Any inside scoop on this? Hodgdon shows it in their loads but nothing else on their site mentions it. It looks like good velocities with the .308.
-
Having trouble using the site?
Contact support
Hodgdon CFE 223
- Thread starter ScottWatkins
- Start date
Re: Hodgdon CFE 223
I must have the inside scoop! Thats out of character because I'm usually the last to know.
I must have the inside scoop! Thats out of character because I'm usually the last to know.
Re: Hodgdon CFE 223
I just read a very positive review on Reloading Hodgdon’s 2012 Annual Manual. Is anybody using this? How is the accuracy compared to Varget and IMR 4064 for 308 175g SMK?
I just read a very positive review on Reloading Hodgdon’s 2012 Annual Manual. Is anybody using this? How is the accuracy compared to Varget and IMR 4064 for 308 175g SMK?
Re: Hodgdon CFE 223
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kevin1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just read a very positive review on Reloading Hodgdon’s 2012 Annual Manual. Is anybody using this? How is the accuracy compared to Varget and IMR 4064 for 308 175g SMK? </div></div>
No one has tried this? No feedback?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kevin1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just read a very positive review on Reloading Hodgdon’s 2012 Annual Manual. Is anybody using this? How is the accuracy compared to Varget and IMR 4064 for 308 175g SMK? </div></div>
No one has tried this? No feedback?
Re: Hodgdon CFE 223
I just got a keg of it, but haven't tried it yet. Don't know anyone who has had a chance to give it a good testing. It's listed as a little slower than Varget, 4895, 4064, etc and it looks to give a little increase in MV compared to other powders according to the Hodgdon info. It may be a little slow for .308 semi-autos like the M1A, but I'll check it out in .308 bolt guns and .223.
I got mine at Third Generation Shooting Supply.
I just got a keg of it, but haven't tried it yet. Don't know anyone who has had a chance to give it a good testing. It's listed as a little slower than Varget, 4895, 4064, etc and it looks to give a little increase in MV compared to other powders according to the Hodgdon info. It may be a little slow for .308 semi-autos like the M1A, but I'll check it out in .308 bolt guns and .223.
I got mine at Third Generation Shooting Supply.
Re: Hodgdon CFE 223
Just received 16# from Graf today. Working up some loads tonight for my 18" OBR. I will post my chrono data this weekend after i get back from the range. Using IMR 8208XBR now.
Just received 16# from Graf today. Working up some loads tonight for my 18" OBR. I will post my chrono data this weekend after i get back from the range. Using IMR 8208XBR now.
Re: Hodgdon CFE 223
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: biggin69</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just received 16# from Graf today. Working up some loads tonight for my 18" OBR. I will post my chrono data this weekend after i get back from the range. Using IMR 8208XBR now. </div></div>
Great... Please post the groupings too. When is this going to be available at local shops. I hate paying the premium shipment price for powder.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: biggin69</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just received 16# from Graf today. Working up some loads tonight for my 18" OBR. I will post my chrono data this weekend after i get back from the range. Using IMR 8208XBR now. </div></div>
Great... Please post the groupings too. When is this going to be available at local shops. I hate paying the premium shipment price for powder.
Re: Hodgdon CFE 223
Finally made it out to the range yesterday! Using my 18" barreled LaRue OBR, here are my results:
Temp 84 deg F
Elevation 3910
Pressure 29.96
Humidity 10%
175 gr SMK
LC 04 Brass
CCI 34 Primer
44.2 grains of CFE223
Best Group - Average Velocity of 2530 fps
Finally made it out to the range yesterday! Using my 18" barreled LaRue OBR, here are my results:
Temp 84 deg F
Elevation 3910
Pressure 29.96
Humidity 10%
175 gr SMK
LC 04 Brass
CCI 34 Primer
44.2 grains of CFE223
Best Group - Average Velocity of 2530 fps
Re: Hodgdon CFE 223
Bought 8lbs and still messing around with it to find it's sweet spot. I shoot mostly 168 Nosler HPBT and 178 AMax. Have not spent a lot of time messing with it but pretty close. Shooting out of a stock 20" 5R Rem 700.
Unfortunately, pistol has taken precendence right now, so it might a couple weeks before I get back to it. Groups right now are .6moa to .8moa at 200 yards. Same bullets in other powders gets .35Moa. I almost think I am to hot with it and the harmonics is throwing it off.
Bought 8lbs and still messing around with it to find it's sweet spot. I shoot mostly 168 Nosler HPBT and 178 AMax. Have not spent a lot of time messing with it but pretty close. Shooting out of a stock 20" 5R Rem 700.
