CFE223 powder in mid bore cartridges

[sestoppelman]

Thanks much for those numbers Bob! Pretty impressive they are too.
I loaded up a box with CFE and starting at 54 grs and ending at 58 as a safe starting point, basically using Varget info as they are very similar in burn rate.
Energy levels with those loads you have are up in the 3200 ft/lbs range.

Biggest problem with the .348 these days is finding bullets to load that dont cost an arm and a leg!

Thanks again Bob!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Thanks much for those numbers Bob! Pretty impressive they are too.
I loaded up a box with CFE and starting at 54 grs and ending at 58 as a safe starting point, basically using Varget info as they are very similar in burn rate.
Energy levels with those loads you have are up in the 3200 ft/lbs range.

Biggest problem with the .348 these days is finding bullets to load that dont cost an arm and a leg!

Thanks again Bob!

@sesstoplem
You are more than welcome mate.
With the 250gn Woodleigh or Barnes it would be absolutely fantastic.
As a kid growing up I wanted a 348 after reading how it would drive a 250gr bullet from one end of a deer to the other.
Oh well I ended up with the Whelen instead
The 200gr would be devastating on pigs
Bob

 

[sestoppelman]

Sadly I have I think 10 of the Barnes left and half a box of the FTX 200 grain.

I remember my dad who was a huge fan of the rifle and round dumped a big cow elk with one of his. Hit her in the lungs and her feet just fell out from under her and she collapsed right there.
It was always a favorite of hunters in Alaska and considered a good round for the big bears up there.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Sadly I have I think 10 of the Barnes left and half a box of the FTX 200 grain.

I remember my dad who was a huge fan of the rifle and round dumped a big cow elk with one of his. Hit her in the lungs and her feet just fell out from under her and she collapsed right there.
It was always a favorite of hunters in Alaska and considered a good round for the big bears up there.

@sesstoplem
It's good to have memories like that.
The 450 Alaskan made on the same case is an awesome round as well but I think it may be a bit to much of a good thing.
I have sent projectiles to the USA and England before so if you want I could probably send some Woodleighs to you as well. Just let me know and I can work out how much it would cost.
Bob

 

[sestoppelman]

Thanks Bob, but its really not worth the time, trouble and cost to just make holes in the paper. I see Woody's around here from time to time, and will keep my peepers peeled.
Meantime I do see the Hornady 200 gr FN here and there.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Thanks Bob, but its really not worth the time, trouble and cost to just make holes in the paper. I see Woody's around here from time to time, and will keep my peepers peeled.
Meantime I do see the Hornady 200 gr FN here and there.

@sesstoplem
The 200gr will still hit plenty hard enough for most things anyway

 

[jduckhunter]

A bit off topic but 10.5 gr. of the stuff works really well for making sub-sonic rounds with 194 gr. bullets in a 300 Blackout. It gives me just a tad over 1000 fps.

 

[Ridgewalker]

A bit off topic but 10.5 gr. of the stuff works really well for making sub-sonic rounds with 194 gr. bullets in a 300 Blackout. It gives me just a tad over 1000 fps.

Are you sure that’s CFE223 and not CFE BLK?
I use CFE223 in 222, 223, 7mm-08, 30-30, and 375 H&H (235 & 250 Barnes). It shoots fast and snug little groups in all.

 

[jduckhunter]

Are you sure that’s CFE223 and not CFE BLK?
I use CFE223 in 222, 223, 7mm-08, 30-30, and 375 H&H (235 & 250 Barnes). It shoots fast and snug little groups in all.

See there what happens when a senior gets up early after only a few hours of sleep, goes out deer hunting, shoots a deer, drags it home and hangs it. My brain must have taken a nap, your right I'm using CFEBLK. And even at subsonic levels the groups are nothing short of amazing.

 

[Ridgewalker]

See there what happens when a senior gets up early after only a few hours of sleep, goes out deer hunting, shoots a deer, drags it home and hangs it. My brain must have taken a nap, your right I'm using CFEBLK. And even at subsonic levels the groups are nothing short of amazing.

Well, congratulations on living to be a senior and…getting a deer!

