Cfe 223

[rj1978]

Just picked up some CFE 223 today. Hodgdons site doesn't show any data for 55gr fmj. Anyone have any data for Hndy 55gr? Also have 62gr fmj, 55gr hp, Nosler 55gr BT, and Hdy 75gr HP I want to experiment with. Also got some AR Comp. what fun.

 

[Slackwolf]

I'm still testing, but loaded around 200 55gr Hornady SP's with various charges of CFE223. 16" 1:7" and 1:8" twist 5.56 chambered AR's are happy with between 27-27.5gr in LC brass and cci #41 primer. I will probably end up settling on 27.2-27.5gr once I stretch the testing range out. The powder gets pitiful velocities behind a non-magnum small rifle primer. CCI #41 and Rem 7 1/2's are what people seem to have best luck with. It is a hard to ignite powder due to the CFE properties combined with ball powder. Meters like water though lol Start low and work up.

 

[SouthBound]

I tried it and liked how it metered but couldn't get the speed that I get with other powders, even with a #41. Here are my range tests from a 16" 1:7, LC brass, #41 primer and a 55gr Horn. 2266B Spire FMJ with Can., very light crimp... OAL 2.200.

26gr - 2661fps, 2588fps, 2640fps
26.5 - 2706fps, 2726fps, 2697fps
27.5 - 2838fps, 2826fps, 2873fps

For comparison from same rifle...

aa2230 24.5gr - 2939fps avg
h335 - 25.5gr - 2914fps avg (this is my usual load, meters good and groups well for me)
h335 - 25.2gr - 2882fps avg
Varget - 26.5 - 2920fps avg

 

[Rockstarelite]

I'm new to the reloading scene and this board just wondering if 25gr of cfe223 with 55gr fmj would be a pretty safe load to start out? Any imput on this would be greatly appreciated

 

[Slackwolf]

I'm new to the reloading scene and this board just wondering if 25gr of cfe223 with 55gr fmj would be a pretty safe load to start out? Any imput on this would be greatly appreciated

What kind of rifle? What primers, brass, and trim length? I'm assuming .223 Rem is what you are loading for?

The short answer is 25gr should be pretty safe if not on the low side if .223 Rem. CFE 223 likes a magnum primer like the Rem 7.5, CCI #41, etc. I would not load up too many at that starting load. Most people I've talked to running CFE 223 seem to favor in the 26.5-27.5 gr range, but definitely start low and work up.

Hodgdon shows 26.0 - 27.8 gr for a 55gr speer SP at 2.200", 1.750" trim length, and a win SR primer.

I do not have my Hornady book in front of me, but I believe it's starting load was 25.0-25.5gr or so at 2.200" with the 55gr FMJ or SP.

I started at 26gr and worked up slowly from there on LC brass at 1.750", 2.200" OAL, and CCI #41 primers.

In a 16" barrel AR-15 platform, quickload data says with 25gr, the Hornady 55gr FMJBT, loaded to 2.200" with a 1.750" trim length you will see
38340 PSI chamber pressure
2644 FPS
82.37% burn

The same dimensions with 26gr would be
43628 PSI (within 300 PSI of hodgdon data)
2770 FPS
85.33% burn

The same dimensions with 27gr would be
49771 PSI
2900 FPS
88.11% burn

With quickload, 27.2gr pressure with that projectile is fairly close (200psi lower) to what Hodgdon shows for the pressures of 27.8gr behind their sierra bullet.

There are a lot of variables in all of this data that changes for each rifle, so don't put a ton of faith in it. Just a little rough numbers to help you out on what you might expect if you meant .223 Rem. If any other calibers, ignore all above data.

 

[C2_Drew]

Just picked up some CFE 223 today. Hodgdons site doesn't show any data for 55gr fmj. Anyone have any data for Hndy 55gr? Also have 62gr fmj, 55gr hp, Nosler 55gr BT, and Hdy 75gr HP I want to experiment with. Also got some AR Comp. what fun.

Hodgdon doesn't list FMJs, but they do list two 55gr recipes. That's enough to get started.


Just take one of the listed loads, such as the Speer SP above, and look up the bullet length.
http://www.jbmballistics.com/ballistics/lengths/lengths.shtml

It says the Speer is .700 inches and your Hornady .735. Given the Speer recipe has an OAL of 2.200, you would need a length of 2.235 to approximate the seating depth of the Speer recipe.

I'm new to the reloading scene and this board just wondering if 25gr of cfe223 with 55gr fmj would be a pretty safe load to start out? Any imput on this would be greatly appreciated

Well, it looks like 25 is the starting load for the Barnes recipe above, so I'd say it's a good place to start. It looks like that will get you about 2500 fps out of a 16 inch barrel, so don't expect a whole lot out of it. You'll definitely need to get a ladder going to find the accuracy node for the powder. Just start at 25 and work your way up.

Edit: Drat, just realized Rockstarelite was responding to a necropost. :facepalm: Oh well. :/

 

[rj1978]

I have only loaded and shot about 50 rounds using 26.5 grains behind a 55 gr sp. Accuracy was better than AR Comp I tested, so I bought 2 more pounds thinking I would be as happy as with H335. I feel now I should have just stuck with the tried and true H335, or maybe more Tac. It does meter better, but hate to hear low velocities and the possible need of magnum primers. I'm running a 16" 1:7 barrel. But powders and guns are finicky. The joys of hand loading. So addicting.

 

[RL-Photo]

Rj1978 glad to hear of another tac fan, its what I prefer for 55gr right now...

 

[Mozella]

It's a good idea to purchase a loading manual published by the manufacturer of the bullets you intend to use. The Hornady manual shows a CFE-223 starting load of 24.8gr for Hornady 55gr FMJ-BT W/C.

But the most important thing to know about hand loading is to NEVER use any loads published in an Internet thread, including this post. :wacko: