Very good advice.greenmtnguy said:
Thank you,
CFE Pistol Powder
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Thank you,
Seems consistent.
29F outside temp, no wind, sunny:
Ruger .44Spec Flattop 5 1/2"
NOTE. Some of these loads exceed SAAMI pressure for .44Special. Use at your own risk (definitiely not for CA Bulldog).
6.0g CFE Pistol 240g SWC CCI-300 _788 fps, _8 SD, 26 ES, 14 Shots
6.5g CFE Pistol 240g SWC CCI-300 _860 fps, _8 SD, 27 ES, 15 Shots
7.0g CFE Pistol 240g SWC CCI-300 _903 fps, 10 SD, 34 ES, 15 Shots
7.5g CFE Pistol 240g SWC CCI-300 _968 fps, _9 SD, 28 ES, 14 Shots
8.0g CFE Pistol 240g SWC CCI-300 1008 fps, _6 SD, 20 ES, 15 Shots
8.5g CFE Pistol 240g SWC CCI-300 1080 fps, 11 SD, 34 ES, 15 Shots
I think I'll load one more test at 8.5g . Seems slower than Unique. I tried a couple of shots looking for position sensitive and they were both within 4fps ... so no difference there. Liked 8.0g the best, but all would be good loads. Looks like a usable powder for .44 Special!
[edited 11/22/15]
Filled in table with the 8.5g load. Temp was 32F. Sunny.
Control load today was the Skeeter load (7.5g Unique under 240g bullet). Avg 6 shots was 1022fps. So CFE Pistol 8.0g is not quite the skeeter load, and 8.5g is over. I think I'll stick with 8.0g, maybe load up 8.2g for kicks. Obviously a bit slower powder than Unique. Now I've got a feel for the powder at least when I start testing in other cartridges down the road!
In conclusion, CFE Pistol looks like a decent powder. Meters well, consistent, accurate in .44 Special at least... May be a bit cleaner burning too, but I really don't care as accuracy is all that matters.
29F outside temp, no wind, sunny:
Ruger .44Spec Flattop 5 1/2"
NOTE. Some of these loads exceed SAAMI pressure for .44Special. Use at your own risk (definitiely not for CA Bulldog).
6.0g CFE Pistol 240g SWC CCI-300 _788 fps, _8 SD, 26 ES, 14 Shots
6.5g CFE Pistol 240g SWC CCI-300 _860 fps, _8 SD, 27 ES, 15 Shots
7.0g CFE Pistol 240g SWC CCI-300 _903 fps, 10 SD, 34 ES, 15 Shots
7.5g CFE Pistol 240g SWC CCI-300 _968 fps, _9 SD, 28 ES, 14 Shots
8.0g CFE Pistol 240g SWC CCI-300 1008 fps, _6 SD, 20 ES, 15 Shots
8.5g CFE Pistol 240g SWC CCI-300 1080 fps, 11 SD, 34 ES, 15 Shots
I think I'll load one more test at 8.5g . Seems slower than Unique. I tried a couple of shots looking for position sensitive and they were both within 4fps ... so no difference there. Liked 8.0g the best, but all would be good loads. Looks like a usable powder for .44 Special!
[edited 11/22/15]
Filled in table with the 8.5g load. Temp was 32F. Sunny.
Control load today was the Skeeter load (7.5g Unique under 240g bullet). Avg 6 shots was 1022fps. So CFE Pistol 8.0g is not quite the skeeter load, and 8.5g is over. I think I'll stick with 8.0g, maybe load up 8.2g for kicks. Obviously a bit slower powder than Unique. Now I've got a feel for the powder at least when I start testing in other cartridges down the road!
In conclusion, CFE Pistol looks like a decent powder. Meters well, consistent, accurate in .44 Special at least... May be a bit cleaner burning too, but I really don't care as accuracy is all that matters.
Just got back from the range and I had some test bullets loaded with CFE Pistol. I tried out 327 and 41 magnum. For both calibers I used the starting point in the Hogdgon loading data on their website.
I think overall the CFE powder is pretty accurate. With the 327 I was getting good groups but the point of impact was different than with bullets loaded with H110. Not sure why.
