Help with CFE223 and a 308 gasser

[svxwilson]

I read great things about CFE223 so when the lack shop had a bunch I nabbed it up. I now have almost 30lbs of it. I have more than one caliber to use this stuff in 5.56, 6.5grendel, and 308.

I loaded up come CFE223 in a ladder over rem 9 1/2 primers with lapua brass and 168amax. I shot this out of my SCAR17 and got crap results. Typically the gun will shoot cheep factory ammo at 1.25-1.5 moa and I have a few nodes worked out with Varget and the same primer, bullet, case as above that produces .6-.75 moa.

The CFE produced 2-3 moa. I was thinking of scrapping it in 308 and pulling the rest of the ladder I have loaded. I have never shot so horribly with that gun before. Just to make sure it wasn't me I shot some of my pet varget loads out of it after the CFE and it produced the typical varget results sub moa.

I have read that sometimes you need a magnum primer to get some powders to ignite properly. I am curious if the standard rem 9 1/2 primer I used is not enough initial bang to get proper ignition? Should I invest in some magnum primers and re batch the 308 with CFE? I know every gun is different liking different combos of bullets primers and powders, did I just find the "bad" combo?

Thanks for your time,
Aaron

 

[JGorski]

You didn't mention the load you were using, but as of late I've been using WLR primers in my 308 with CFE and lapua brass, 45.5grs gets me a SD of 8 with 168AMAXs, give that a shot. last time I shot I got these 2 groups, the group on the right was with Win brass.

 

[svxwilson]

You didn't mention the load you were using, but as of late I've been using WLR primers in my 308 with CFE and lapua brass, 45.5grs gets me a SD of 8 with 168AMAXs, give that a shot. last time I shot I got these 2 groups, the group on the right was with Win brass.

I started with 43 and loaded each step to the ladder by .5 increments. I stopped at 45 due to the awful results. I am reworking my brass. That brass wasn't trimmed is the only step skipped most of it was 2.007-2.010" I am going to re work my brass trim to 2.005 and give it another try. Should I go pick up some mag primers and see if I be any difference or roll with the 9 1/2 I have?

 

[bruddah]

Don't know about the .308 but I've read of people getting good results with the .223/5.56

 

[JGorski]

Dont worry about trimming them so much, just so they're close, 2.007"-2.010" is good enough. What are you seating the 168s at? I seat them 2.825" oal, that's where they seem to shoot best. Whats the twist in your SCAR?

 

[bobke]

Any chance the load density with lighter loads or longer seating lengths doesn't create consistent enough pressure till you approach loads closer to max? I've used a pile of CFE in Grendels with 123gr bullets with excellent results, but they're at about 100%+ book max loads. Just thinking out loud.

 

[JGorski]

I know when I started loading with 2000MR, a similar powder to CFE, the more powder i put in and the deeper I seated the bullets, the accuracy got better. And yes, get a hotter primer, magnum isn't really needed, WLRs will work just fine. With stick powders BR2s work really well. Here are some bi-pod shot groups at 300yds with CFE & 2000MR powders & 168AMAXs, 47grs each if i remember correctly, but out of a REM 700 & lapua & Win brass.