CFE Pistol: Chrono Results for 9mm

[kcofohio]

Bought a new toy a few weeks ago. Competition's Prochrono Digital. Mainly got it because I bought 8 lbs. of CFE Pistol and there is so little data for the powder.

Finally got it out the other day to try out. It was overcast and 55' out.

Some of the strings are not an ideal count of shots. But at the range, I was in a horseshoe with no target stand. So I place a target on the berm with a clod of dirt holding it in position. Not the best for POA. So I got a few not readers and a few errs.

Two barrel lengths were use. A 4" and a 3 1/8".

First, the 4".

Powder: CFE Pistol @ 5.1 gr.
Bullet: Berry's 124 gr. HBFP
Primers: Rem 1 1/2
Casings: Win
COAL: 1.060"
4 shot string.
Hi......1070
Lo......1052
Avg....1062
ES......18
SD......8

Powder: CFE Pistol @ 5.0g gr.
Bullet: MBC 124 gr. Smallball
Primers: Rem 1 1/2
Casings: Win
COAL: 1.080"
6 shot string
Hi.....1132
Lo.....1084
ES.....48
SD....17

Powder: CFE Pistol @ 3.8 gr.
Bullet: MBC 147 gr. Subsonic w/Hi-Tek coating
Primers: Rem 1 1/2
Casings: Win
COAL: 1.060"
7 shot string
Hi.....956
Lo.....925
Avg...942
ES.....31
SD.....12

Powder: CFE Pistol @ 3.9 gr.
Bullet: MBC 147 gr. Subsonic w/Hi-Tek coating
Primers: Rem 1 1/2
Casings: Win
COAL: 1.060"
13 shot string
Hi.....985
Lo.....918
Avg...955
ES....67
SD....20

Powder: CFE Pistol @ 4.0 gr.
Bullet: MBC 147 gr. Subsonic w/Hi-Tek coating
Primers: Rem 1 1/2
Casings: Win
COAL: 1.060"
3 shot string
Hi.....989
Lo.....958
Avg...974
ES....31
SD....15


And now the 3 1/8" Barrel

Powder: CFE Pistol @ 5.1 gr.
Bullet: Berry's 124 gr. HBFN
Primers: Rem 1 1/2
Casings: Win
COAL: 1.060"
8 shot string
Hi.....1045
Lo.....1004
Avg...1025
ES.....41
SD.....15

Powder: CFE Pistol @ 5.0 gr.
Bullet: MBC 124 gr. Smallball
Primers: Rem 1 1/2
Casings: Win
COAL: 1.080"
7 shot string
Hi.....1051
Lo.....1017
Avg....1037
ES.....34
SD.....12

Powder: CFE Pistol @ 4.0 gr.
Bullet: MBC 147 gr. w/Hi-Tek coating
Primers: Rem 1 1/2
Casings: Win
COAL: 1.060"
7 shot string
Hi.....936
Lo.....890
Avg....911
ES.....46
SD....18

 

[Dudedog]

Thanks for the info.
I just picked up a lb of CFE pistol the other day and was going to use it with different bullets one of which happens to be the MBC 147 coated.

I just had a chance to try a couple of starting loads the other day with 125s.
Looks like it might be an interesting powder I just wish it's VMD was higher.
(less dense, more case space taken up)

If I have chance to test this weekend I will add some chrono #s for everybody.

 

[kcofohio]

Thanks for the info.
I just picked up a lb of CFE pistol the other day and was going to use it with different bullets one of which happens to be the MBC 147 coated.

I just had a chance to try a couple of starting loads the other day with 125s.
Looks like it might be an interesting powder I just wish it's VMD was higher.
(less dense, more case space taken up)

If I have chance to test this weekend I will add some chrono #s for everybody.

You're welcome!

Agree about the density. Before I got the chrono, I shot some 45s with this powder. After picking up the casings (which they were marked according to the powder weight), I noticed that they had heat marks to one side. With little difference from weight to weight.