With the 41 magnum it was a very accurate powder and the starting point on both loads seems pretty powerful. I don't have a chronograph but noise and recoil were up there.
I think overall the CFE powder is pretty accurate. With the 327 I was getting good groups but the point of impact was different than with bullets loaded with H110. Not sure why.
With the 41 magnum it was a very accurate powder and the starting point on both loads seems pretty powerful. I don't have a chronograph but noise and recoil were up there.
I've gone to the range now 3 times with my 327 and 41 with test loads of CFE. It's great stuff. 
It seems to like faster velocities, or in other words I've found loading to the middle of Hodgdon's published data seems to work best. I started out at the slower velocities and didn't get any good accuracy at all. But working up I've found some loads I really like. I would definitely buy another pound of it. Meter's quite well too.
It seems to like faster velocities, or in other words I've found loading to the middle of Hodgdon's published data seems to work best. I started out at the slower velocities and didn't get any good accuracy at all. But working up I've found some loads I really like. I would definitely buy another pound of it. Meter's quite well too.Started the CFE Pistol .357 tests. Here is the results from today. Looks like a good medium powder for the .357. 32F and windy with squalls going through ...so partly cloudy day....
Ruger .357 BH 6 1/2" barrel
5.0g CFE Pistol 158g SWC CCI-500 _903 fps, 13 SD, 43 ES, 15 Shots
5.5g CFE Pistol 158g SWC CCI-500 _985 fps, 15 SD, 43 ES, 15 Shots
6.0g CFE Pistol 158g SWC CCI-500 1045 fps, _9 SD, 26 ES, 15 Shots
6.5g CFE Pistol 158g SWC CCI-500 1097 fps, _9 SD, 34 ES, 15 Shots Accurate (like)
7.0g CFE Pistol 158g SWC CCI-500 1150 fps, _9 SD, 30 ES, 15 Shots
7.5g CFE Pistol 158g SWC CCI-500 1217 fps, _8 SD, 30 ES, 15 Shots Accurate
For a comparision, 6.5g Unique propels 158g SWC 1152fps.
{edited Feb 21, 2016 to include the 7.0g and 7.5g data}
None of the above loads showed any sign of overpressure, No sticking cases, primers all looked the same from starting load to ending load.
Ruger .357 BH 6 1/2" barrel
5.0g CFE Pistol 158g SWC CCI-500 _903 fps, 13 SD, 43 ES, 15 Shots
5.5g CFE Pistol 158g SWC CCI-500 _985 fps, 15 SD, 43 ES, 15 Shots
6.0g CFE Pistol 158g SWC CCI-500 1045 fps, _9 SD, 26 ES, 15 Shots
6.5g CFE Pistol 158g SWC CCI-500 1097 fps, _9 SD, 34 ES, 15 Shots Accurate (like)
7.0g CFE Pistol 158g SWC CCI-500 1150 fps, _9 SD, 30 ES, 15 Shots
7.5g CFE Pistol 158g SWC CCI-500 1217 fps, _8 SD, 30 ES, 15 Shots Accurate
For a comparision, 6.5g Unique propels 158g SWC 1152fps.
{edited Feb 21, 2016 to include the 7.0g and 7.5g data}
None of the above loads showed any sign of overpressure, No sticking cases, primers all looked the same from starting load to ending load.
.45 Colt Tests. 36F, windy and cloudy.
.45 Colt BH 5 1/2"
8.0g CFE Pistol, 250g RNFP, CCI-300, _889 fps, 12 SD, 43 ES, 15 Shots
8.5g CFE Pistol, 250g RNFP, CCI-300, _939 fps, 10 SD, 35 ES, 15 Shots
9.0g CFE Pistol, 250g RNFP, CCI-300, _986 fps, 10 SD, 36 ES, 15 Shots
9.5g CFE Pistol, 250g RNFP, CCI-300, 1022 fps, _8 SD, 28 ES, 15 Shots
Did not notice any difference really in the groups for all 4 loads. All were quite adequate. If I had to pick, velocity wise, I'd probably go with 8.5g to match my 7.0g Green Dot load. or 9.0g to match my 8.5g Unique load.
For a comparision I shot some 8.5g of 20/28 under 250g RNFP for 1014fps.
{edited, as I got out again today }
Started .32 H&R Mag and .44Mag....
.32 H&R Mag Single-Seven 5 1/2
3.0g CFE Pistol, 115g RNFP, CCI-500, _823 fps, 16 SD, 57 ES, 15 Shots
3.5g CFE Pistol, 115g RNFP, CCI-500, _931 fps, 15 SD, 54 ES, 15 Shots
4.0g CFE Pistol, 115g RNFP, CCI-500, 1039 fps, 12 SD, 40 ES, 15 Shots
4.3g CFE Pistol, 115g RNFP, CCI-500, 1120 fps, 11 SD, 38 ES, 14 Shots
4.5g CFE Pistol, 115g RNFP, CCI-500, 1186 fps, 10 SD, 32 ES, 15 Shots (liked this load)
.44Mag Ruger BH Flattop 6 1/2
_8.0g CFE Pistol, 240g SWC, CCI-300, _934 fps, 13 SD, 44 ES, 13 Shots
_8.5g CFE Pistol, 240g SWC, CCI-300, _974 fps, 14 SD, 36 ES, 14 Shots
_9.0g CFE Pistol, 240g SWC, CCI-300, 1007 fps, 13 SD, 47 ES, 13 Shots
_9.5g CFE Pistol, 240g SWC, CCI-300, 1074 fps, 14 SD, 46 ES, 15 Shots
10.0g CFE Pistol, 240g SWC, CCI-300, 1092 fps, _9 SD, 29 ES, 15 Shots
10.5g CFE Pistol, 240g SWC, CCI-300, 1130 fps, 15 SD, 47 ES, 14 Shots
11.0g CFE Pistol, 240g SWC, CCI-300, 1184 fps, 13 SD, 42 ES, 15 Shots (like this load)
{ edited 3/5/16. Finished .44Mag test }
Really liked the 11.0g load. Maybe it just me, but the group I shot really tightened up from the previous loads. All loads extracted easy from the gun. No sign of excessive pressure. As for the .32 H&R Mag loads, 3.5g shot a nice group...
{ edited 5/7/16. Finished .32 H&R Mag test }
.45 Colt BH 5 1/2"
8.0g CFE Pistol, 250g RNFP, CCI-300, _889 fps, 12 SD, 43 ES, 15 Shots
8.5g CFE Pistol, 250g RNFP, CCI-300, _939 fps, 10 SD, 35 ES, 15 Shots
9.0g CFE Pistol, 250g RNFP, CCI-300, _986 fps, 10 SD, 36 ES, 15 Shots
9.5g CFE Pistol, 250g RNFP, CCI-300, 1022 fps, _8 SD, 28 ES, 15 Shots
Did not notice any difference really in the groups for all 4 loads. All were quite adequate. If I had to pick, velocity wise, I'd probably go with 8.5g to match my 7.0g Green Dot load. or 9.0g to match my 8.5g Unique load.
For a comparision I shot some 8.5g of 20/28 under 250g RNFP for 1014fps.
{edited, as I got out again today }
Started .32 H&R Mag and .44Mag....
