Stumbled on some CFE-good Charge?

[gifbohane]

A buddy gave me an unopened 2 pounds of CFE. Going to shoot Hornady 55 grain FMJ-BT W/C in my AR 15 with 20 inch barrel with 1X8 twist. The manuals seem to be scattered but agree that more powder is necessary than with the H 335 which I have been using. Hornady manual on page 166 says 24.8 to max 27.4 with an OAL of 2.200. Probably from a 24 inch "machine." I needed much more H335 powder than the manual indicates that they used. In fact their max was about my functioning load. And not hot at all.

Will start my ladder at 24.7 and go from there.

Where did you guys wind up? Other thoughts?

 

[Blue68f100]

I settled on a load of 27.7 gr of CFE-223 behind the Hornady 55gr FMJ-BT, CCI #41 primer, 2.210" -2.220" no crimp. I think I used the data from Sierra which showed a higher max.

 

[Mike44]

27.1 gr. CFE223 same bullet, COL 2.220" works fine for me. Velocity 2918 from my 16" AR.

 

[jebova2301]

In my experience, Hornady is VERY conservative(sometimes to the point of being dangerous) with their data. If I were in your shoes, I would trust other manuals with a similar bullet profile(most 55gr FMJs are close enough to not make much difference), and use that data and keep an eye out for pressure signs/signs to stop like smearing around the ejector. If you start to see any signs of that, back it down immediately.

 

[horsey300]

Using 55 gr fusions/gold dots I saw greatness from 26-27 using iron sights, br primers, can't remember exact load, but it was pretty enough to write down, I can check notes later if needed but I have a strong feeling it was 26.5.....