venatic
Active member
I loaded 10 rounds for two different .223's with the new CFE powder and went to the range just to give it a whirl.
I have a great load for my Savage Predator with VV133 and the 52gr Berger Varmint bullet. It averages 3350fps from the 22 inch barrel and even with the Nikon Coyote reticle still usually shoots about 1/2 inch at 100. The new load with the CFE shot to the EXACT same POI and my 5 shot group came in at .545 with 3 of those at .303 so I was quite happy with those results. Speed was just slightly under my old load running just over 3300fps which is fine.
My next load was for the Remington 700 VF with a 26 inch barrel and since I had just worked up a new load with VV530 and the 53gr VMax I used CFE with that bullet/brass/primer combination to see how they compared. The velocity was about where the Hodgdon data said it would be. I averaged 3410fps for 10 rounds which again was ever so slightly under my VV530 load which averages 3440fps.
I had installed a new scope so I was tinkering with adjustments while chrongraphing but shot a 3 shot group that was one small hole and the 4&5 shots brought it out to .630. I shot another 3 shot group that was .520 but I will say that the wind was probably the culprit on that last 3 shots.
I cleaned both guns before going to the range and both cleaned up easily as the VV133 and VV530 are very clean burning. The CFE left more black carbon but still cleaned up quickly with minimum effort with a soak of Foam and about 3 patches. I really cannot say if the copper remover part of the equation is valid or not. My Savage used to copper badly but even after soaking with the foamer stuff I got no copper BEFORE I shot the CFE in the barrel so I guess it is finally broke in and picks up minimal copper.
Thought I would pass on what little info I have and I think I will be buying more if it works as well in the .204 and the TAC .20 too.
I have a great load for my Savage Predator with VV133 and the 52gr Berger Varmint bullet. It averages 3350fps from the 22 inch barrel and even with the Nikon Coyote reticle still usually shoots about 1/2 inch at 100. The new load with the CFE shot to the EXACT same POI and my 5 shot group came in at .545 with 3 of those at .303 so I was quite happy with those results. Speed was just slightly under my old load running just over 3300fps which is fine.
My next load was for the Remington 700 VF with a 26 inch barrel and since I had just worked up a new load with VV530 and the 53gr VMax I used CFE with that bullet/brass/primer combination to see how they compared. The velocity was about where the Hodgdon data said it would be. I averaged 3410fps for 10 rounds which again was ever so slightly under my VV530 load which averages 3440fps.
I had installed a new scope so I was tinkering with adjustments while chrongraphing but shot a 3 shot group that was one small hole and the 4&5 shots brought it out to .630. I shot another 3 shot group that was .520 but I will say that the wind was probably the culprit on that last 3 shots.
I cleaned both guns before going to the range and both cleaned up easily as the VV133 and VV530 are very clean burning. The CFE left more black carbon but still cleaned up quickly with minimum effort with a soak of Foam and about 3 patches. I really cannot say if the copper remover part of the equation is valid or not. My Savage used to copper badly but even after soaking with the foamer stuff I got no copper BEFORE I shot the CFE in the barrel so I guess it is finally broke in and picks up minimal copper.
Thought I would pass on what little info I have and I think I will be buying more if it works as well in the .204 and the TAC .20 too.