 

[Ridgewalker]

Has anyone here tried this CFE223 powder in either the 358 win , 35 whelen, or 9.3x62?

Looking at the Hodgdon website for the cartridges you mention, they all show BLC-2 loadings which Hodgdon lists right next to CFE 223 in their burn chart. Checking cartridges that Hodgdon shows loadings for both powders, ie CFE 223 & BLC-2, in each loading they are 1/2 to 1 grain of each other. Thus, if I were trying to find a load for CFE 223 not shown, I would look at BLC-2 and back off the top loads 3-5 grains, then work my way up to the most accurate, or until high pressure signs start showing.

Best of luck!

 

[jros]

Has anyone here tried this CFE223 powder in either the 358 win , 35 whelen, or 9.3x62?

I'd like to add the .358 Hawk to the list. Anyone have any experience with CFE223 and loading that cartridge?

 

[jwp475]

 

[jros]

I recently loaded 225 gr TSX FB in my .358 Hawk. Worked up to 69.8 gr (slightly compressed) CFE223 and Fed 210. COAL 3.330. Shot .625 moa at 2885 fps over OHLER 35. No signs of pressure. primers not flat, no cratering, case head expansion .0005 if any at all. Pretty stellar for a 30-06 case. 23" barrel on a win 70 classic action. I think the rifle will do a little better...it was a little windy and these are new cases. This was my first go with CFE223. Also shot 2000MR but ran out of case volume before reaching desired velocity.

 

[ldmay375]

View attachment 509878

Those Power Pro Varmint loads with the 220 Hammer are impressive. No doubt that would leave a lasting impact impression.

 

[450 Fuller]

Have had good luck with CFE 223 in the 35 Whelen-a 1950s pre-64 M-70, original bored and stroked 24 in barrel with the original iron sights. I used it with 225-250 gr Nosler Partitions. Have some older Woodleigh 250s also.
Also a 1953 M-70 in 338-06 bored out to work with along with a couple of pre-war Model 71s in 348 WCF.
CFE-223 is an excellent powder, but watch pressure, especially in lever-action rifles. CFE 223 was mentioned in the American Rifleman for the 35 Whelen, along with the latest Speer manual.

Latest rifle is a Husqvarna Mauser 9.3x62 that is quite accurate. I will be using 270-286 heavier bullets
in this rifle, as therein is the charm of the 9.3-following close on to the 375 Holland. Have Noslers 286-
and a few Oryx to try out at longer ranges.

 

[450 Fuller]

35 Whelen: The latest SPEER Manual lists 57.9 grs of CFE 223 powder at 2451 fps
while a max charge of 64.1 grs pushes the 250 gr Hot Cor bullet to 2664 fps.

With Nosler Partition 250s, I stopped at 61 grs yielding app 2575 fps with
a tough bullet for big game. This with the 24 in barreled pre-64 Model 70. Recoil
does increase as you get closer to 2600 fps in the Whelen with CFE 223, as one might expect.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

35 Whelen: The latest SPEER Manual lists 57.9 grs of CFE 223 powder at 2451 fps
while a max charge of 64.1 grs pushes the 250 gr Hot Cor bullet to 2664 fps.

With Nosler Partition 250s, I stopped at 61 grs yielding app 2575 fps with
a tough bullet for big game. This with the 24 in barreled pre-64 Model 70. Recoil
does increase as you get closer to 2600 fps in the Whelen with CFE 223, as one might expect.

@450Fuller
A max dose of 70gn of CFE223 yields 2,890 fps with the 225gn Sierra btgk in my Whelen with well und inch groups at 100 yards. Now that would be a potent deer load out to 400 yards.
Bob

 

[hoytcanon]

I load 72.0 grains of CFE-223 under a 235 TSX in my .375 WSM. Also, use CFE-223 in quite a few other cartridges... it is pretty versatile.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I load 72.0 grains of CFE-223 under a 235 TSX in my .375 WSM. Also, use CFE-223 in quite a few other cartridges... it is pretty versatile.

@hoytcanon
There's a plethora of cartridges from 17 Remington to 458 win mag you can use CFE223 in. It's as versatile if not more so than 2298/varget only better
Bob