Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Hodgdon CFE Powder - Popularity Proven

I never used Tac so I can not compare. CFE is a Ball powder.

DakotaDeer,

All ball powders are double-based, and both TAC and CFE223 are ball powders.

CFE223 is enough slower (though not much) than TAC that I have both on hand, giving me a choice.

I've been using TAC for a dozen years, a lot longer than CFE223, so have found far more uses for it. TAC works VERY well anywhere IMR4895 would in a top-pressure load. I've found it outstanding in the .17 Fireball, .204 Ruger, .223 with 40-55 grain bullets, .308 with 150-168's, .358 Winchester and .350 Remington with 225-250's, .405 Winchester with 300-400's, and .416 Remington with 350-400's. Probably have forgotten about some other applications as well.

Haven't had time to do as much with CFE223, but it's been outstanding in cartridges from the .223 with bullets from 50 grains up to the 8x57 with 150-170 grain bullets.

It also gives top velocities in the 6.5 Grendel.

I was out again today with the .22-250 verifying zero on the load using the CFE powder. Only took a few shots to really powder foul. The rifle is just starting to show some copper fouling though in an unknown amount of shooting. I have also been testing loads not loaded with the CFE powder. My chronograph crapped out and had to be sent back to PACT so I have no idea on velocity. I keep saying I am going to dig out my old Chrony cheap-O but it is so fussy I get aggravated with it.

WSM_Shooter: Well if no velocities became available how about the accuracy - any good news there?
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

VarmintGuy accuracy for my 22-250 is outstanding.
40 grains of CFE223 under a 45 grain sierra sp with a CCI small rifle primer is my load. Have not gotten much range time but it is producing one ragged hole when I watch the wind. Really need more range time with the rifle and load but it is a winner!

Got my chronograph back from Pact yesterday so I got out this morning. Only a 3 shot average as the wind was not friendly and I had to get home to work up the garden. But 40 grains of CFE223 and the 45 grain Sierra gave me 3919.3 fps. Darn wind was pushing me from 1/2" to 1" at 100. If the wind is not blowing any place on earth it is at our club!

I loaded 5 rounds for my CZ 204 yesterday to get an idea how this stuff shoots. 29 gr of CFE under a 39 gr Sierra lit with a Federal 205M put three right into one ragged hole with the other two just not quite touching the group at 10 o'clock and 4 o'clock. If I ever get back to the pd towns, I think I'll be using this in my 204.

222Sako & WSM Shooter: I have noted both of your recommended loads and have them stashed safely inside my Handloaders Log Book.
Thanks and keep up the good shooting.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Varmintguy; I hope to continue to work with this powder once I can get my grubby little paws on more. I only have around half a pound left so I can't play much. I am in the process of cleaning the 22-250 as I write this so I will report if the copper has gotten any worse. So far I am just cleaning black powder fouling out.

im looking for some h335 powder in 8 lb keg. any body have some for sale without selling my house to get it.

romeojr

welcome to the 'fire
we have a great classifieds ad section for requests such as yours. try it

Bite me Sako, don't be a rude mofo. Try that.

Just a heads up for anyone around Memphis, the sportsmans warehouse in Southaven MS has a bunch of CFE 223 on the shelf. They don't have much else, but a bunch of CFE.

Crow hunter: That is interesting, as my local pawn/sport shop recently got in a batch of it when so many other powders are really hard to come by.
I have been to two sporting goods stores of recent, that have posted signs saying they have quit carrying powders "until further notice".
Worrisome.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Must have just arrived, I was through there a few weeks ago and pickings were slim. A few 40gr. 22 cal bullets, no 30cal at all, NO PRIMERS. I did buy a pound of RL15, and it was the last one. This time last year the shelves in that store were LOADED with reloading supplies.

Romeojr: If you anywhere near SW Montana my local pawn sport shop has several 1 pound bottles of H 335 powder as of 1000 hours 4/09/2013.
Their phone number is 406-683-9844.
Best of luck in your search.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGy

Got out with the 22-250 again today. Shot 5-3 shot groups trying the 52 grain A-Max and CFE223. Picture shows the results. 37-39 grains in 1/2 grain increments. Starting velocity average was 3584 FPS and max load was 3872 FPS. I called the shot marked me in the last group. I lost concentration just as I touched her off. Edited to add copper fouling is still at a minimum.

I've had great luck with TAC in the 308 but haven't done as much work with CFE-223. Is it one of those powders that needs top pressures for best performance?

thanks,


Okie John

Locate a Sportsman's Warehouse, or they can ship it to your closest store.

Our local one has been having H 335 in one pounders and 8 pounders shipped in on a regular basis the last 3 or 4 months.

Same with CFE 223....which I don't use. 1 and 8 pound kegs.

I don't use CFE 223 because it needs a full case to perform best... other powders are more economical... which is important if you shoot a lot. I get roughly 250 rounds or a little less of a pound of CFE. In the varmint fields I shoot other powder that I get 550 plus rounds out of a pound...Unique I get over 700 rounds out of one pound of powder... and those loads are just fine for destroying sage rats out to 300 yds, if you know how to use Kentucky Windage on some of the latter reticles available.