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CFE 223
- Thread starter hammer58
- Start date
I have loaded with CFE 223, H335, H322, N133, N130, N135, Varget, H4895, Reloader 15 and N140 with my two .223s.
The fast powders are listed first and the slower powders are listed starting with Varget.
The fast powders seem to work better (more accurate) with light bullets - in the 40 to 55 grain range with the 1-9 twist rifle.
The slower powders seem to shoot better with up to the 65 grain bullets in the 1:9 rifle and up to 77 grain bullets in the 1:8 rifle.
CFE 223 is the only powder that shoots well with both light and heavy bullets.
It is clean, and meters well from a RCBS Chargemaster 1500.
CFE 223 yields accurate groups and has loads in the top 20 with both rifles.
The fast powders are listed first and the slower powders are listed starting with Varget.
The fast powders seem to work better (more accurate) with light bullets - in the 40 to 55 grain range with the 1-9 twist rifle.
The slower powders seem to shoot better with up to the 65 grain bullets in the 1:9 rifle and up to 77 grain bullets in the 1:8 rifle.
CFE 223 is the only powder that shoots well with both light and heavy bullets.
It is clean, and meters well from a RCBS Chargemaster 1500.
CFE 223 yields accurate groups and has loads in the top 20 with both rifles.
Rangerrich99
New member
CFE223 shoots well out of my ARs. Seems to produce consistent results. Does not meter well through my powder measure (Lee Perfect Powder Measure). On occasion will just dump powder (maybe two or three cases worth). I've run eight other powders through that powder measure and CFE223 is the only one that does that for some reason.
Besides that quirk, I like CFE223 a lot for bullets up to 62 grains. And it really does seem to remove or 'erase' a lot of copper from the barrel. YMMV of course.
Besides that quirk, I like CFE223 a lot for bullets up to 62 grains. And it really does seem to remove or 'erase' a lot of copper from the barrel. YMMV of course.
Rimfire5,
Your burn rates include an error. Generally speaking, only the distributors of a powder know the burn rates they place their orders with the powder manufacturers for. This is why burn rate charts from different sources are often in disagreement with one another. However, the powder distributors do have the order correct for their own powders. In this case the distributor is Hodgdon. If you look at their burn rate chart, you will see that CFE223 is actually the slowest powder on your list among theirs. QuickLOAD, which has measured burn rates from a lab test of a sample or two agrees that it is the slowest. The ones Hodgdon distributes and have the correct order for are highlighted in colors on their chart.
The Perfect Powder Measure is known for having problems with fine ball powders. They get caught between the drum and its journal. Some folks disassemble and deburr the drum and cylinder and use the screws to get the fit tighter. A lot of work, though. Any metal drum measure will meter ball powders at least fairly well, and I expect the new Classic Cast version of the Perfect that Lee is selling will probably do better, too. Machined metal can be made to fit more snugly than molded plastic parts. I use a Redding BR-30 for ball powders most of the time, and it is very tight with them, so I can recommend it for that. The old RCBS Uniflow also does pretty well with them.
Your burn rates include an error. Generally speaking, only the distributors of a powder know the burn rates they place their orders with the powder manufacturers for. This is why burn rate charts from different sources are often in disagreement with one another. However, the powder distributors do have the order correct for their own powders. In this case the distributor is Hodgdon. If you look at their burn rate chart, you will see that CFE223 is actually the slowest powder on your list among theirs. QuickLOAD, which has measured burn rates from a lab test of a sample or two agrees that it is the slowest. The ones Hodgdon distributes and have the correct order for are highlighted in colors on their chart.
The Perfect Powder Measure is known for having problems with fine ball powders. They get caught between the drum and its journal. Some folks disassemble and deburr the drum and cylinder and use the screws to get the fit tighter. A lot of work, though. Any metal drum measure will meter ball powders at least fairly well, and I expect the new Classic Cast version of the Perfect that Lee is selling will probably do better, too. Machined metal can be made to fit more snugly than molded plastic parts. I use a Redding BR-30 for ball powders most of the time, and it is very tight with them, so I can recommend it for that. The old RCBS Uniflow also does pretty well with them.
Rimfire5,
I also use the Lee Perfect Powder Measure but I weigh each load when I am developing a new load for a new rifle. I picked up some Hornady Match 68gr HPBT from the local store. That's all they had in .224. It says on the box that it works with 1:7-10" twist. I have had good luck with same version of 168gr for my AR10 so that seems like a good bullet to start with.
From what y'all are saying, the CFE223 should work well in a 1:8" barrel with the 68gr bullet?
I also already have some XBR 8208, IMR 4895, H4895, Varget, and BL-c2. I've read that all of these powders are possibilities but I am not sure where is best to start.
All input is greatly appreciated!
I also use the Lee Perfect Powder Measure but I weigh each load when I am developing a new load for a new rifle. I picked up some Hornady Match 68gr HPBT from the local store. That's all they had in .224. It says on the box that it works with 1:7-10" twist. I have had good luck with same version of 168gr for my AR10 so that seems like a good bullet to start with.
From what y'all are saying, the CFE223 should work well in a 1:8" barrel with the 68gr bullet?
I also already have some XBR 8208, IMR 4895, H4895, Varget, and BL-c2. I've read that all of these powders are possibilities but I am not sure where is best to start.
All input is greatly appreciated!