Loading .223 with CFE223 & Hornady 75 GR BTHP #2279

[Ej3]

Having recently started loading .223 using WC-844 & M193 55 gr FMJ bullets, I decided to try heavier bullets considering my carbine length barrel with a 1/7 twist. So I swung by my local Sportsmans Warehouse today and picked up a pound of CFE223 and a box of Hornady 75 Gr BTHP bullets.

Rifle: AR-15 with a 16” FN barrel, 1/7 twist and a YHM Phantom QD suppressor.
Powder: Hodgdon CFE223
Bullets: Hornady 75 gr BTHP (P/N 2279)
Primers: WSR
COL & Crimp: 2.250" with light taper crimp
Cases: All Wolf Gold trimmed to 1.750”
Conditions: overcast, 64 deg F

Load Data:
Hodgdon: Start 23.0 gr (2680 fps) and Max 25.0 gr (2876 fps) - 24" barrel, 1:12" twist
Hornady (9th Ed.): Service Rifle Data - Start 20.2 gr (2200 fps) and Max 24.9 gr (2700 fps) – 20” barrel, 1:9” twist
Hornady (9th Ed.): NATO - Start 22.2 gr (2500 fps) and Max 26.5 gr (2900 fps) – 20” barrel, 1:7” twist

Here were my results, 5 shots each at 50 yds:
CFE223 (23.0 gr) – Avg 2369, ES-54, SD-19, 1.50” group
CFE223 (23.5 gr) – Avg 2429, ES-65, SD-27, 1.00” group
CFE223 (24.0 gr) – Avg 2498, ES-23, SD-11, 1.25” group
CFE223 (25.0 gr) – Avg 2612, ES-52, SD-19, 1.25” group
CFE223 (26.0 gr) – Avg 2704, ES-60, SD-22, 2.25” group



A few observations:

1. For the top two powder charges, I discounted one shot each as probably my bad shooting.
2. I am using an EOTech EXPS2-0, so I do not consider this precision testing. I had to adjust my optic left after the first set and was shocked with the grouping for the 23.5 gr load. Three literally hit the bullseye within a ½” diameter dot and two only ¾” high.
3. I had no signs of pressure, including the top end load of 26.0 gr.
4. Comparing the published Hodgdon data (24” barrel) to my results (16” barrel):
   · 23.0 gr 2680 fps vs 2369 fps = 311 fps/8” = 39 fps/in.
   · 25.0 gr 2876 fps vs 2612 fps = 264 fps/8” = 33 fps/in.
   · Average 36 fps/in difference.
   · So interpolating my best group at 23.5 gr would be about 2720 fps (2429 + 288).
5. I should probably try a few loads between 23.5 & 24 grs.
6. Don’t forget to focus on accuracy and not velocity. If I had no chronograph, I would be clueless on velocity and would go with the lower charge for my particular barrel, powder & bullet combination.
7. I would like to try out Ramshot TAC next for this particular bullet.

 

[stillquietvoice]

What was your coal?
I use h and I 4895 as well as blc2, but I load for bolt guns. The heaviest bullet I've loaded is hornandy 68 gr bthp match. Loaded it to 2
2.255 in. Wasn't real accurate fore and got badly cratered primers. I'll have to rethink that particular bullet

 

[Dudedog]

I haven't tried CFE223 but I think both TAC and BLC(2) are good stuff, both meter well for me.

 

[Bfh_auto]

I have had poor accuracy from that bullet and powder in my 556. Your results are similar to what I got at 100 with a scope.
I wound up using the 77smk or a 55 flat base with another powder.
CFE was a dog for me in 223, but was great in 22-250, 308, and several others.

 

[Ej3]

I haven't tried CFE223 but I think both TAC and BLC(2) are good stuff, both meter well for me.

My local Academy had a few pounds of BL-C(2) in stock. So I bought a pound for only $26 +tax. I hope to try this one out next weekend. And I still want to try the TAC for this particular bullet.

 

[Ej3]

I ran some test comparisons today using Hornady’s Superformance Match 223 Rem with 75 gr BTHP bullets (P/N 80264). Conditions were cloudy and 68 deg F.

It is advertised as 2930 fps at the muzzle, and I am assuming that this is a 24” barrel. My 5 shot average from a 16” suppressed barrel with 1:7” twist was 2636 fps with ES 42 & SD 16. With the Red Dot I only managed a 2” group at 50 yds. But with a scope I brought it down to 1.25”. The advertised muzzle velocity was 294 fps faster than my average. Assuming a 24" barrel this would be about 37 fps/inch. My handloads using CFE223 and a lower velocity managed a better group for my rifle.

Hornady’s website says “Topped with the finest bullets, Superformance® Match™ ammunition marries the very best cartridge cases with extremely stable propellants. These propellants are custom blended for each individual load to provide true ammunition performance enhancement.”

So what commercially available powder most closely matches this “custom blend”?

 

[NWPilgrim]

I like CFE223 in almost every bullet weight. My best load so far is 23.8 gr under 77 gr BTHP. Other shooters on various forums also report best accuracy around 23.7 +/- .2 gr. It is lower velocity than max, and I want to explore more around 24.5 - 25.5 in smaller increments. 25.0 seemed promising but was not so tight as 23.8 for me.

For the 75-77 gr bullets my best accuracy is 23.0-23.2 gr IMR 8208XBR and it is the highest velocity of my accurate loads. I also get great accuracy with 23.0 gr Varget (also popular with others I have found), but like the CFE it is at a lower velocity, about 100-150fps slower then the XBR load IIRC. I discovered these three loads are very consistently accurate in various weather, and over many range sessions. Later I kept stumbling on other people reporting very similar loads being most accurate for them as well. I am pretty happy with these loads and might get around to trying to find another node at higher velocity, but these are so consistent and seem to be near universal that I am in no hurry to mess with them. H4895 also looks promising but I have not fully explored the nodes for it yet.