Hodgdon CFE 223 powder
- Thread starter shamblin
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TikkaShooters
Well-Known Member
Very interesting. I saw this on Hodgdons site but haven't seen it for sale around here yet.
Looks promising by your numbers here.
Looks promising by your numbers here.
Great Write-up Shamblin!
Have you done any more testing with other bullets in the 308? Particularly, i'm wondering if you can push 155gr Scenars to 3,000ft/s out of a 24" DPMS LR-308.
I'm looking to build a 600yard F-class rifle, and since i love my LR308 so much, i intend to build another with a 24" barrel for longer range work.
Lastly, it seems that for the 175gr load, you need to test another .2gr higher than where you stopped (assuming you dint see any pressure signs) to see if that 47.4 grain load is an OCW.
Thanks in advance.
Send_It!
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I ran another test with the same loads in a custom built 26 inch built bolt gun.
The numbers where 20 to 23 fps faster with ES and SD even lower.
I shoot 150 FMJ on top of 8208XBR at 2908
3000 would be possible with cfe 223
I would guess it would be a compressed powder load
Over spinning the bullet ?????
Timgun)
The numbers where 20 to 23 fps faster with ES and SD even lower.
I shoot 150 FMJ on top of 8208XBR at 2908
3000 would be possible with cfe 223
I would guess it would be a compressed powder load
Over spinning the bullet ?????
Timgun)
As to testing any higher on the 175SMK DPMS 308LR
I did not see or measure any pressure signs
It felt like the buffer was hitting the end pretty hard so I stopped.
Adjustable gas block????Heavierspring?????
I did shoot 47.6 in the bolt gun for a very slight gain, less than 5 fps compared the 47.4
I have the velocity at 2825 for my O3 A3
Very easy clean up
My next range test will be to test 175SMK on top of CFE 223@ 47.3
I am delighted with what I have but always looking for better
Timgun)
I did not see or measure any pressure signs
It felt like the buffer was hitting the end pretty hard so I stopped.
Adjustable gas block????Heavierspring?????
I did shoot 47.6 in the bolt gun for a very slight gain, less than 5 fps compared the 47.4
I have the velocity at 2825 for my O3 A3
Very easy clean up
My next range test will be to test 175SMK on top of CFE 223@ 47.3
I am delighted with what I have but always looking for better
Timgun)
As to testing any higher on the 175SMK DPMS 308LR
I did not see or measure any pressure signs
It felt like the buffer was hitting the end pretty hard so I stopped.
Adjustable gas block????Heavierspring?????
I did shoot 47.6 in the bolt gun for a very slight gain, less than 5 fps compared the 47.4
I have the velocity at 2825 for my O3 A3
Very easy clean up
My next range test will be to test 175SMK on top of CFE 223@ 47.3
I am delighted with what I have but always looking for better
Timgun)
Shamblin,
Those are eye-opening revelations. There isn't much loss or gain in velocity in going from a 24" 1-10 twist to (1:12?) 26" barrel. Additionally, the small increase in muzzle velocity at 47.6 indicates that you are reaching the pressure limit anyway.
What was the powder charge that resulted in 2825ft/s in the 03A3? Could you have gone up in velocity w the -06?
For the poster who indicated that CFE223 is hard to come by, try looking for Alliant 2000MR. They are the same powder, made by St Marks down in Florida.
It would be nice to get real actual 30-06 data for this powder, but i understand it might be a little fast for this cartridge.
Send_It!
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My O3 A3 is a custom built target rifle with a heavy varmit barrel chambered in 308 Winchester.
It is a 1-12 twist and does not like the 175 SMK.
It really likes the Nosler/Winchester 168 BT/BST
I get better SD/ED numbers with the Ballistic Silver Tips
At 47.6g of CFE 223 and 175 SMK, the average was 2825 fps but shoots one inch groups
With the 168 BST and 48.7g of CFE 223 a10 shot string had an average of 2870 fps, ES of 16 and an SD of 7.8 fps and shoots clover leafs under 1/2 inch
Timgun)
It is a 1-12 twist and does not like the 175 SMK.
It really likes the Nosler/Winchester 168 BT/BST
I get better SD/ED numbers with the Ballistic Silver Tips
At 47.6g of CFE 223 and 175 SMK, the average was 2825 fps but shoots one inch groups
With the 168 BST and 48.7g of CFE 223 a10 shot string had an average of 2870 fps, ES of 16 and an SD of 7.8 fps and shoots clover leafs under 1/2 inch
Timgun)
pat jennings
Active Member
Great Write-up Shamblin!
I've been trying to get my hands on a couple of pounds but like others said it's hard to come by. I will look into the Alliant 2000mr, didn't know they were the same. I also will run it up against my pet 308 load of a 168 smk w/8208XBR and see if I can get the same results. Again thanks for the great info. lightbulb
I've been trying to get my hands on a couple of pounds but like others said it's hard to come by. I will look into the Alliant 2000mr, didn't know they were the same. I also will run it up against my pet 308 load of a 168 smk w/8208XBR and see if I can get the same results. Again thanks for the great info. lightbulb
I payed the hazmat on my first 2 pounds from powder valley.
I had my local guy order 16 pounds and he sold one of my 8 pounders before I could get to the store to pick it up.(1 hour)
I would ask your local gun shop put it on their next order.
You will be amazed
Timgun)
I had my local guy order 16 pounds and he sold one of my 8 pounders before I could get to the store to pick it up.(1 hour)
I would ask your local gun shop put it on their next order.
You will be amazed
Timgun)
liltank
Well-Known Member
Just joining the conversation. I want to follow this. I'm currently running AR Comp in my rifle with 168 NBT. I am shooting sub .25MOA to 800yds at 2790fps. That is a max load in my rifle. ES is 4 SD is 2.8. I would like to get some better velocity, so thinking this might be the ticket with both 168's and I want to try it in 175's for F-T/R class.
thanks for the post Shamblin, I was hoping you were going to have 223 data.
I was thinking about buying some of thos for 223 and 222. About the only question i have, is you said your brass was trimmed to min length, lol, Ive yet to see untrimmed brass that met min length much less trimmed brass that met min length.
