DeltaBravo said:
CFE and BLC are right next to each other in the burning rate chart published by Hodgdon. I would guess you could try those charges, backing off 10% from minimum to start and see where it takes you.
Dennis, did you mean back off 10% from
maximum?
Published starting loads are always ~10% below maximum. Dropping down an additional 10% from there is dangerous - gross undercharging can create an explosive condition with certain powders.
FYI I called Hodgdon tech support, and the chap said he could not recommend any starting loads for CFE in 6mm Rem. He said CFE was erratic in that cartridge, but that makes no sense since they publish CFE data for both 243 Win and 243 WSSM, both close to 6mm Rem in capacity. But for those they only list data for
lighter bullets (up to 75 grain) so it's probable CFE was erratic in those cartridges behind heavy bullets. I told him I was not looking for any velocity, all I wanted was a safe starting load for fire lapping w/ Tubb bullets (Sierra 107-gr BTHP) but he said "Sorry, can't help you. I recommend you use a powder we publish data for." (No doubt his manager will be happy to read that.)
It's interesting - Sierra published 107-grain bullet loads for three powders which are all
faster on the burn rate charts than CFE 223: IMR 3031, IMR 4895, and IMR 4064. (Likewise, Hodgdon themselves publish Varget and 4064 data for 107-gr Sierra.) However, those are all
stick powders, and CFE 223 is a
ball powder, and the latter tends to be more sensitive when loaded to low case density. (Note that Speer recommends magnum primers even in many small cases for ball powders like H380.)
So I am of two minds on this. I'm pretty sure 32 or 33 grains of CFE 223 will be safe behind a 107-grain bullet, but I am leery of testing that thesis.
Brian
