Hodgdon CFE 223
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MondronT
Member
I've used in two bolt .223's and for 7mm-08 pushing 120 vmax. Works very well. During the height of the powder shortage I actually bought 5lbs at $35.99 each at a show. Yeah it works well but I feel like the salesman owes me a cigarette. 
KansasSasquatch
Member
In my testing I'd say its good for .223 plinking ammo. It wouldn't be my first choice for my loads that I wish to get great accuracy from. Most stick powders work much better for accuracy loads, in my experience.
Clark
Member
CFE223 is what I consider BLC2 with and anti Copper fouling coating.
In 2012 I used CFE223 to break in a 260 Shilen stainless barrel.
I was using Lapua 308 palma brass necked down and turned.
The CCI450 small magnum primers could set off 40 gr of CFE, but not 42 gr with 120 gr bullets.
In 2015, I used slow IMR-4451 [anti Copper coating and temp coating] to replace H4350 [temp coating].
In 2015 I also used fast IMR-4166 [anti Copper coating and temp coating] to replace CFE223 [anti Copper coating] and H4895 [temp coating].
In 2012 I used CFE223 to break in a 260 Shilen stainless barrel.
I was using Lapua 308 palma brass necked down and turned.
The CCI450 small magnum primers could set off 40 gr of CFE, but not 42 gr with 120 gr bullets.
In 2015, I used slow IMR-4451 [anti Copper coating and temp coating] to replace H4350 [temp coating].
In 2015 I also used fast IMR-4166 [anti Copper coating and temp coating] to replace CFE223 [anti Copper coating] and H4895 [temp coating].
dh1633pm
Contributing Member
When I go to F-Class, most are shooting 223 with heavy bullets. Almost all are using CFE223 for their loads. There is an older man there, retired army, who is in his 70's. He shoots near perfect scores every week. He got them all started on it.
MtnCreek
Member
I tried to work up a load in two 18" AR's using either 75gr Hornady BTHP or 77gr SMK (don't remember which) and didn't find anything worth pursuing. For me in those rifles / bullet weight, IMR 8208 works well. YMMV.
My go-to powder for .223 in AR-15 is H335 and 55gr bullets
My second choice is CFE223, because my reloads with this powder nearly duplicate the H335 load, thus I don't have to make any adjustments to the sights. The CFE223 loads did chrono a little slower though, at least out of my 16 inch barrel (1:9 twist rate if that makes any difference).
I'm attaching some photos taken from a range trip this weekend where I did a side-by-side comparison of the two loads.
Test rifle was a Windham Weaponry AR-15, 16 inch barrel, carbine length gas system, 1:9 inch twist, iron sights, from a bench with a really crappy rest. Test shooter, myself, is less than perfect, had a few "flyers" in my groups that I think were just me goofing up not the gun or the ammo. Ammo was loaded with mixed brass (some Lake city, some commercial), with "bulk" Hornady 55gr soft point bullets, and powder chargers were not individually weighed, they were just tossed from a cheap Lee "perfect" powder measure. Basically this ammo is the cheapest and fastest to produce, NOT match grade stuff. Primers were CCI 41, the "mil spec" primers that come in those white boxes. All groups fired were 5 rounds.
Test #1 was to shoot at paper plates at 100 yards and compare group sizes. I get the plates at the dollar store, I like them because they're cheap and easy to see with my bad eyesight (I'm not that old, 34, but am very near-sighted). Had 3 "flyers" out of the 5 shots with the H335, and only 1 flyer with the CFE223. The 3 good H335 shots in the group were very tight and I was very pleased, especially considering the cheap/easy nature of the ammo. The CFE223 group was larger but POA/POI was pretty much the same, so I was still happy with it. See attached photos
Test #2: Had my Dad shoot 10 rounds of just the CFE223 load at 50 yards. Attached photo with the orange/green target (there were 3 holes in the paper already, we used a recycled target, pre-exisiting holes were circled with a black ink pen). Dad is probably a better shot than me but he normally shoots with optics not irons.
Test #3: Shoot each load at 175 yards at IDPA style silhouette target. See attached photo, I color-coded it so you could see where the rounds hit. Again the H335 loads made a tighter group (aside from the 1 flyer). The colored holes are mine, the unmarked ones are rounds my Dad shot, again only using the CFE223 load, and again he shot 10 rounds.
So yeah, conclusion: both loads are minute-of-zombie out to 175 yards, don't need to adjust sights, but H335 gives me better groups. Your mileage may vary. Hope this helps...
My second choice is CFE223, because my reloads with this powder nearly duplicate the H335 load, thus I don't have to make any adjustments to the sights. The CFE223 loads did chrono a little slower though, at least out of my 16 inch barrel (1:9 twist rate if that makes any difference).
I'm attaching some photos taken from a range trip this weekend where I did a side-by-side comparison of the two loads.
Test rifle was a Windham Weaponry AR-15, 16 inch barrel, carbine length gas system, 1:9 inch twist, iron sights, from a bench with a really crappy rest. Test shooter, myself, is less than perfect, had a few "flyers" in my groups that I think were just me goofing up not the gun or the ammo. Ammo was loaded with mixed brass (some Lake city, some commercial), with "bulk" Hornady 55gr soft point bullets, and powder chargers were not individually weighed, they were just tossed from a cheap Lee "perfect" powder measure. Basically this ammo is the cheapest and fastest to produce, NOT match grade stuff. Primers were CCI 41, the "mil spec" primers that come in those white boxes. All groups fired were 5 rounds.
Test #1 was to shoot at paper plates at 100 yards and compare group sizes. I get the plates at the dollar store, I like them because they're cheap and easy to see with my bad eyesight (I'm not that old, 34, but am very near-sighted). Had 3 "flyers" out of the 5 shots with the H335, and only 1 flyer with the CFE223. The 3 good H335 shots in the group were very tight and I was very pleased, especially considering the cheap/easy nature of the ammo. The CFE223 group was larger but POA/POI was pretty much the same, so I was still happy with it. See attached photos
Test #2: Had my Dad shoot 10 rounds of just the CFE223 load at 50 yards. Attached photo with the orange/green target (there were 3 holes in the paper already, we used a recycled target, pre-exisiting holes were circled with a black ink pen). Dad is probably a better shot than me but he normally shoots with optics not irons.
Test #3: Shoot each load at 175 yards at IDPA style silhouette target. See attached photo, I color-coded it so you could see where the rounds hit. Again the H335 loads made a tighter group (aside from the 1 flyer). The colored holes are mine, the unmarked ones are rounds my Dad shot, again only using the CFE223 load, and again he shot 10 rounds.
So yeah, conclusion: both loads are minute-of-zombie out to 175 yards, don't need to adjust sights, but H335 gives me better groups. Your mileage may vary. Hope this helps...
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Gravedigger56
Member
I have been tempted to try CFE 223 so when I found 2 bottles for sale I grabbed them. It will be a long time before I get to try it out but around here it is hard to come by which is why I bought it when I saw it. I only plan on using it for plinking rounds in my AR-15 and Mini-14 so I'm sure it will do the job nicely.
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