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308 AND CFE 223???

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Lockjaw View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lockjaw Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: 308 AND CFE 223???
    Posted: November/26/2016 at 04:09
Anyone loading this powder with a 308? Going to load some 165 gr hornady SPBT's for hunting. 

Data from Hodgdon is starting 45.4 at 2649 FPS, up to 48.3 at 2839 fps.

Where would you start? 

Gun 1 is Remington 700 Tactical Model
Gun 2 is Ruger Hawkeye with 16.5 in barrel.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/26/2016 at 08:19
I would start at the bottom with both and work up for each rifle.
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Lockjaw View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lockjaw Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/26/2016 at 08:58
How much increase ! Like .5 grain? Think that is what I did long time ago.

Both guns are 1 in 10 twist.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote runout Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/28/2016 at 19:03
    slow and easy..
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote nralifer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/10/2017 at 19:14
Would like to know how the powder performed and were there any problems?
It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. TR
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonoMT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/16/2017 at 12:18
I'm going to have to try it sometime. I've used Varget forever but while it meters okay I've always been impressed with how consistent spherical powders meter. The 4-5% increased velocity is a plus too, especially as I'm hunting more with a 16" barrel.
Reaction time is a factor...
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supertool73 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/16/2017 at 12:29
BLC-2 is also a great ball powder for 223 and .308.  CFE 223 is right next to it on the burn rate chart.  I have used it in .223 for many years, loading thousands of them with it. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote nralifer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/26/2017 at 08:07
The reason I asked about problems with CFE223 is that I tried it in the 308Win, and had a strange problem. After a while I noted that it was getting harder to close the bolt with a live round. It was a progressive problem rather than an abrupt occurrence as one would expect if the brass was too long. I cleaned the gun and the rounds that I could not chamber well chambered with no problem. It was as if the powder was causing fouling of the throat or chamber. Never experienced that before. I was testing all copper bullets. Was getting good groups and excellent velocities. I switched to Leverevolution, and this problem never happened again. Velocities with Lvr were just as good and accuracy has been excellent to the point that it has become my favorite powder in the 308Win. There are published data in the 338 Federal for Lvr but not the 308Win, but the burn rate is slower than CFE, so one can use the lower charge weights quoted for CFE223 in the 308Win and work up. We consistently see 0.5-0.75 MOA accuracy out to 500 yards with both 308Win rifles that I have. WLRM primers also gave me the most consistent MVs. Word of caution, Lvr does not work well in in 7mm-08.
It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. TR
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/26/2017 at 08:38
I love Varget for both .223 and .308. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lockjaw Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/11/2017 at 13:07
I haven't gotten around to loading any ammo yet. 

I took the gun out (700) this saturday to shoot it and see where it was. I messed up and only ended up with some american whitetail 165 grain and Federal Fusion 165. I had some Federal with 150 grain partitions and the Hornady custom with 150 grain SST. 

It didn't shoot the AW ammo to well, the Fusion it seemed to like. 

I also didn't care for the Hogue stock off a table. I just had a tougher time getting my eye lined up in the eye box of the scope (Minox ZA5), and it is mounted low in a DMZ mount. 

So I am going to try to get set up this week and load some ammo. I should have enough cases to load some with the 165 grain bullets I have, and also the 150 grain core lokts. 




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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lockjaw Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/17/2017 at 21:07
I got out to the range at the hunting club today with some handloads and 165 gr Hornady interlocks and 150 grain core lokts. 

My 700 does not like that hornady bullet. All the the handloads were all over the place, except 46.4 grains. It shows promise being really close to 1 in for 3 shots. That is only 1 grain over the beginning load. I started at the beginning load and went up in half a grain increments. 

I have shot that bullet in the American Whitetail line, same problem, all over the place. The gun shot 165 grain fusions much better. 

The 150 gain core lokts were decent. I was a grain and 1.5 grain over starting load for a 150 g BT. 


My ruger, well it has a problem. It was just off. No idea which way either. But off in a big way. Center of standard 1 inch square target at 100 yards, aim for the middle, off the paper. Go figure. I brought it home and cinched up the scope rings and put blue loctite on them. That is the only thing I can figure. 

I am going to order a different bullet weight and see what happens there. Something besides a hornady. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/17/2017 at 21:47
My mossberg loves those hornady 165s. I can often put five rounds under an inch with it. But i use varget
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/18/2017 at 09:43
I typically start out at about 4 gr below the listed max charge and work up to signs of pressure and/or the target velocity on my chrono. Then, I fine tune the load in .3 - .5 gr increments around whatever charge gave me the best groups within a reasonably high velocity and low SD/ES combo. Then, I might experiment some with COAL if seating to the lands isn't giving me satisfactory groups.