Any additional data would be welcomed!

 

[Conservidave]

Thanks for the info, I would be interested in seeing some data on plated 115g loads if you get a chance to work some up....

 

[RPegram]

Thanks for the chrono results! I love this stuff in 9mm. It meters great and shoots great to boot! I had about lost interest in shooting my SR9 until trying some under 124gr lrn. I have tried 231 and Autocomp with fair results. I primarily shoot 8" sq steel plates at 20 yds and accuracy just wasn't what I wanted, switched to CFE Pistol, and now don't want to stop. I load at max, 5gr, but seat very shallow, actually almost max recommend length. I know the manufacturer of the bullets recommends 1.08", but my pistol likes 'em longer. it is taking all the self control I can muster to not order another 8lbs of this stuff!

 

[kcofohio]

Thanks for the info, I would be interested in seeing some data on plated 115g loads if you get a chance to work some up....

Though I don't have any 115gr. at this time, I do like a challenge. Maybe I can locate some in the next week or two. When I do, I'll post an update.

 

[kcofohio]

RPegram, next reload, I'll back off .2 gr. I noticed slight leading at the muzzle end of the 4" barrel. But not on the 3 1/8" barrel.

BTW, I noticed I left out the average for the 124 gr. smallball in 4". It was 1,118fps.

 

[RPegram]

I've had very little leading of the barrel. The little I've had is at the beginning of the rifling. A normal trip to the range will see between 150-200 rounds through it. When I clean it, I make several pulls of a bore snake through the barrel and will get a few hair thick strands from the corners of the rifling, but after that, a few passes with an oil soaked patch and it is shiney and clean as the day I bought it. I never tried Autocomp with lead, so can't say what effect it had on lead, but the 231 did produce more leading. I have BE-86, but have not tried it with lead. I did try it under 124gr FMJ, but I still prefer a lrn on top of the CFE Pistol. I'm hoping the BE-86 works well in 38 special, so it won't be a waste of money.

 

[Mr. Rowdy]

I loaded up some 115 grain Rainier plated RN on top of 5.6 grains of CFE and whoa, baby, that was a hot load. According to Hodgdon's sight 5.9 is max for jacketed bullets. At 5.6 I should have been close to 1090 fps according to the data, but these shot right around 1257.

Loaded some with lesser powder charges and with 115's my pistols went from dribbling out brass when charged around 5.0 to slinging into the next county at around 5.5 grains.

I just started loading a few months ago, but my other powders don't seem as sensitive. the CFE definitely seems more forgiving with heavier bullets though.

 

[Mad Chemist]

Burn rate and load data from Hodgdon shows it is nearly identical to Autocomp.

 

[kcofohio]

Burn rate and load data from Hodgdon shows it is nearly identical to Autocomp.

Mad, you may be onto something.

Not the best picture, but under 5x loupe, it is hard to tell them apart.

 

[Mad Chemist]

I load a lot of Autocomp in 9x19 and noticed that load data for CFE was nearly identical. I've heard that CFE rumors that CFE is basically Autocomp with an additive that inhibits Cu fouling.

Regardless of the rumor mill, you still need to use published data for the powder you are using as your guide. At least until we get confirmation from Hogdgon.

 

[kcofohio]

Thanks for the info, I would be interested in seeing some data on plated 115g loads if you get a chance to work some up....

I did pick up some Berry's 115 gr. RN early last week.

Seated them at 1.140" COAL. Worked up loads starting at 5.0 gr.-5.6 gr.

Between life and rain, the window of opportunity hasn't opened yet for testing. Hopefully it will happen this week. I'll be sure to post the results.

 

[kcofohio]

Thanks for the info, I would be interested in seeing some data on plated 115g loads if you get a chance to work some up....

After my wife gave me a bit of a scare last week, now she is doing better. I was able to get out today with those Berry's 115 gr. RN.

Edit; All data is from a 4" barrel.


