560]

I am lining up to check CFE 223 and VV N133 with 69gr SMKs.

 

[JSH]

I was down to a couple of pounds and ordered another 8 lb.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

242.20/8#@ midsouth

 

[Loudenboomer]

Another use for CEE 223 is making the 35 Whelen a speed demon with 250 gr. bullets.