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Cfe223 and 308 Win ?

alaska

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2010
Messages
1,024
Location
North Pole
Just bought a pound of CFE223 for my 308 Win

Plan on using 168gr in it with CFE223............anyone tried CFE223 in the 308 Win. .?
 
This is not exactly what you are asking for....
175 SMK
Winchester brass
Oal 2.850"
44.7 grains CFE .223

100-1000 yards every 100 , very accurate. 26" Shilen Select barrel 1-10 twist. This is a load I took off of Quick Load


Don Dunlap
 
Just be careful with QL and any sperical powder built by General Dynamics; It really doesn't understand them and you can get in trouble quickly.

I've been burning CFE since before Hodgdon started selling it. What is now called CFE had been around for well more than a decade, in development of the military's lead free ammo. The Non-Canister grade parent is WC-842.
It has bismuth and more tin to fight copper than 748 does, but very similar; as it seems to be the next evolution from that powder. Very heavy black fouling that is easily removed, very stable powder in that application, and the firing event "feels" a bit different.

I don't shoot 168's, but all my 175 & 190's get launched with it.
 
Thanks for the info

I have some 175 Berger OTM tactical that should work well in my 1-12.

I plan on starting about 44 gr with this bullet.

I am aware of this powder and cautious ............thanks.

Wc 842 used in the mk319/318 ammo......with the barrier bullets.

In my MK 12 I use 8208 with great success ......very pleased.

I normally use IMR 4064 in my 308 win .........but I am bored. :)
 
I run CFE223 in my .308.

My go to load for 175 SMKs (pregreen tips) is over 45 gr,
my go to load for 155 (pre green tips) is over 46.0 gr.

NEITHER shows any pressure signs in my rifle. Tube is 27" 1:10"; the Chamber is 95 palma; the brass Lapua large primer; COAL is 2.810" for feeding from a magazine.

my velocities for the 175 SMKs is 2,750
velocities for the 155 SMKs is 3,000+

I've used QL for years now. QL is a good starting point for showing pressure on my jacketed projectiles, but has never accurately shown muzzle velocities for me, especially when trying to employ OBT methodology. Good news is it is consistent (always very low on velocities in OBT, but pretty close on pressures - for jacketed projectiles)

Jeffvn
 
I just worked up a load CFE-223 with 168 @ 46.0
Very accurate
Now on to the Berger OTM Tactical 175gr with CFE-223
I noticed it's a tad slower burning than Varget


308 Win
 
I loaded 48.0grs of CFE with 165gr N.B.T.,my groups ran around an inch with that bullet.I tested three other powders,Accurate 4064,Varget and TAC with that same bullet and they grouped around an inch too.I only had two test loads with 168gr N.B.T.,A-4064 AND TAC,both shot 1/2"groups.All my 30cal rifles seem to like the 168gr N.B.T. better than the 165gr.Still want to try the 48.0gr load with the 168gr N.B.T. The bottom measurement was comparator length and I used Winchester Large Rifle Magnum Primers.
cz 308.jpg
 
Last edited:
This is not exactly what you are asking for....
175 SMK
Winchester brass
Oal 2.850"
44.7 grains CFE .223

100-1000 yards every 100 , very accurate. 26" Shilen Select barrel 1-10 twist. This is a load I took off of Quick Load


Don Dunlap
I loaded some up with CFE 223 at 44.0 to start with 175gr
I will probably work my way up in powder charges.
 
I loaded 48.0grs of CFE with 165gr N.B.T.,my groups ran around an inch with that bullet.I tested three other powders,Accurate 4064,Varget and TAC with that same bullet and they grouped around an inch too.I only had two test loads with 168gr N.B.T.,A-4064 AND TAC,both shot 1/2"groups.All my 30cal rifles seem to like the 168gr N.B.T. better than the 165gr.Still want to try the 48.0gr load with the 168gr N.B.T. The bottom measurement was comparator length and I used Winchester Large Rifle Magnum Primers. View attachment 106196

That's some good shooting
The 48.0 of CFE 223 with 168gr did you chronograph it?
I bet it was fast, maybe too fast.
Suggest try a primer like CCI Br2 or Fed 210match
 
That's some good shooting
The 48.0 of CFE 223 with 168gr did you chronograph it?
I bet it was fast, maybe too fast.
Suggest try a primer like CCI Br2 or Fed 210match
No I didn't chronograph those loads,but I will.I doubt any of the loads will make 2800fps.Probably in the low to mid 2700's.I use magnum primers in my rifles 30-06 and up so I wanted to try the 308 with them.Also ball powders are usually more accurate with magnum primers.
 
I cant remember the details but I loaded some 168 grain Amax and CFE-223 for my sons rifle Very accurate but to long to properly fit in mag box.
 
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