Workup advice for Hornady 123gr ELD-Ms and CFE 223?

[SDW]

I want to load some workups with Hornady 123gr ELD-Ms and CFE 223 powder. Primers will be Remington 7 1/2, Hornady new brass. Loading to 2.250". Barrel is 20" Ballistic Advantage DMR profile.

I've read through "BFT's Lengthy List of Loads" and among the list I see 123gr bullets on CFE loaded mostly to 31.x gr. Didn't see any info on ELD-Ms specifically, unless they were added after the first page. Would 31.5 gr be a sensible max to work with? Some of those loads do go higher, but of course circumstances might be different.

Let me know if I've left out any critical data. Thanks in advance.

[SDW]

Okay I dragged my Grendel Reloading Manual v2 off the shelf. It's got CFE data for 123 Hornady's, just not ELD. Must be too new a design. I'm seeing loads for Hornady A-Max 123s that start at 30.0 and max at 31.5. Does anyone think it's not insane to use this data for my ELD-M workups?

[munchie3409]

I haven't started loading for my 6.5G, but I don't see why it would be an issue as the SST and ELD are both 123gr bullets. The BC are slightly different, but I cannot see how it would make that much of a difference.

I'm seeing a lot of 31.1gr for the CFE 123gr bullets.

[SDW]

I'm kind of curious where along that scale they might start becoming compressed loads. I suppose I can always throw a load of 31.5 and see how it looks in the case.

[A5BLASTER]

I'm kind of curious where along that scale they might start becoming compressed loads. I suppose I can always throw a load of 31.5 and see how it looks in the case.

Only your barrel can tell you if the load is safe.

[gmaxx]

From Hornady's manual

Screenshot_20190810-200434_Amazon Kindle.jpg

[maxxmojo]

Okay I dragged my Grendel Reloading Manual v2 off the shelf. It's got CFE data for 123 Hornady's, just not ELD. Must be too new a design. I'm seeing loads for Hornady A-Max 123s that start at 30.0 and max at 31.5. Does anyone think it's not insane to use this data for my ELD-M workups?

The ELD-M's replaced the AMAX bullets. 30.0 to 31.5 sounds about what I tried when I developed my load, I eventually settled onto 31.2. Though I'm one of the guys that had temp sensitivity issues with that powder so I stopped using it.

[SDW]

True. And I suppose, the bolt as well.

Maybe I will max it a little lower then, this first go-around with CFE.

FWIW, the barrel has only seen Hornady Black 123 gr and AE 90gr TNT. Maybe 180 rounds worth so far. And I've since loaded some 123 ELD workups with other powders so far (not yet tried them): TAC, 8208, and AA2520. I went with Western's published max on TAC and AA. I've read warnings on higher loads of 8208, so I stopped at 28.2 grains rather than what the mfr said was max for this bullet weight. But CFE is kind of a mystery so I don't want to over-do it.

[SDW]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]14547[/ATTACH]

Ah Thank you! I don't have a newer Hornady manual. Mine must be 15 years out of date. I was gravitating toward that number, 31.2. I know their rep for being conservative, so I'll feel good about that number. And I'll keep an eye on the brass for all these workups as 6.5 Grendel is new to me.

[VASCAR2]

It’s been mentioned Hornady’s data for the CFE223 encompasses the 120 grain GMX monolithic bullet which will build pressure faster than cup and core bullets like the 120-123 grain ELD-M. I think the bullet construction is why some forum members have been able to get up to 31.5 grains CFE223 with 123 grain A-Max/ELD-M bullets.

My go to load is 123 grain A-Max with 31.0 grains CFE223 with CCI 450 primers and Hornady brass. I get 2500 FPS out of my 20” Shilen 6.5 Grendel. I have shot this load at various temperatures and has proven safe in my AR-15’s, YMMV.

[SDW]

Time to update this thread. Finally. I got out to the desert recently and was able to test some of my Grendel workups. With CFE223 the velocities were impressive but the groupings where not. (I got noticeably tighter groups out from TAC and AA2520.) Despite having fairly tight SDs, the holes aren't all that close together. Max load of 31.2gr. Av vel for that load was 2567 fps per my Caldwell chrony.

I might try this powder again in 6.5G, though with different bullets. I have 120gr SMKs and 123gr Match Monsters (Noslers?) that are candidates.

123ELD_w223CFE_reduced.jpg

[Zeneffect]

i had some very limited success in getting groups to under 1MOA playing with seating depth, but for the most part similar results as you. es, sd can be pretty darn good but for the life of me the groups just wouldnt go sub 3/4. wasted a 1b of powder and 200 of these bullets trying to get there with no luck.

[Happy2Shoot]

I would try 30.9 again and play with seating depth

Ha! Beat me to it. Walked away from typing for a few minutes.

[SDW]

Thanks guys. When I loaded these it was before I had my Hornady comparators and Forster dies. (Loaded these with Lee dies.) So my choice for OAL was a little arbitrary. I might have just copied Hornady Black ammo.

And I'm not obsessed with getting this rifle to shoot cloverleafs, as satisfying as that would be. I didn't invest in a $500+ custom barrel like some shooters, or I probably would be doing that. 3/4 MOA will work just fine for long-range shooting I think.

For comparison, here is the result of my AA2520 workups. I'm a little puzzled by the vertical stringing. Did some reading on the subject and I think it it was just caused by me and my inconsistent recoil control, maybe shifting around the contact point of the stock on my shoulder, etc. And there is probably a "flyer factor" at work as well. The velocity at the max load is about 100 fps slower than with CFE 223. Can't have it all I guess. But I don't think 2460 fps is too bad.

123ELD_wAA2520_reduced.jpg

[Happy2Shoot]

Thanks guys. When I loaded these it was before I had my Hornady comparators and Forster dies. (Loaded these with Lee dies.) So my choice for OAL was a little arbitrary. I might have just copied Hornady Black ammo.

And I'm not obsessed with getting this rifle to shoot cloverleafs, as satisfying as that would be. I didn't invest in a $500+ custom barrel like some shooters, or I probably would be doing that. 3/4 MOA will work just fine for long-range shooting I think.

For comparison, here is the result of my AA2520 workups. I'm a little puzzled by the vertical stringing. Did some reading on the subject and I think it it was just caused by me and my inconsistent recoil control, maybe shifting around the contact point of the stock on my shoulder, etc. And there is probably a "flyer factor" at work as well. The velocity at the max load is about 100 fps slower than with CFE 223. Can't have it all I guess. But I don't think 2460 fps is too bad.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]17825[/ATTACH]

Except for #2 those look great!

Get a rear squeeze bag, load up 50 at 29.4 grains, relax and go shoot.