Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles CFE223

Just wondering what everyone's experience has been with this powder????, only have one rifle that loves it but seems to me that it leaves as much copper behind as most other powders.......Hodgdon propaganda ????? being copper fouling eraser

I've got a pound, but haven't tried it yet.

I'm using it in the 32 Winchester Special and getting very good accuracy. Haven't chronographed it yet. I'm getting ready to try it in the 8x57. I seem to recall that one of the bullet maker load data websites showed it as delivering good velocity in the 35 Whelen.

I've used it in my 223 and mostly my 8x57. It shoots fantastic in my Sauer 8x57. As to the copper fouling reduction I honestly can't tell on way or another because that particular gun rarely fouls much with any powder. I've speculated that it could be the German steel. I think the additives that powder companies use can work and do but I think it largely depends on the quality of the steel in your barrel and how the copper reducers react with the steel.

Using it in a new Tikka 204 Ruger I recently bought. I don't see much if any copper fouling and loads are fairly accurate. I bought 2 more pounds of it, so as to leave my AR Comp alone. Found some CFE223 here locally for a pretty good deal, so I bought it.

For me it's the 'go to' powder in 8x57 and 7.65 Belgian Mauser...accuracy, speed. Fouling? I kinda got bored with the whole bare metal cleaning hysteria a few years back, and all I do now is 'maintain' the bore annually, don't pay much attention to copper wash.

That may be one of the reasons you are having issues getting those Barnes bullets to shoot well in your rifle.

Works very well in my 308 with 150gn bullets and produces better velocity than any other powder.

True, it could be a contributing factor, but when I take the very same rifle, same day, fouled bore, and fire the old known cup and core accuracy loads to verify the rifle and scope (nothing destroys my confidence like a 2 1/2 or 3 inch group)...and it performs perfectly, it makes me think fouling is not a big factor. In real world, offhand game shooting, there is nothing wrong with a 2.5 moa rifle...but I just get so damn frustrated with that piss poor performance with a rifle capable of sub moa with just about any load including factory Gold Medal Match, Black Hills Gold, my own handloads with Speer, Sierra, Hornady. Obviously I am doing SOMETHING wrong with the Barnes...I'll either figure it out or go nuts trying.

flintlocke, try Hammer Bullets. You can buy sample packs of 15 bullets. They might shoot for you and you won't waste so much money buying boxes of 50.

OK, just ordered 50 because I am a slow learner.

Word . . . 3,000 fps is a good MV for the 150 TTSX

That is what I am using it in as well, a 204 Ruger. it shoots accurate with good speed but leaves as much copper in the barrel as several other powders Benchmark,8208xbr,Varget,VVN140,H322,BL-C2.etc. was just thinking that the CFE was more marketing than reality.......don't know about the 223 part of it either, doesn't work that well in any of my 223's but glad it does in my 204 Ruger
It is available here locally as well for a reasonably good price

I'm almost through my third 8 lb bottle. only powder I use in my 204's, shoots extremely well in all 3 and 4 barrels. I shoot alot. easy to clean barrels. I think it works.

CFE223 groups well and less fouling in my Ruger American 223. Less fouling than BLC-2, H335 and Varget. Didn't make any difference when tried in a 243 just to see. Neither did IMR4451. That gun just fouled bad. Speer shows CFE223 in the 35 Whelen but haven't tried it yet. Dan.

LOL

CFE223 is very good in my 35 Whelen, excellent accuracy and no copper fouling. Excellent velocity with 250 grain Hornadys

Worked well with 64 & 65gr in .223. Max loads.

Works well for .223’s, gonna have to try it in 308’s.

Has anyone had any success using it in either a 7-08 or 260 Rem with 120-140 bullet weights, namely TTSXs or Interlocks?