CFE Pistol?

My buddy and I tested CFE P in 9, 40 and 45. I liked how it acted in all 3, but really paired it down to just 40 and 9. I ended up putting 7.7 behind a FP 185gr plated. I've since switched it up to BE86, which I tend to like a little better. Happy loading!

I've used CFE-P in .45 with 230 grain plated round nose bullets, and I like it for mid-range plinking loads. I still like Red Dot and Bullseye better for my accurate target loads, though.

CFE-P worked well for me in 45 Auto with jacketed bullets. I don't recall if I used it in the other cartridges you listed.

It seems versatile enough in handgun loads.

CFE-P works well in .357 for not quite mag loads. In my testing it worked well in .45 once you got on the heavier side of the charge range. (good vels in .45 onn the high side)

Tested it on the chronograph with 185 gr. Hornady XTP 45 ACP. Slow burner which did not do good in a short barrel 3.8 inches. 8.0 grs. only produce a muzzle velocity of 728 fps. Works better in the 1911 with 5 inch barrel, muzzle velocity of 1001 fps. Shot a 2 1/2 group at 25 yds. out a Springfield TRP Operator.

I have used CFE Pisfol. I was not impressed. I had problems with consistent powder drops using my Hornady LnL. Power Pistol is my first choice for 9 mm. It drops consistent and it shoots consistent.

My results with that powder have been very favorable. I think I've got at least 16lbs of it waiting to load up a bunch of .45 and some other calibers! I consider it a mid-range, not quite upper, loading powder. Seems to like it in that range, not so much for low-end plinking/powder-puff loads (that's what W231/HP-38/Trailboss is for!). Most of my family enjoys shooting .45, so that's what I've used it for the most.

In some informal testing (read: no chrono), it mimics the factory 'practice'-type ammo that I had on hand.

I've been using it for .380, 9mm, .45, & even .44mag and really like the results.
.380 - 3.7g for 100g RN, 3.6 for 100g HBRN. Both bullets are berry's plated.
9mm- 5.6g for 115g Power Bond RN, 4.1g for 147g Berry's RN
.45 - 6.6 for 230g Berry's RN
.44mag- Pistol- 12.0g for Hornady XTP
Rifle- 12.5g for same bullet. Nice plinking load for both with the 44.
As far as a all around powder I really like CFE pistol personally. Its nice to be able to use one single type for all my pistols.

In my testing CFE Pistol has been excellent in higher pressure cartridges, especially 9mm and 40 S&W. There are better choices for 45 ACP and 38 Special, such as Universal or 231.

I've developed CFE-pistol loads for 9mm, 40 S&W and 38/357 mag due to the powder shortages in the last few years. Works good in the 9mm and 40 but a little anemic in the 357 mag. I agree, much better powders available for 38/ 357 mag

To me CFE-P seems to be cleaner than PP and meters maybe a tad better, also less flash. I have used it in .380, 9mm, .38, .357 and .45. With some tuning I was able to get loads that worked well in everything I have used it in. Maybe not the best load but all were good. I just wish it was a little bulkier. (higher VMD) I would say pick up a lb and give it a try.
I would say there is nothing bad about it, meters decent, fairly clean, not spikey.

I did some ransom rest testing last weekend with a few different powders including CFE and have to say Im really liking it. My testing was pretty thorough but im thinking to run second test just to confirm everything. I was shooting 10 rnd groups @ 25 yards, two groups per charge weight and results were similar to Power Pistol and WSF testing. So I cant quite put my finger on why but I just really seem to like this one more. It was definitely softer than the PP. Cant really say why I liked it over the WSF.

I was testing w Hornady 115 FMJ's and tested from 5.0 to 5.9g. Average shot group size across all the testing was 1.4" with the best coming in at 1-1.2" groups. Usually my different testing shows my gun and barrel as liking hot & fast. With the CFE though it seems to be liking the lower end of charge weights. Im trying to search why that might be and/or if Im missing something.

I have not done much testing with CFE-P. I have not tried it with 38spl or 357mag, but it did work well for me in 45acp, though.

Ubermeier said:

So I guess I should have asked this: What powder do you use to load all three: .45 ACP, .38 special, to mid range .357 mag? Thanks.

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If I had to pick one powder for all three, I would say BE86. It downloads fairly well, but does burn a little dirty at the low end in 45acp (as do most slower burning powders). It won't give full magnum velocity in 357, but is only about 150fps slower than something like N-110 or 2400, and gives consistent velocity. My experience has been that it is not position sensitive.

I've used CFEP in 38 special, 9mm, and 40S&W. I don't feel it is very happy in 38 special. It is good in 9mm and 40. But I'd be hard pressed to identify a point at which it works better than BE86, which is also very happy in 38 special. I use BE86 for mid-range 357 and 38 special, and when the CFEP is gone BE86 will replace it in my 9mm and 40 loads. It's my choice for a medium-speed pistol powder. I'm working towards Sport Pistol, BE86 and H110 and phasing out Titegroup, CFEP and 2400.

Is there a profile for it in Quick Load?

I use CFE-Pistol in .40 S&W, .357 Sig, 9 mm, and .380. It seems to be best in .380 and 9mm. I found that Longshot does better in .357 Sig and .40 S&W. I have never tried it in .357 mag or .38 Special.

I don't like CFE-p in 38. It works well in 40 and 9mm. Haven't tried 45 acp.

I switched to CFE-P when I couldn't find any W-231. CFE-P was available in quantity AND the gun shop owner said there was plenty more available. I use it for my handmade coated 124 TC boolits in 9MM, charge weight,(I was going to give how much, but relying on my memory, well not gonna do it). I was going to go look it up, but so can you.

Cut to the chase, it's pretty darn accurate in 4 different 9MM pistols. I haven't loaded 40 S&W for a long time, I have some W-231 left for those and 45 ACP.

All said CFE-P is a good powder for 9MM in my experience, but I shoot very little lately because of my bad back. May be some scalpel cuttin" soon to fix things. I may test it in 357 sig 38 special, and 45 ACP.

snuffy said:

May be some scalpel cuttin" soon to fix things.

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Good luck! I hope it goes well for you.

ray15 said:

I don't feel it is very happy in 38 special.

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Bfh_auto said:

I don't like CFE-p in 38

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What does it not do well in 38 Special? Accuracy, inconsistency, or something else?

rbernie said:

What does it not do well in 38 Special? Accuracy, inconsistency, or something else?

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4" GP100
Xtreme 38-125HP 0.357" plated
6.4gr. CFE Pistol
CCI SPP
RP brass
OAL 1.425"
# FPS
9 892
8 846
7 914
6 921
5 978
4 965
3 851
2 930
1 795
Average: 899.1 FPS
SD: 59.4 FPS
Min: 795 FPS
Max: 978 FPS
Spread: 183 FPS

I suspect it's position sensitive, but regardless of the cause I don't even do accuracy testing on a load with an Sd of 60. My best BE86 and Titegroup 38+p loads are in the 10-12 range. CFE Pistol in full-power 9mm at max does 10-14 more often than not, at points single digits.

Ugh - that's terrible! Thanks for sharing the data.

rbernie said:

What does it not do well in 38 Special? Accuracy, inconsistency, or something else?

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It was very inconsistent. Halfway up the charge range I was getting occasional squibs. Accuracy was poor also.
In 357 it was okay, but unimpressive.
I do like it in 40 s&w.