How is CFE-223 powder?

[LittleLebowski]

I was planning on buying Ramshot Tac for my 55gr .223 reloads but locally, I can score 8lbs CFE-223 for about $40 less than the Tac equivalent.

[Mike C]

I was planning on buying Ramshot Tac for my 55gr .223 reloads but locally, I can score 8lbs CFE-223 for about $40 less than the Tac equivalent.

Is it for an AR? What kind of velocities are you looking for? I've used about 2lbs of CFE223 and while that is not a ton of experience with it I personally didn't care for it as much as RE-15, AR COMP, and BL-C(2) . CFE223 is definitely cleaner than the latter so if your lazy and hate cleaning your AR like I do, (flashbacks from service and having to scrape everything until the bluing was gone) it's of great benefit. Can't compare it to TAC sorry but it's been too long since I've used it. If you're looking for NATO spec velocities or there about you are going to be pushing it with CFE223, I don't recall the exact load or chrono data but I believe I was up around 27.5 grains and still barely hovering around 2975-3000 fps out of my stock Colt 6920. It was a compressed load.

[LittleLebowski]

Is it for an AR? What kind of velocities are you looking for? I've used about 2lbs of CFE223 and while that is not a ton of experience with it I personally didn't care for it as much as RE-15, AR COMP, and BL-C(2) . CFE223 is definitely cleaner than the latter so if your lazy and hate cleaning your AR like I do, (flashbacks from service and having to scrape everything until the bluing was gone) it's of great benefit. Can't compare it to TAC sorry but it's been too long since I've used it. If you're looking for NATO spec velocities or there about you are going to be pushing it with CFE223, I don't recall the exact load or chrono data but I believe I was up around 27.5 grains and still barely hovering around 2975-3000 fps out of my stock Colt 6920. It was a compressed load.

It's for an AR. I just want to function and shoot well.

[Mike C]

I had zero issues with function or finding an accurate load. If you can get it significantly cheaper I would go for it. Looking at Quick Load your going to be using a similar amount of powder to obtain roughly the same velocities so I'd go with cheaper since performance is so similar.

[GuanoLoco]

Loaded a bunch of it, shot some of it, no real complaints. Last load data, 16" 1:9 twist barrel. No accuracy data, sorry.

2/15/2014
223 Rem, 55gr BTJHP, CFE 223 27.0 gr, CCI #41 SRP, COL 2.200*
10 ea in PMC and R-P Brass,*
5 throws @ 135.1 = 27.02 grains / throw
5 PMC brass - Avg 2916, Min 2872, Max 2951
5 R-P brass - Avg 2926, Min 2885, Max 2953

7/30/2014
55 gr JHP Nightmare X-Treme Varmint bullets
R-P 223 Brass, CCI #41 SRP's, *COAL 2.200
Load 10 with 26.7 gr CFE 223*
COAL/CBTO: 2.202/1.899; 2.207/1.900, 2.211/1901; 2.211/1903; *2.214/1.906, 2.219/1.909; 2.214/1.908, 2.218/1.910; 2.217/1.910; 2.218/1.910
Chrono results
* * * * 2997, 2892, 2947, x3037, 2919, 2917, x2822, 2852, 2959, 2914
* * * * Lo 2822, Hi 3037, E.S. 215, Avg 2925 fps
* * * * Dropping Lo and Hi
* * * * * * * * Lo 2852, Hi 2997, E.S. 145, Avg 2925 - identical...

Load 10 with 27.0 gr CFE 223
COAL/CBTO: 2.219/1.914; 2.223/1.914; 2.225/1.916; 2.225/1.914; 2.200/1.908; 2.218/1.912; 2.221/1.910; 2.216/1.909; 2.214/1.908*
Chrono Results
* * * * 2997, 2846, x3114, 2956, x2905, 2926, 2932, 2910, 2974, 2916
* * * * Lo 2905, Hi 3114, E.S. 209, Avg 2948
* * * * Try Again, Dropping Lo and Hi
* * * * Lo 2916, Hi 2997, E.S. 81, Avg = 2932 - not much more than 26.7 gr load...

[LittleLebowski]

Mucho thanks, gents! I'm going to buy it and some Titegroup, the local dealer has a smoking price on Titegroup, I think it will work well for my foray into reloading 9mm.

[punkey71]

LL, PM me the Titegroup price if you don't mind

:-)


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[SecondsCount]

I find it interesting that CFE223 is cheaper, must be a glut on the powder market right now. TAC has gained a huge following as it was very cost effective when it came out but now it seems to be pricier because of popularity. I like TAC and H335 for 55FMJ loads and have tried CFE223 but did not find it to be any cleaner in a 16" carbine which could be because of burn rate.

Based on the Hodgdon burn rate chart (http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Burn%20Rates%20-%202015-2016.pdf), comparatively CFE223 is a bit slower than TAC so it is probably better suited to heavier bullets but should work okay with 55 FMJ if that is what you are using.

[Mitch]

Mucho thanks, gents! I'm going to buy it and some Titegroup, the local dealer has a smoking price on Titegroup, I think it will work well for my foray into reloading 9mm.

Titegroup is awesome for 9mm. Pretty much the only powder I use now.

[LittleLebowski]

Punkey71, shot out.

The rest, I ended up going with Tac powder.