Ordered some CFE223, what projos?

[powderBurnz]

I just got to my last bottle of H4895. So I ordered some CFE223. What 30 cal projectiles are working well with this powder? Im looking for something other than my usual 155 laps, 175smks and 190smks. Shooting mostly 700-1000yds, (308win, 1-10tw, 20"bbl).

 

[TexIndian]

Re: Ordered some CFE223, what projos?

I went to the range today (finally) to try some ladder tests with the jug of CFE 223 I bought about two months ago. I was shooting SMK 168s in my fairly new GAP Crusader, virgin Lapua brass that was highly prepped, 400 yds. For primers I had one set loaded with Federal 210 Match and another set loaded with CCI #34. I thought the hotter #34s might work better with the ball powder.

Hodgdon lists 49.0 grains as the max load. When I got up around 48.2, I started getting higher velocities than I have with any other powder - well into the 2800's. Then at 48.7, I blew a primer completely out of the case (at least it was when I opened the bolt). That was with the CCI #34 primer. Oddly, my chronograph only registered 2812 on that last shot - down from 2886 at 48.5 (several shots at 48.5, only one at 48.7). Needless to say, I stopped right there. When I got to the same load with the Federal primers, I got a ring of soot around the primer. Stopped again.

Lesson learned, take it easy with that stuff. Now I have 30 or 40 rounds to pull apart and load at lower levels.

Another thing I noticed: While this powder is supposed to leave less copper fouling, it left more powder fouling than the other powders I was testing (Varget and 4064), at least based on the amount of black residue on the patches I was running down the bore between tests.

 

[pcschwenke]

Re: Ordered some CFE223, what projos?

OldTex, You have to remember that Hodgdon used Federal brass which has a larger internal volume than the Lapua. The max load may be 1/2 grain or more lower with the Lapua brass. I'm finding this out on my own the hard way by a lot of testing. It seems the Federal, Winchester, and Hornady brass are very similar, but the Lapua is much smaller because of the thicker walls. My go to load was the 175 SMK with 47.5 of 2000MR with Federal, Winchester, or Hornady brass and Winchester primers. The same load with the Lapau is obviously out of the node and 40 fps faster. I'm going to back off the load by 1 grain and work up to find the Lapua node. It's beautiful brass but, loads need to be different. Love the 2000MR powder for large nodes (+/-0.5 grains). I'll have to try CFE and compare. Black residue isn't copper, it would be blueish green in color.

 

[TexIndian]

Re: Ordered some CFE223, what projos?

Yeah, I'm learning that lesson about Lapua and 223. I guess I got spoiled by the other powders I've tested with that same lot of brass in the GAP. They all will go to the max without any pressure signs. Another thing I noticed about the CFE 223 was that it kicked more than the other powders, but then again it was producing higher velocities.

On the fouling, you'll notice I called it powder fouling instead of copper fouling. In other words, it burns dirty compared to the others.