Unfortunately, pistol has taken precendence right now, so it might a couple weeks before I get back to it. Groups right now are .6moa to .8moa at 200 yards. Same bullets in other powders gets .35Moa. I almost think I am to hot with it and the harmonics is throwing it off.
Re: Hodgdon CFE 223
Biggin,
That powder charge is very low. I have found nodes at 47.5gr & 49.3gr using LC brass & 178AMAX loaded to 2.805 in a 20" DPMS LR-308.
If you are not getting pressure signs, then I would continue to work up...I suspect i'm about 2700fps based on drops at 300yards & POI at 100yards.
Best
Biggin,
That powder charge is very low. I have found nodes at 47.5gr & 49.3gr using LC brass & 178AMAX loaded to 2.805 in a 20" DPMS LR-308.
If you are not getting pressure signs, then I would continue to work up...I suspect i'm about 2700fps based on drops at 300yards & POI at 100yards.
Best
Re: Hodgdon CFE 223
Thanks for the info Tx_Flyboy;
I agree the the charge and velocity are low but for some reason this semiauto rifle seems to group better in this velocity range. Now I would never use this load for my bolt gun.
I had loaded with velocities in the 2700 fps range to start but I was not happy the accuracy. I started hunting the net and books looking for answers. First stop, Bryan Litz's Applied Ballistic book, page 152. The velocities tested out of an 18" OBR are in the low 2500's. I did a little more digging and found Applied Ballistic Munitions. Here I found that this group was loading the new Berger 175 gr Tactical 308 bullet to velocities in the low 2500's with 18" barrels.
http://www.appliedballisticsllc.com/Munitions/ABMProducts.html
So I followed their lead, loaded down and my groups seemed to get much better. Im always looking for new and better information so I look forward to your thoughts on this. THANKS!!
Thanks for the info Tx_Flyboy;
I agree the the charge and velocity are low but for some reason this semiauto rifle seems to group better in this velocity range. Now I would never use this load for my bolt gun.
I had loaded with velocities in the 2700 fps range to start but I was not happy the accuracy. I started hunting the net and books looking for answers. First stop, Bryan Litz's Applied Ballistic book, page 152. The velocities tested out of an 18" OBR are in the low 2500's. I did a little more digging and found Applied Ballistic Munitions. Here I found that this group was loading the new Berger 175 gr Tactical 308 bullet to velocities in the low 2500's with 18" barrels.
http://www.appliedballisticsllc.com/Munitions/ABMProducts.html
So I followed their lead, loaded down and my groups seemed to get much better. Im always looking for new and better information so I look forward to your thoughts on this. THANKS!!
Re: Hodgdon CFE 223
Biggin,
I need to do this delicately. After all, this is Mr Litz's ammo i'm talking about.
The ammo you reference is desinged for commercial consumption. This means that in order to make sure it functions well in many different rifles without going kaboom & injuring people, it is loaded to relatively mild velocities calculated to be accurate in many rifles...think 308 FGMM.
175FGMM is a "slow" round. It is very accurate in many rifles, and is mild enough that nobody reports any issues with too high a pressure.
Hornady tried to turn that convention on its head with its line of Superformance ammunition with mixed results. The superformance ammo fufills its marketing hype in many rifles, but shows signs of pressure in others.
In the final analysis, if your new load allows you to do what you want, then that's fine. But if you intend to shoot 1,000yards accurately, i think you'll find that wind-drift will kill you since you are launching your projectile so slowly.
Visit Dan NewBerry's website on OCW for a more indepth analysis of what informs my view of reloading.
Best
Biggin,
I need to do this delicately. After all, this is Mr Litz's ammo i'm talking about.
The ammo you reference is desinged for commercial consumption. This means that in order to make sure it functions well in many different rifles without going kaboom & injuring people, it is loaded to relatively mild velocities calculated to be accurate in many rifles...think 308 FGMM.
175FGMM is a "slow" round. It is very accurate in many rifles, and is mild enough that nobody reports any issues with too high a pressure.
Hornady tried to turn that convention on its head with its line of Superformance ammunition with mixed results. The superformance ammo fufills its marketing hype in many rifles, but shows signs of pressure in others.
In the final analysis, if your new load allows you to do what you want, then that's fine. But if you intend to shoot 1,000yards accurately, i think you'll find that wind-drift will kill you since you are launching your projectile so slowly.
Visit Dan NewBerry's website on OCW for a more indepth analysis of what informs my view of reloading.
Best
Re: Hodgdon CFE 223
Thanks so much for your input! Im always looking for more info on reloading. Let me do some more digging and I will let you know what I found. Thanks again!
Thanks so much for your input! Im always looking for more info on reloading. Let me do some more digging and I will let you know what I found. Thanks again!
