Hodgdon CFE Pistol

[Eugen]

Anyone have experience or an opinion on CFE Pistol powder? The reason I ask is that I picked a pound of it today at a gun show for a decent price and I plan to load it. I'm a novice handloader and have only used Win231 for my 32acp, 380acp and 9mm handguns. I just shoot paper and metal, and plink. Has it worked well for you with small calibers? Thanks for any insight.

 

[LiveLife]

CFE Pistol is slower burning than W231 and produces accuracy at higher load data.

At similar burn rate, I like BE-86 and WSF more as they can produce accuracy at mid level load data.

For shooting paper and plinking, I would suggest you try Sport Pistol which is better suitable for lighter target loads at comparable burn rate to Titegroup/N320/W231.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

I have t used it but like you started with Win231/Hp38 as a friend of mine who helped me get started gave me some. It’s an excellent powder and been around a long time

I’ve since used BE86 as it was recommended here. And I love it.

BE86 is a newer powder as is CFE. If I’m not mistaken the powder companies created these to phase out older ones like Win231/HP38 as the newer ones are cleaner for the environment to make than the old ones.

My understanding is the popularity of the older powders has made phasing them out difficult.

 

[snakeye]

I personally don't like it....loaded around 700-800 rounds of 9mm and 40 SW and never could get the cases to seal in the chamber with it using numerous brands of cases, different loads all the way from minimum to max charges (even snuck some .02 grains over max on a few and still no change) and different OALs, 9mm would have soot all the way to the base of the case and 40 SW soot would be about 1/4 to 1/2 way down the case....wasn't impressed with accuracy either. Took the last half a pound and poured it in the garden. I have seen good reviews for but it didn't work for me. I normally load HP-38/Win 231, Unique, Power Pistol and Titegroup and never had issues like this before. But then again I don't like BE-86 either but for different reasons....guess I'm just and old tried and true powder kinda guy don't care for the new kids on the block but I am gonna try Sport Pistol if I can ever get just a pound of it here locally.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If your use it I would use it only in the 9mm not the other 2.

 

[[email protected]]

Works fine for me in 9mm and 380acp. I dont have a 32, so I have no experience with it in that caliber. I also use it in 40s&w and 45 acp. No complaints with how it performs in what i have tried it in, and i was satisified enough to get an 8lb jug. I never noticed sooty cases with it in 9mm or 40s&w, but did get some with it in 380acp. That usually is a sign of low pressure, which 380acp is a lower pressure round, and is expected for me. I just clean my guns and tumble my brass and all is fine.

 

[kcofohio]

I have used it in 380, 9x19, and a few other cartridges. As mentioned, it works best at and near max loads. For me it has done about as good as Silhouette, and better than AA#5. In 380 and 45 Auto, if you drop much below max, the lower pressure allows gases to run outside of the casing in the chamber. You get that sooty look.

When shooting max load in 380 with my LCP, it lets you know. Not the best if someone has arthritis.

 

[rskent]

I have been playing with it for powder coated 9mm. I didn’t want to use My normal 9mm powder, Tightgroup. I still don’t have a favorite load. But overall, I think it’s going to work out.

OP, Win231 should work great in your applications, what made you want to switch? Not criticizing, just asking.

 

[Eugen]

rskent, to answer your question, I sometimes get carried away when I'm at a gun show. Anyone else do that? LOL

A vendor was selling new powder for $20.00/lb. I succumbed to temptation and thought I'd try the CFE Pistol because of the price and just to try something different. I am very pleased with W231. If the guy was selling W231 for $20.00, I would have bought that instead.

I also implusively bought another handgun that I don't need.

Lastly, thanks to everyone that replied. Your varied thoughts and comments are helpful and appreciated. I'm leaning on just loading this powder near max load in 9mm.

 

[IKE]

My only experience so far with CFE Pistol was about three years ago when reloading supplies were tight and I purchased a pound then just for the heck of it I thought I'd try it with some 180 gr. Hornady XTP's in my 5.5" barrel stainless .44 Mag. Ruger Redhawk.

Using a 8.275" test barrel and 180 gr. XTP's Hodgdon showed 12.6 grs. at 1466 fps for minimum and 14.0 grs. at 1595 fps for maximum.

I loaded up three different loads and fired them at 25 yds. from a rest and 13.6 grs. with a WLP primer ended up being VERY accurate.