I've never had any trouble finding powders that work well with .308 and its offspring. .308 seems to be very un-fussy about powder choice, so if one powder is giving you some trouble, I wouldn't fret too much trying to make it work. There are several good, proven powders for .308. I've not tried CFE223, but any mechanically sound rifle in .308 with a good barrel in an appropriate twist should be capable of good precision with Varget, W748, RL15, IMR4064, IMR4895, or BL-C2 with good bullets.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lockjaw Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/18/2017 at 12:23
I am not sure its the powder. I have shot that same bullet with my reloads, and also with factory hornady ammo. Same results, very poor grouping. 

It may just be that my gun doesn't like that bullet and I need to try a different one. The core lokts seemed to shoot ok. 

I was going to try a Nosler Accubond or Ballistic tip and see what it does. It has 1 in 10 twist, so that generally means a heavier bullet weight would work better, right?

I also know from playing around in college with my 700 BDL 270, the sweet spot for it was 52gr of H414 and a Hornady 130gr sp. I shot another powder too, I think H4895, and never got close to that. It was well under an 1 inch. Best group I have ever shot, and it was just off a rolled up wool sleeping bag liner. 

I always thought that gun shot better running 30-06 brass through my die and using it to reload that 270 cases. 

Varget is the next one I am going to try. 

HAs anyone used Accurate powders? I was looking at their data last night, they list a ton of different bullets, and min max charges plus velocity. I know out of a 20 in barrell I won't achieve their numbers, but if it was fairly close, then I would be ok. 



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/18/2017 at 20:02
I've had great results with the new Hornady ELD bullets in 6.5mm, 7mm, and .30. If I were you, I'd give either the 168 ELD-M or the 178 ELD-X a try, depending on whether your main focus is targets or critters.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/18/2017 at 20:06
Seirra game king typically shoot very well. Inexpensive too.
Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lockjaw Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/19/2017 at 09:53
I may look at Sierra's, and the ELD. I have to see what I can find weight wise around here. 

I called the gunsmith at the big local store that does all their sighting in for customers, and he said he usually recommends and sights in with the bullet I am having so much trouble with. He said he would be surprised if my gun didn't shoot them well, and suggested I make sure the action screws are torqued properly, and the scope mounts are tight. 

I told him my experience with hornady bullets and a 270 has been fantastic as far as accuracy is concerned. 

I told him it seemed to like the 165 gr Fusion bullets. 

So I guess back to the drawing board. If I can get it dialed in, then I will work on the Ruger and see what it likes too. Big difference in shoulder thumping between it and the Remington. Of course the Ruger is 5.75 pounds bare. 


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/19/2017 at 11:14
I have been struggling with my browning 300 wsm for years to get the accuracy I wanted.  I have tried 6 different bullets 3 powders with it.  About half the time I could get 3 inch groups MOAish.  Then with the 4th and 5th shot it would open up to 2moaish or a bit more. 

Yesterday I had loaded up some barnes ttsx 180s with 3 different charges of RL17.  And finally I got some good 5 shot groups.  With all three loads it shot 5 shots at 1.5 inches at 100 yards.  Two of them the first 3 were just under 1 inch and the 4th and 5th opened it up a bit more.  But I finally found the bullet that will shoot well with that gun.  It has been a bugger.  I love the gun as it with scope is in the 7 lb range so it is a joy to carry.  But kicks like a bugger. 

The 180 grain sierra game kings actually shoot pretty well for 3 shot groups, but that 4th and 5th always opened things way up.  I always attributed it to a hot barrel as it gets dang hot after 3 rounds.  But with the Barnes it still stayed into a pretty good group even getting that hot.

With 63 grains RL17 I was getting an average of 2965 fps and 1.5 inch 5 shot group. 

Sometimes guns can be buggers.  I tried the Sierra game kings 180s, sierra 175 SMK, Nosler accubond 180s, Hornady 180 sst, Hornady 200 grain eldx, and the Barnes 180s.  I have never had such a picky gun.  I was just about ready to give up on it.    
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/20/2017 at 10:32

ST I would think 3 shot groups would be fine with that rifle being its intended use and barrel profile.  My WSM like yours does the same.  I quit trying to get more than 3 shot groups with lighter/hunting profile rifles.


When do you ever think you'd ever shoot more than 3 shots at a time anyway? in the field that is?

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/20/2017 at 11:27
Its not just about shooting it in the field.  It is about getting the gun to shoot the way I want it to.  I like 5 shot groups or even 10 or 20 shot groups.  Tests the gun and me. 
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