Range/Chronograph Report: 6BR & CFE223

[walker2713]

I've mentioned on the board a few times about my plans to participate in our range's 600 yard competitions this summer, and have appreciated all the helpful input and encouragement I've received. To review, I've got an F Class Savage in 6BR and a NF BR 12-42 scope. I'm using the 107SMK bullet, treated with WS2. I'm shooting at 200 yards.

I'm posting this for a couple of reasons: one, I think there's interest in Hodgdon's new CFE223 powder; and to get some input and comments on my results.

Re the powder, I decided to start with the CFE223 to see what the results are, and how it works in my 6BR. I've had good accuracy results with a .223 AR, but haven't done any velocity work with it. I also loaded some rounds with Varget for today.

I got to the range about 8:30am....it's an hour from home...early for me, and the temperature was about 68 with mild humidity and there was little appreciable wind at least until I left at 10:45am.

I began, just for benchmark purposes, by firing 4 five round strings with 29.8, 30.0, 30.2 and 30.4 of Varget. Accuracy was decent, with velocity ranging from 2701 up to 2733.

I then fired 5 strings of five shots using CFE223 ranging from 29.8, in .2 increments, up to 30.6. Average velocity was from 2641 up to 2642. The SD in order were: 22.8, 24.7, 34.7, 14.0 and 32.8.

I'm attaching a photo of the last two strings: 30.4 and 30.6 of CFE223. There were no signs of pressure issues at those levels. I'd especially appreciate comments about the high SDs. They were also high with the Varget, ranging from 13.9 to 31.8. It seems to me that there's not much velocity spread esp. with the CFE powder. The chrony is a CED M2.

Also, comments are welcome on information I'm giving, but would like to improve the presentation where helpful.

Thanks, George

 

[walker2713]

No comments? ???

I'd appreciate some input...

Thanks

 

[Keith Glasscock]

I would suggest that you might have a chronograph problem. I have seen several 6mmbr barrels shooting 105-108 grain bullets and they all seem to make a lot more velocity than that (with Varget).

My CED is really light sensitive. The velocities read low when it is cloudy, and the ES/SD goes up significantly. From experience, I've found that the chronograph is the problem, not the load. Assuming that it was a chrono problem causing the low velocities, I would keep testing. You might just find that perfect load.

 

[walker2713]

Busdriver: good point....thanks. The light was good, but I will continue to work with the CFE. With accuracy increasing as the charge increased, I"m going to work up some more loads in that upper range, esp. 30.4 and up.

I think I'll also run some naked bullets over the chrono at the same charges to see what if any impact the WS2 is having.

George

 

[wapiti25]

I trust the targets more than the Chronographs. Shoot more groups on different days, then go with the best groups. That is what I would do.

 

[wapiti25]

Your 30.6 group looks promising, except for the shot out to the left it is good. Shoot two or three groups with the 30.6gr. Shooting at 300 or 400 would show more on the shot to shot velocity spreads.

 

[TNBilly]

I would suggest that you might have a chronograph problem. I have seen several 6mmbr barrels shooting 105-108 grain bullets and they all seem to make a lot more velocity than that (with Varget).

My CED is really light sensitive. The velocities read low when it is cloudy, and the ES/SD goes up significantly. From experience, I've found that the chronograph is the problem, not the load. Assuming that it was a chrono problem causing the low velocities, I would keep testing. You might just find that perfect load.

+1 on this..... just figured this out myself today working up some 414-243 loads in the middle of a very sunny day! My CED seems to ber very accurate though on a overcast day. I had, just for the record ES's well over 100 on groups that were sub-moa. Possible, for sure but the other loads that recorded better weren't necessarily more accurate. I guess it's kind of one of those things you know isn't right but at the moment can't back up with readings.

 

[jamesgang]

I know I'm reviving an old thread, but I wanted to know if there have been any updates from Walker 2713 or any other reloaders using CFE on the 6mm's. I'm using RL-15 right now but have used the CFE on my AR reloads and was hoping some others had taken up the challenge of trying this new powder.

 

[walker2713]

I've never really used CFE with 100+ grain bullets in the 6BR to any extent....have had the best success in my rifle with H4895, even over RL15 and Varget......

 

[jonbearman]

How far was the target or did I miss that? I think maybe go above 30.6 providing you measured the web of the case for expansion.I would go down in 1 tenth increments to be sure you didnt miss a node.

 

[swed6.5]

I tryed cfe with the 6br the 1st chance I could, always looking to get something better for a while before someone else lol.
Best i could do was 2800fps with fair accuracy with a 105 amax, AT 30.8gr.
Did get geat groups with h4895,but couldnt get the velocity to be competive past 600yds.
RL.15 at 30.5gr and a 105 hybred is hard to beat at 2920fps,and some bughole groups,
My results with cfe were fair, great for varmits and maybe some fun shooting just couldnt get under 2'' at 475 yards, each time i got close to a good goup it wasnt cosistant. Good Luck

 

[snakepit]

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I cannot help you with the CFE 223 powder but I did notice the Varget information you gave. Like you I also have a Savage F Class 6mm BR I use as a benchrest rifle but was testing at 600 yds with the outside air conditions similar to yours, calm to light winds and and close to sea level. I was using 30.0 gr of Varget, SMK 107 gr, Lapua brass and CCI BR4. I was testing various seating depths. The best three shoot group I had measured out to .630 at .015 back from the lands. I had several other good 3 shot groups but this was the best. I shot one more 3 shot group with the same bullet seating and 2 of the 3 were about the same as the first group but one of them was a flyer way off. My velocity as measured on one of the new barrel mounted MagnetoSpeed Chronographs averaged around 2818.