cfe223 for 223

[trigga]

i was just at a reloading shop today and noticed they had two 8 lb jugs of cfe223 for about $150. i've been using aa2230 but only found a pound of it. I have only enough to load about 150 more rounds. I know the aa2230 was designed specifically for the 223 but I can't seem to find any...

is the cfe223 as good if not better? if so I might go back next weekend and buy the jug... I have plenty of components except for powder... what i really want is a big jug of aa2230 and have already developed a working load... i know components are slowing starting to come back but what do you guys think?

 

[Level10]

There is a chance you may NOT like it and only use a few ounces to a pound of the 8#s. Many people like it and haven't read much "negative" about it. Meters well. Even if you buy 8#s and don't like it AS much you can still use it for plinking or sell it to a buddy, $150 isn't bad for a keg. It might not be there next time you swing by tho.

If you "need" powder now why wait and hope aa2230 would pop up somewhere. Chance if you buy the CFE then AA2230 appears out of nowhere.

It's always nice to have a few "go to" powders too. Don't think it would be a bad thing but it's your choice. Good Luck some would be disappointed/mad you passed up on buying it.

 

[JamieC]

I bought a pound of it to try, (my first 223 reloads), I've heard that most tend to get good groupings near max loads, so far my first loads produced decent groups, on par with Priv Partisan ammo. I've got a few more loaded up to near max i haven't tried yet. Burns real clean, cycled the gun just fine at start loads.

 

[Glockula]

I just ladder tested with cfe .223 and hornaday 55 gr vmax projectiles.
It performed well for me right in the mid range. I could go higher but no need to.

 

[cfullgraf]

I use CFE223 in my 204 Rugers and like it. I just have not gotten around to trying it in the 223 Remington. I too like AA2230 in the 223 Remington and am heavily invested in it so no reason to try something else at the moment..

But, if i run short of AA2230, I will use CFE223 as a replacement in the 223 Remington.

In the 204 Ruger, the copper fouling is reduced versus other powders.

 

[Trailduster79]

I have had pretty good luck with it.

As others have said, it feeds well through my dispenser.

I would totally buy an 8# jug if I could find one.

 

[45lcshooter]

I'm still old fashion, dip the powder out with a Lee Dipper. Powder works great, clean up barrels in half the time. You can use it on many different calibers, and still take the copper fouling. One of my go to powders.

 

[amlevin]

CFE223 is not only great for .223 loadings, I use it in my .308.

I like it so well I ordered 32# of it back when Powder Valley was offering free hazmat with a 2 case order just before the last Presidential election. I'm in my last 12# and want to pick up another couple of cases. Hopefully in the next 6 mo's or so.

One thing I discovered about CGE223 is that it does flatten primers quicker for some reason but does not yield the other pressure signs until you reach the published max loads. I saw flat primers at loads barely over starting loads but no ejector "horseshoe", bolt wipe, or heavy bolt lift on my bolt actions until I reached the published max. I would use caution if using "winter load workups" after the weather warms, especially if it gets close to the triple digit numbers. Where I live my shooting weather doesn't vary more than 50 degrees all year.

I see great speeds from CFE223 without having to resort to compressed loads. Does seem a little "sooty" but it's a loose fouling that cleans out with merely a bore-snake. When I do an extensive "wet clean" there's so little copper it may be coming from the ferrule on the end of the cleaning rod.

I used to like AA2230 a lot but CFE223 has replaced it in my loading room.