I haven't run the load across a chrony but when using 180 gr. XTP's in my Redhawk 13.6 grs. of CFE is now my "go to" load.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I sometimes get carried away when I'm at a gun show. Anyone else do that? LOL

Not me, no not ever, under perfect control! (yeah, right)

 

[Capt.Roll]

CFE Pistol is the only powder I've used since starting reloading several years ago. I use it for 95-100 grain .380 Auto loads, 124-125 grain 9mm loads and 165 grain .40 S&W loads. I don't max out my powder loads for each caliber; usually a couple of tenths of a grain below the maximum recommended. I shoot IDPA and some USPSA and accuracy is more than adequate based on my skill level. Seems to shoot clean as I have very little residue on my pistols and seldom find any powder grains that did not ignite.

I use CFE223 for my AR15 loads as well; 55-75 grain rounds in the 3000fps velocity range.. It provides excellent results from what I'm able to tell.

 

[Patocazador]

I use CFE Pistol for all of my 9x19, .380, and 9 Mak loads. It barks a bit but is accurate and meters nicely.

 

[VAReloader]

I like CFE Pistol a lot and have used it for years in 9mm, 40 S&W and 45 ACP. I tried BE86 but found the muzzle flash to be significantly bigger than CFE. As others have said it meters very well which is important.

 

[berettaprofessor]

Use it and find it accurate in 9mm (124 grain plated RN, 5.2 grains CFE). It meters very well, but it has more of a "snap" than similar loads in HP38/W231. Also like it in 25ACP reloads. I prefer W231 for 380.

To my knowledge, there is no 32ACP load safe-tested with CFEPistol. Hodgdon doesn't list one either in their annual or on the website. I've kind of settled on AA2 for 32ACP as my favorite.

 

[LiveLife]

I tried BE86 but found the muzzle flash to be significantly bigger than CFE. As others have said it meters very well which is important.

Your experience correlates with mine as BE-86 produced the biggest muzzle flash out of powders I did low light/night time testing for use with night vision scope with - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/loading-9mm-for-a-short-barrel.848394/#post-11067304

BE-86 5.2 gr RMR 124 gr HM RN @ 1.150" - 2" long by 3" high bright orange muzzle flash (Shooter's POV - 3" round flash). This was by far the brightest muzzle flash of four powders tested.

CFE-Pistol 5.2 gr RMR 124 gr HM RN @ 1.150" - 1" long by 2" high orange colored muzzle flash (Shooter's POV - 2" round flash)."

HP-38 4.8 gr RMR 115 gr FMJ @ 1.130" - This load was used as reference and produced 4" long by 2" high orange colored muzzle flash from the side (Shooter's point of view - 1.5" round flash).

Promo 3.8-4.0 gr RMR 124 gr HM RN @ 1.150" - 1" long by 1" high faint orange colored muzzle flash (Shooter's POV - 0.5" round flash). In low light, muzzle flash was almost non-detectable.

CFE Pistol ... meters very well

Yes, CFE Pistol like W231/HP-38/WSF is also another small ball powder flattened and coated to flow well. As shown below comparison picture, CFE Pistol actually has smaller average granule size than W231/HP-38.

 

[Metal God]

I personally don't like it....loaded around 700-800 rounds of 9mm and 40 SW and never could get the cases to seal in the chamber with it using numerous brands of cases, different loads all the way from minimum to max charges (even snuck some .02 grains over max on a few and still no change) and different OALs, 9mm would have soot all the way to the base of the case

I agree but would say I don't prefer it rather then don't like it . Generally it seems pretty accurate for me but I to have been unable to get it to seal the chamber well although my scorched cases only go half way down the case. I'll add it burns hot similar to Titegroup and will heat up your barrel faster then some other powders . I would not recommend it on a high volume day .

I've been trying it in 357 as of late and it's ok there but still has the same general problems .

 

[Tcruse]

I have t used it but like you started with Win231/Hp38 as a friend of mine who helped me get started gave me some. It’s an excellent powder and been around a long time

I’ve since used BE86 as it was recommended here. And I love it.

BE86 is a newer powder as is CFE. If I’m not mistaken the powder companies created these to phase out older ones like Win231/HP38 as the newer ones are cleaner for the environment to make than the old ones.

My understanding is the popularity of the older powders has made phasing them out difficult.

CFE and BE86 are both in the new generation of powders. Both came out around 2014. The CFE claim to fame is that is is useful over the entire range from "light" to "magum" loads. The latest powder from Hodgen is Winchester 244 that is about the same speed as Win231/HP38. Probably will replace them someday in the future. Both CFE and W244 are clean and perform well in both light and heavy loads.