Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles CFE-223 with .308 & .30-06

Looking for info on CFE-223 with .308 & .30-06. I see it's a touch slower than Varget on the burn scale and have used it with excellent results with 165gr Deep Shocks in the .308 but haven't had a chance to work up loads with 150gr bullets in the .308 and the .30-06. What say you guys?
George

There's plenty of data at hogdon.com on cfe.
Like you I love firsthand reports but that info at hogdon would weigh heavily on my load development strategy.

I absolutely love it, I will dare say that I like it a tad better than 748 in my 308. I got in early on CFE and have a recent jug. Those aren't the same animal, Hodgy even did an early switcheroo on their site for load data. I suspect the first run for them came from early 842 development.

In any case, it is definitely newer tech. The firing event is totally different than "traditional" powders. Early in my fooling with it, I could easily push the 150gr SMK to 3000fps. Never maxed out that load, because I found an accuracy node around 3.34cc IIRC.

To give you an idea of the firing differences.
When you load up one of your rifles and fire, I always feel an almost 2 part event. BANG, and then progressive recoil and muzzle blast. CFE FEELS more like a shotgun, just an instantaneous BANG and the event is over.

Oh, and it isn't one of ADI's Hard-Carbon making powders; so buy some!

50-51.5 gr works well in my 308 win with 150 gr Horn SP, TTSX, and Partition. Easily get 2900-2975 fps. CFE-223 and 2000 MR are both good for another 50-100 fps with 150s over most other 308 powders.