CFE 223 Load Work Up

[bpacman]

Last weekend I decided to crack open a bottle of CFE 223 that I picked up and see how it performs. After going through the published load recipes I decided to do a graduated test on some 55gr bullets that I had on hand (55gr Hndy FMJ BT and 55gr Nosler Ballistic Tips). I started at 25.5gr and ended at 27.5gr of powder with a COAL of 2.260 and neck tension only. All shots are at 100 yards.

The headshot group is just verifying my plinking rounds (55gr Hndy SP w/ 24gr of Varget) were still sighted in. You can see from my first group I needed to drop the scope a couple of inches, so I went down 8 clicks and continued the test.



Here is a link to the larger photo if you are having problems seeing this photo.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/33656124/CFE223-Test-Large.jpg

Looks like 26.5gr of CFE 223 and the 55gr Ballistic Tip wins this one. I was amazed how much better the Ballistic Tips grouped compared to the FMJ bullets. I have always been a fan of Ballistic Tips but never did a side by side test before.

Bp

[Hoot]

That's the fun part of reloading. Seeing you work pay off with tangible results.
Not surprised at the difference in performance though. One bullet is designed to be inexpensive to mass produce and shoot Minute of Torso and the other is designed to shoot Minute of Prairie Dog. Did you have the opportunity to chrony them?

Thanks for the range report. CFE 223 is on my list of powders to try. In the lighter AR calibers, I've been working through a keg of AR-Comp. Also a nice powder. Perfect for our wide temperature swings. Kind of like Varget in stability with the energy release curve of RL15 . Sightly smaller extruded granules.

Hoot

[bpacman]

Thanks Hoot,

I saved 50 of the rounds to Chronoy on the next trip. Only had time to do the shooting part. I haven't got good enough to concentrate on not hitting the Chrono while concentrating on the shot.

You are right, this is lots of fun figuring this stuff out.

Bp

[gearguy10]

Just curious if you noticed the acrid smoke from CFE 223 that I did? I usually don't mind the smell of burnt gunpowder but that CFE is harsh. Like a blast of bleach in your lungs.

[bpacman]

Sorry Gearguy,

I can't say I noticed anything other than maybe a lack of sulfur smell. When I Chrono the rounds I will look for this.

Bp

[Hoot]

A lot of the new designer powders have smells unlike what my nose's memory thinks gun powder should smell like, not just CFE223. AR-Comp smells like when you're passing Gary Indiana on the turnpike and the wind is out of the north.

Hoot

[shooter115]

Gee. I've always had really good luck with Hornady 55 FMJ's and 25gr of H335. I generally get sub-MOA groups with them out of my 3-gun rig. They're the only FMJ I've found though that will shoot fer crap. I've probably loaded close to 10K of them by now.

[bpacman]

Here is the Chrono data on the loads. Sorry for the string 5 and 5a. Forgot to hit the Sto button. The barrel is a Stag 3G 18" with a 1:8 twist.

I didn't notice any issues with smoke on the loads. Beautiful day on the range. Worth taking a day off of work.

String 2 25.5gr CFE 223 55gr FMJBT
1) 2699 -7.2
2) 2713 6.8
3) 2689 -17.2
4) 2739 32.8
5) 2691 -15.2

High: 2739
Low: 2689
E.S.: 50
Ave.: 2706.2
S.D.: 18.4
95%: 28.6

String 3 25.5gr CFE 223 55gr Nos BalTip
1) 2656 -35.2
2) 2709 17.8
3) 2680 -11.2
4) 2699 7.8
5) 2712 20.8

High: 2712
Low: 2656
E.S.: 56
Ave.: 2691.2
S.D.: 20.9
95%: 32.3

String 4 26gr CFE 223 55gr FMJBT
1) 2798 3.6
2) 2771 -23.4
3) 2807 12.6
4) 2795 0.6
5) 2801 6.6

High: 2807
Low: 2771
E.S.: 36
Ave.: 2794.4
S.D.: 12.4
95%: 19.2

String 5 26gr CFE 223 55gr Nos BalTip
1) 2759 -8.1
2) 2755 -12.1
3) 2746 -21.1
4) 2726 -41.1
5) 2744 -23.1

String 5:
High: 2759
Low: 2726
E.S.: 33
Avg: 2746
S.D.: 25.57


String 5a 26.5gr CFE 223 55gr FMJBT

6) 2742 -25.1
7) 2807 39.9
8) 2846 78.9
9) 2765 -2.1
10) 2781 13.9

String 5a:
High: 2846
Low: 2742
E.S.: 104
Avg: 2788.2
S.D.: 80.12

String 6 26.5gr CFE 223 55gr Nos BalTip
1) 2792 -4.2
2) 2818 21.8
3) 2793 -3.2
4) 2810 13.8
5) 2768 -28.2

High: 2818
Low: 2768
E.S.: 50
Ave.: 2796.2
S.D.: 17.3
95%: 26.8

String 7 27gr CFE 223 55gr FMJBT
1) 2907 33.4
2) 2849 -24.6
3) 2885 11.4
4) 2860 -13.6
5) 2867 -6.6

High: 2907
Low: 2849
E.S.: 58
Ave.: 2873.6
S.D.: 20.4
95%: 31.6

String 8 27gr CFE 223 55gr Nos BalTip
1) 2872 8
2) 2872 8
3) 2857 -7
4) 2861 -3
5) 2858 -6

High: 2872
Low: 2857
E.S.: 15
Ave.: 2864
S.D.: 6.7
95%: 10.3

String 9 27.5gr CFE 223 55gr FMJBT
1) 2975 30.8
2) 2928 -16.2
3) 2940 -4.2
4) 2934 -10.2
5) 2944 -0.2

High: 2975
Low: 2928
E.S.: 47
Ave.: 2944.2
S.D.: 16.3
95%: 25.4

String 10 27.5gr CFE 223 55gr Nos BalTip
1) 2928 -3.2
2) 2960 28.8
3) 2949 17.8
4) 2948 16.8
5) 2871 -60.2

High: 2960
Low: 2871
E.S.: 89
Ave.: 2931.2
S.D.: 31.8
95%: 49.4

[ex-LT]

Here is the Chrono data on the loads. Sorry for the string 5 and 5a. Forgot to hit the Sto button. The barrel is a Stag 3G 18" with a 1:8 twist.

String 5 26gr CFE 223 55gr Nos BalTip
1) 2759 -8.1
2) 2755 -12.1
3) 2746 -21.1
4) 2726 -41.1
5) 2744 -23.1

String 5a 26.5gr CFE 223 55gr FMJBT

6) 2742 -25.1
7) 2807 39.9
8) 2846 78.9
9) 2765 -2.1
10) 2781 13.9

High: 2846
Low: 2726
E.S.: 120
Ave.: 2767.1
S.D.: 33.9
95%: 27

(too much time on my hands...)

String 5:
High: 2759
Low: 2726
E.S.: 33
Avg: 2746
S.D.: 25.57

String 5a:
High: 2846
Low: 2742
E.S.: 104
Avg: 2788.2
S.D.: 80.12

[bpacman]

You Da Man! ex-LT.

TY,

Bp

[ex-LT]

You Da Man! ex-LT.

TY,

Bp

Not sure how I managed to do it, but effed up the SDs on those strings. Here's the correct data:

String 5:
High: 2759
Low: 2726
Avg: 2746
Variance: 130.8
SD: 11.44

String 5a:
High: 2846
Low: 2742
Avg: 2788.2
Variance: 1283.76
SD: 35.83

The only thing I can think of is blame it on Friday.