Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Your go to powder..........

I shoot 55gr TSX and Lehighs, 62gr TSX and 64gr Nosler Bondeds with CFE-223, don't shoot matches or for groups, max speed that's plenty good enough for minute of felon.

CFE-223 is also the powder used in 16 inch 7.62 REPR's, 150gr E-Tips at 2715 and moa to 200 yards is cake.

A few fellas have been using it and man, I like the stuff and like you said, it’s available mostly.

I wouldn't waste time with it. not the fastest. not the most accurate in the end and temp sensitive. Especially with TAC around.

TAC was nowhere close to as accurate for me as RE-15, so I guess my mileage varied.

Flip flop then. Tac got more speed and better accuracy when testing about 10-12 guns for a certain team match. IE all guns, various makes, barrels etc.. had to shoot the same ammo out of the same bucket so to speak from 600 back to 300.

That said a certain top level AR smith only shot RL15 and probably still on that kick I suspect. I just never got out of it what he got out of it at the time.

H335. My current gun loves it. I've had 2 others, nominally identical, and they both varied a lot more in their preferences, but this gun wants a max load of H335 with whatever bullet I've chosen from the 55 grain Hornady flat base to the 70 grain Accubond .. with a few 77s thrown in though they are really not my focus. Mine is a varmint, hunting, and defense gun, so my focus is on accuracy with hunting bullets of one sort or another.

Tom

I shoot 62 grain bullets, Varget and CFE 223

Johnnies reloading got his best results with AA2520 and got real close to the Mk262 ammo. Blackhills claims to use a proprietary mix of powders to get their velocity and accuracy. Needless to say they are not releasing that recipe.

kwg

In today’s world, whatever is most available. I have recently been using CFE 223 with 55 FMJ. It meters very well. Will probably go back to H4895 after it runs out

Used a lot of 2520 but the variations lot to lot finally did me in with that. And for the most part with AA after that.

Could not handle a 200 fps variation from one lot to the next that a charge change could not cover without pressure issues.

Twas a bit temp sensitive too.

YMMV.

I've had sporadic results with that powder as well. Probably one of the worst I've tried. Accuracy was very sub par and unusual while using that powder.. I won't use it in another 223/556. Was experimenting with it in my new 308w yesterday and results were not bad. Not great, but not bad..

He’s to beat TAC in my opinion. Lever is a close second.

H4895.

Is that the reason for the recall on it right now?
Shooters World is close to or is AA 2520 and a lot cheaper, and very accurate.

LVR is a awesome powder in 223. Just no real data. It has a cult like following in some shooting circles.
Mostly with bigger 6mm, 6.5mm, 6.8 rounds shot out of AR's. But it is great in 5.56 also, takes more though.

I've found LVR and PP2000mr to be pretty similar performance wise in some cartridges. I got another 8 pounder of lvr at 30% of last fall before the powder all disappeared. My friend with me at the time laughed and said are you really going to shoot that much 30-30. He didn't believe me when I said I ran it in my 223 and 223 AI because he said there is no data.

I still mainly run 8208xbr but I like lvr too and couldn't pass up 8 pounds for $120. Now I'm really glad I bought it. He runs tac in his 223s. I've never learned to like tac. I've shot some good groups with it but never found one a load with it I consistently like.

For years I ran the 50g Vmax over 25.7-26.2g of benchmark depending on the gun. Every 223 I had would shoot great with a load in that 1/2 grain window. I still recommend that for people wanting a lighter weight bullet. A 50g vmax at 3400fps is a great varmint load to moderate ranges. When the 53g vmax came out I started shooting more of those but the 50g Vmax has always been easy for me to get to shoot great.

Now that most of my guns are fast twist I stick around 23g 8208xbr and a 75g Hornady bthp. Although this spring I'm going to try to find a good load that works well in most of my ARs with the 73g eldm because I have thousands of those I bought on a deal a few years ago. That's always fun trying to find a load several guns like. Last time I did it was tge benchmark and 50g vmax load mentioned above and even then I had to vary the charge a bit for some rifles.

Bb

Tag

I'd love me some LVR for $120 for 8Lbs! I use it in Lever actions's too.

I tried Varget in my .223 and wasn't happy with the results, but I usually shoot lighter bullets in it. However, it is unbelievable in my 22-250 with 40 grain ballistic tips. It makes me look like a great shooter when I use it and the speeds I get are pretty amazing- in fact they were exactly what the label on the can said over my chrono....

My go to so far with my 223s is H335. Excellent accuracy and velocities in my and my buddies' .223's and meters exceptionally well . I tried a few of the others mentioned but never really had much luck compared to the H335...

Bob

I have gone to this for my 77gr loads. It's very good.

I use CFE223 for 64gr and 69gr. H335 for 50gr TTSX.