+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Hodgdon CFE 223 powder

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    FTIII's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    12-09-2013 @ 07:32 PM
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    90
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    01:55 AM

    Hodgdon CFE 223 powder

    Has anyone used it and what were your results. Is it a clean burning powder?

    Thanks
    FTIII
    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #2
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    ottoman45's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Last On
    07-26-2015 @ 10:00 PM
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    20
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    04:55 AM
    I have gone through 8lbs of it already and I'm on my second jug...

    I have found that with both of my AR's a 20" Bushmaster A3 and my much newer Rock River Operator 2 with 55gr HPBT and SP 27.5 grains seems to work perfectly.

    I found accuracy is great about 1"-1.5" groups with both rifles with no pressure signs.

    I just started using some pulled 62gr and am finding 26gr to be a decent accuracy point if you call 2.5" groups accurate... it's the pulled bullets not the powder by the way...

    As far as cleanliness at lower loadings (25-26gr) it left alot more carbon than it did at the higher loadings. This powder seems to like to be pushed to the upper end of the loading scale. Yesterday my daughter and I shot 500 rounds and the Rock River was easy to clean. I think part of that has to do with the chrome bolt and carrier but the barrel just needed a few passes with MP7 and a couple dry patches and i was done. So yea it's easier to clean than it was with other powders I've used.

  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #3
    Moderator
    (M1 Garand/M14/M1A Rifles)
    Bob Womack's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 07:49 PM
    Location
    Somewhere Between Clever and Stupid
    Posts
    3,396
    Real Name
    Bob Womack
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    04:55 AM
    I've moved this thread to the reloading forum to see if we can get a little more notice for it!

    Bob
    "It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' "

    Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring

  6. Thank You to Bob Womack For This Useful Post:


  7. #4
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    ottoman45's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Last On
    07-26-2015 @ 10:00 PM
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    20
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    04:55 AM
    Heres an update for you... I just got back from the range with my Bushmaster 20"

    This is a 15 round group at 100 yards with 27.5 cfe223 and Hornady 55gr sp

  8. #5
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    FTIII's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    12-09-2013 @ 07:32 PM
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    90
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    01:55 AM
    Thread Starter
    Thanks for the reply and pic. Seems to shoot nice so i'll ask a few questions if you dont mind. Does this powder flow well from a measure? I have worked up several loads and one of them is with H335 it flows very good and shoots well across the board with all of the bullets I have tried it with. One of the things Im trying to do is to find the best combo for across the board use before I load up a quantity of ammo. I'm sure at some point I will hunt with this rifle or have it in my hands when something is presented to me a oppertunity to fill a tag. The 55 grain Hornady bullet you loaded is that a standard 55gr softpoint?

    Thanks again

  9. #6
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    ottoman45's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Last On
    07-26-2015 @ 10:00 PM
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    20
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    04:55 AM
    yes to all of your questions....

    it meters just as well as H335. If you are happy with H335 I see no reason to change. Both powders are nearly identical and around the same price. I was shooting with Varget and surplus powder so it was a no brainer for me to try it out.

    The things I like about it is the carbon just seems to wipe off with a rag. No scrubbing of the bolt or internals is necessary. Another thing is it doesn't seem to work my brass as hard to achieve the same velocity. When resizing I use a small base X-Die and there really isn't much more than neck sizing being done with a slight push back of the shoulder. When I was shooting Varget and surplus the casings required more sizing. I don't know why this is just an observation over the last 1000 rounds I've loaded up.

    And yes the Hornady 55gr sp I picked up at Wideners.com for about $80/1000. They shoot great and to the same point of aim as the 55gr FMJBT but are a flat base bullet so you have to chamfer the case mouths so you don't damage the bullet. I normally shoot the Hornady 55gr FMJBT but I found when shooting regularly at steel the soft points wouldn't beat it up as bad. If you are hunting I would recomend the soft points over the FMJ for a cheap accurate bullet....but remember there are better hunting bullets in the same weight but you will pay 2-3X as much for them.

  10. #7
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    FTIII's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    12-09-2013 @ 07:32 PM
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    90
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    01:55 AM
    Thread Starter
    I picked up a pound of the CFE 223 powder and 2,000 of the Hornady 55gr. SP slugs today, I thought the bullets were priced right at 175. I can always use them in the other .22 cal. CF rifles as well as the AR.

  11. #8
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    ottoman45's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Last On
    07-26-2015 @ 10:00 PM
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    20
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    04:55 AM
    good luck...my rifles like the powder bullet combo well enough not to change for a while. A fried of mine grabbed 100 of my reloads and now wants to duplicate them as well.

    I dropped down to 27.2g for my loading since picking up a new Stag Model 8...this rifle sems to like 27 better than 27.5. The other 2 AR's didn't seem to mind as there groups didn't change at all. I like loading one round for all of my guns in that caliber(except my Garandicon in 30-06) instead of individual loading and seperating.

    Start around 26 grains and work up. I began showing pressure signs at 28 and my accuracy fell way off. Let me know how you like the combo.

+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. What Powder Did They Use?
    By MK Wheelie in forum Ammunition and Reloading for Old Milsurps
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 06-12-2011, 06:05 PM
  2. Hodgden HS-7 powder
    By jamie5070 in forum Ammunition and Reloading for Old Milsurps
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 07-05-2010, 07:37 PM
  3. HXP Ball Powder ID
    By plt1059 in forum M1 Garand/M14/M1A Rifles
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 07-04-2010, 10:28 AM
  4. What to do with this powder
    By GUTS in forum Ammunition and Reloading for Old Milsurps
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 05-08-2010, 09:45 PM
  5. Hornady powder
    By Major Tom in forum Ammunition and Reloading for Old Milsurps
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 08-18-2009, 06:08 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks