H4895 and CFE223

849ACSO · September 26, 2014, 02:21 PM

Well, the shortage has effected me.....almost out of Benchmark, which has been my go to powder for rifle (.223, .308 and .45-70)

Went to Graf today and no Benchmark (

) so grabbed some CFE223 and H4895.

According to Hodgdon, the H4895 will run all 3 calibers. I have NO experience with the powder. Any pointers would be helpful. In .223 it will be 40, 55 and 69 grain bullets. In .308, it's 168's. In .45-70, its 405 Cast.

The CFE223 is one I've been wanting to try. The data shows loads for the .223 and .308. Anyone have any ideas, or better yet EXPERIENCE with that powder in the .45-70?

I try to buy powders that I can use across the board, but I really didn't have the time to research this one very well. It was an "impulse" buy while I was buying the H4895.

Thanks!

849ACSO · September 26, 2014, 02:46 PM

It appears CFE223 is just a bit slower than varget, which is an "acceptable" powder for .45-70.......... I think maybe I'm just wishful thinking.

Jim243 · September 26, 2014, 04:14 PM

Can't help you on the 308, but for 223 the CFE223 works great. As to the H4895 it is my primary powder for anything 60 grains or over on bullets. But all my bullets are jacketed, not sure it will be any good for cast bullets, might give you a little too high FPS with that powder, but it will do great for the 308.

Currently have used up all my CFE223 and I am using H-4895 for my 60 grain 223's, For 52, 53 & 55 grain bullets I use H-335 or IMR 8208 XBR.

Jim

Clark · September 26, 2014, 04:28 PM

223, 308, 45/70...
I think H4895 is as good as it gets for accuracy.
I think CFE223 is as good as it gets for breaking in new barrels, with it's anti Copper fouling coating.

The one problem I have had is that CFE223 is hard to set off in a small primer 260 Rem case. The CCI 450 small rifle magnum primer can not set off more than 40 gr in that case.

849ACSO · September 26, 2014, 11:24 PM

So, has anyone done anything with CFE223 in the 45-70 at all or is it just too slow? The burn rate shows just a bit slower than Varget, which is slower yet than the H4895. Just hoping it's another powder I can use across the board with the calibers I load for.

Clark · September 27, 2014, 09:41 PM

40 gr H4895 405 gr is a mild pressure trapdoor load, but the recoil is not mild.

September 26, 2014, 02:21 PM	#1
849ACSO Senior Member Join Date: September 21, 2014 Location: Somewhere in the middle Posts: 629	H4895 and CFE223 Well, the shortage has effected me.....almost out of Benchmark, which has been my go to powder for rifle (.223, .308 and .45-70) Went to Graf today and no Benchmark () so grabbed some CFE223 and H4895. According to Hodgdon, the H4895 will run all 3 calibers. I have NO experience with the powder. Any pointers would be helpful. In .223 it will be 40, 55 and 69 grain bullets. In .308, it's 168's. In .45-70, its 405 Cast. The CFE223 is one I've been wanting to try. The data shows loads for the .223 and .308. Anyone have any ideas, or better yet EXPERIENCE with that powder in the .45-70? I try to buy powders that I can use across the board, but I really didn't have the time to research this one very well. It was an "impulse" buy while I was buying the H4895. Thanks! __________________ "The day you stop learning SHOULD directly coincide with the day you stop breathing."

September 26, 2014, 02:46 PM	#2
849ACSO Senior Member Join Date: September 21, 2014 Location: Somewhere in the middle Posts: 629	It appears CFE223 is just a bit slower than varget, which is an "acceptable" powder for .45-70.......... I think maybe I'm just wishful thinking. __________________ "The day you stop learning SHOULD directly coincide with the day you stop breathing."

September 26, 2014, 04:14 PM	#3
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	Can't help you on the 308, but for 223 the CFE223 works great. As to the H4895 it is my primary powder for anything 60 grains or over on bullets. But all my bullets are jacketed, not sure it will be any good for cast bullets, might give you a little too high FPS with that powder, but it will do great for the 308. Currently have used up all my CFE223 and I am using H-4895 for my 60 grain 223's, For 52, 53 & 55 grain bullets I use H-335 or IMR 8208 XBR. Jim __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

September 26, 2014, 04:28 PM	#4
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	223, 308, 45/70... I think H4895 is as good as it gets for accuracy. I think CFE223 is as good as it gets for breaking in new barrels, with it's anti Copper fouling coating. The one problem I have had is that CFE223 is hard to set off in a small primer 260 Rem case. The CCI 450 small rifle magnum primer can not set off more than 40 gr in that case. __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?

September 26, 2014, 11:24 PM	#5
849ACSO Senior Member Join Date: September 21, 2014 Location: Somewhere in the middle Posts: 629	So, has anyone done anything with CFE223 in the 45-70 at all or is it just too slow? The burn rate shows just a bit slower than Varget, which is slower yet than the H4895. Just hoping it's another powder I can use across the board with the calibers I load for. __________________ "The day you stop learning SHOULD directly coincide with the day you stop breathing."

September 27, 2014, 09:41 PM	#6
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	40 gr H4895 405 gr is a mild pressure trapdoor load, but the recoil is not mild. __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?