.32 H&R Mag Single-Seven 5 1/2
3.0g CFE Pistol, 115g RNFP, CCI-500, _823 fps, 16 SD, 57 ES, 15 Shots
3.5g CFE Pistol, 115g RNFP, CCI-500, _931 fps, 15 SD, 54 ES, 15 Shots
4.0g CFE Pistol, 115g RNFP, CCI-500, 1039 fps, 12 SD, 40 ES, 15 Shots
4.3g CFE Pistol, 115g RNFP, CCI-500, 1120 fps, 11 SD, 38 ES, 14 Shots
4.5g CFE Pistol, 115g RNFP, CCI-500, 1186 fps, 10 SD, 32 ES, 15 Shots (liked this load)
.44Mag Ruger BH Flattop 6 1/2
_8.0g CFE Pistol, 240g SWC, CCI-300, _934 fps, 13 SD, 44 ES, 13 Shots
_8.5g CFE Pistol, 240g SWC, CCI-300, _974 fps, 14 SD, 36 ES, 14 Shots
_9.0g CFE Pistol, 240g SWC, CCI-300, 1007 fps, 13 SD, 47 ES, 13 Shots
_9.5g CFE Pistol, 240g SWC, CCI-300, 1074 fps, 14 SD, 46 ES, 15 Shots
10.0g CFE Pistol, 240g SWC, CCI-300, 1092 fps, _9 SD, 29 ES, 15 Shots
10.5g CFE Pistol, 240g SWC, CCI-300, 1130 fps, 15 SD, 47 ES, 14 Shots
11.0g CFE Pistol, 240g SWC, CCI-300, 1184 fps, 13 SD, 42 ES, 15 Shots (like this load)
{ edited 3/5/16. Finished .44Mag test }
Really liked the 11.0g load. Maybe it just me, but the group I shot really tightened up from the previous loads. All loads extracted easy from the gun. No sign of excessive pressure. As for the .32 H&R Mag loads, 3.5g shot a nice group...
{ edited 5/7/16. Finished .32 H&R Mag test }
Well, finished CFE Pistol testing today, with the last couple of loads for the .32 H&R mag. Decent powder. Meters well. I am treating is as just one of the powders I can use, but it didn't jump to 'favorite' status in any cartridge I tested.
As always check you manuals and make your own judgements when using any load data. Just an FYI.
As always check you manuals and make your own judgements when using any load data. Just an FYI.
Rclark,
Great information!
Great information!
loaded round
Hunter
I've been using it for over two years now, It's not that new.
New is relative It is 'new' (2014) in relation to many other powders like Unique (since around 1900)... Only one manual that I have had data for CFE Pistol and it was in magazine format.... Most of us haven't seen much powder around the few years anyway.... Being 'new' to me, I thought I'd get to know it a bit better.
It is 'new' (2014) in relation to many other powders like Unique (since around 1900)... Only one manual that I have had data for CFE Pistol and it was in magazine format.... Most of us haven't seen much powder around the few years anyway.... Being 'new' to me, I thought I'd get to know it a bit better.loaded round
Hunter
You can access loads for CFE Pistol powder on line at www.hodgdon.com. That's where I've been getting my loading information.
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Rclark said:New is relative
NikA
Buckeye
Yes. The technology, as I understand it, was developed for use by the US military, where thousands of jacketed rounds might be fired in a hot barrel before it is properly cleaned. The additive is a chemical that reacts with the copper deposited in the barrel to make an inert powder that is then ejected from the barrel on firing. The heat and pressure of firing likely accelerate this process to the point where it is driven near completion with each shot. I have heard that the additive used is antimony-based, which would indicate that it is non-toxic.
loaded round
Hunter
Nice 45 Colt group.
Thanks, I shot the one .45 Colt group after I did all the .357 target shooting as it was the only plate left. Then went on to long range steel plate shooting for a while longer for fun. Long range being 50 to 70 yards or so.... When I was shooting the CFE Pistol .357 load, I was beginning to doubt my shooting ability that day and was glad I brought other boxes of different loads to compare....
I'd use a lot more of True Blue if was more available and not so expensive.
I'd use a lot more of True Blue if was more available and not so expensive.
Cheesewhiz
Hunter
RC, you should check your data, 7.0gr of CFE is an overcharge for a 158gr SWC. At what length were you running these?
Assume you are talking COL. Have no idea. I crimp into the crimp groove as usual with SWC bullets
. As for overcharge, yep, I knew that... The powder is slower than Unique however, closer to HS-6, so I tested it basically 1.0g higher (7.0g and 7.5g) than the max of 6.6g a 28.5K PSI load. SAAMI for .357 is 35K psi which means there is some wiggle room. Cases fall right out, no sign of over pressure with the standard CCI-500 primer (you can see the results in the .357 table in a previous post on the previous page.) ... So no biggie. Also no sign of leading with the load after 150 rounds or so (100 being the CFE Pistol 7.0g load). I am going to retest the 6.5g load for accuracy next, hopefully this weekend.