Powder: CFE Pistol @ 5.0 gr.
Bullet: Berry's 115 gr. RN
Primers: Rem 1 1/2
Casings: R-P
COAL: 1.140"
5 shot string
Hi.....1040
Lo.....964
Avg...1018
ES....76
SD....31

Powder: CFE Pistol @ 5.2 gr.
Bullet: Berry's 115 gr. RN
Primer: Rem 1 1/2
Casing: R-P
COAL: 1.140"
10 shot string
Hi.....1111
Lo.....1052
Avg...1075
ES.....39
SD....19

Powder: CFE Pistol @ 5.4 gr.
Bullet: Berry's 115 gr. RN
Primer: Rem 1 1/2
Casing: R-P
COAL: 1.140"
9 shot string
Hi.....1131
Lo.....1065
Avg...1099
ES....66
SD....20

Powder: CFE Pistol @ 5.6 gr.
Bullet: Berry's 115 gr. RN
Primer: Rem 1 1/2
Casing: R-P
COAL: 1.140"
5 shot string
Hi.....1155
Lo.....1109
Avg...1134
ES.....46
SD.....19

The COAL was what Western Powders list with the same bullet in their data.

And Silhouette data is close in some areas to CFE Pistol, so I watched for the velocity in the 1,035-1,163 fps and am comfortable that the pressures should fall within a safe range.

 

[Conservidave]

Thanks for the data, its exactly what i was looking for. My COL is a little shorter with RMR bullets (1.125) but at least i have some direction now. I ended up at 5.2g from my work up and i stopped there because the loads were beginning to feel fairly energetic. Accuracy is there from the start but i think i can push them a little faster now and still be in the black.

Hope the wife is doing well!

 

[kcofohio]

Thanks for the data, its exactly what i was looking for. My COL is a little shorter with RMR bullets (1.125) but at least i have some direction now. I ended up at 5.2g from my work up and i stopped there because the loads were beginning to feel fairly energetic. Accuracy is there from the start but i think i can push them a little faster now and still be in the black.

Hope the wife is doing well!

You're welcome! I feel that .1-.2 gr. more would probably put what I loaded into the +P range.

And thank you, I believe she is doing better.

 

[Dudedog]

Springfield 9mm 1911 5"

RMR 147 3.7gr 1.135 OAL
Loaded on Lee turret, Lee Pro disk, mixed range brass, S+B primer, Lee FCD used. Charges weighed to verify weight then loaded as thrown. (usually withen + or - .1)
RMR 147 RN 3.7 CFE Pistol OAL 1.135
881.00
890.00
875.00
871.00
878.00

Average 879.00
ES 19.00
SD 7.18
PF 129.21

Bayou Bullets 105 coated cone 5.4gr 1.065 OAL (most show 5.4 on the DS750, some 5.3)
1226.00
1214.00
1211.00
1230.00
1221.00

Average 1220.40
ES 19.00
SD 7.96
PF 128.14
(will try 5.5 and maybe 5.7 next range trip)

 

[kcofohio]

Cool Dudedog! You have tighter numbers than I.

I'm using basically the same unit, except, I use the micro-charge bar instead of the disc. I don't check each charge, but every fifth one. Maybe if I verified each one, my deviation and spread would narrow down.

 

[gamestalker]

Appreciate the info, as my Son and I were just talking about giving CFE pistol a try this morning.

GS

 

[Dudedog]

I weigh what the disk is throwing at first then load what it's throwing and check say every 10th or 15 charge. I think the round holes in the disks are a little more consistant than the adjustable charge bar. I have extra disks so sometime I will enlarge a hole just a bit to get what I want.

I really need to do a test to see if the FCD is helping or hurting me on the ES/SD with the mixed range brass, might be intersting.
Some people don't care for the FCD, I happen to like it. (even with lead)

I will try some at 4.0 with the RMR 147s next time and try to get everybody some more numbers.