CFE 223 reloading questions

[bboudie]

My upper from Precision Firearms is supposed to ship next week. I am new to ARs but have been reloading for several years for my Encore's.

After reading this forum I have decided on three bullets and two powders to use. (I want to hunt with it but also shoot out to 600 yards at my range.)

The powders are CFE 223 and 8208 XBR. The bullets for hunting are the 100 and 120 grain Nosler BTs. The longe range load I want to use is the 108 Lapua Scenar.

Here is what I am looking for:

Loads for all bullets with CFE.
8208 loads for the 108 Scenars.

Sorry if they have been posted somewhere else but I have not been able to find them.

FYI - Lapua brass and CCI 450s if it makes a difference. 20" Lija barrel with 1:8 twist.

Thanks everyone,

Bert

[cory]

Check out this post. http://www.65grendel.com/forum/showt...)-lots-of-pics The guys on this board have worked up a lot of good data on CFE 223, and CCI 450 seems to be the go to primer. I don't recall if they have any data with Nosler BTs, but at the very least it'll be a great starting point.

I'd be interested into knowing what you decide upon come hunting season, as I've also got an AR on order from PrecisionFirearms, and I plan to learn the reloading trade on the grendel platform.

[bboudie]

Cory:

I think I have devoured the thread you mention above. It gives me some guidelines but not the specifics for what I am wanting to use.

In my reloading experience I have always had at least a minimum and maximum from somewhere to go by. I have never had to develop a load from scratch. If I can get some feedback from someone who has, it would save a bunch of time. Without it I think I need to start off at a very light load and work up.

If you ever get to the Atlanta market I would be glad to take you out to River Bend Gun Club.

Take care,

Bert

[LR1955]

Cory:

I think I have devoured the thread you mention above. It gives me some guidelines but not the specifics for what I am wanting to use.

In my reloading experience I have always had at least a minimum and maximum from somewhere to go by. I have never had to develop a load from scratch. If I can get some feedback from someone who has, it would save a bunch of time. Without it I think I need to start off at a very light load and work up.

If you ever get to the Atlanta market I would be glad to take you out to River Bend Gun Club.

Take care,

Bert

Bert:

Have you tried the Hodgdon reloading site? It has loads for 8208 XBR but not the CFE 223. I don't think anyone has published load data for that powder so what ever you trust here is what you will get.

For the 108's, I would start at 28 grains of each but you may want to start at 27 grains. I have used the 8208 in the 120 grain range and I will not go above 28 grains with that weight bullet. And, I would not go with a bullet heavier than 123 grains with 8208.

LR1955

[Bwild97]

bboudie, once you have your rifle put together, if you can provide me with a COAL that you will seat the projectile to, I will provide you a good charge wt. of CFE223 to start with and stop at.

[bboudie]

Thanks Bwild97! I appreciate it.

I have reloaded for many years for a single shot Encore. (I did not have to worry about a magazine just my chamber.) For an AR, this is my first, how do I determine COAL? I have just been "guesstimating" of 2.20 - 2.25 COAL. I also have some 108 Lapua Scenar ammo on order with Precision Firearms. I thought about just duplicating their COAL if they pattern well.

Sorry for the newbie question but any guidance would be helpful,

Bert

[cory]

Bert, next time I'm in GA I'll without doubt take you up on that.

[Luv269er]

Thanks Bwild97! I appreciate it.

I have reloaded for many years for a single shot Encore. (I did not have to worry about a magazine just my chamber.) For an AR, this is my first, how do I determine COAL? I have just been "guesstimating" of 2.20 - 2.25 COAL. I also have some 108 Lapua Scenar ammo on order with Precision Firearms. I thought about just duplicating their COAL if they pattern well.

Sorry for the newbie question but any guidance would be helpful,

Bert

Your COL with vary with your load combo, but most Grendel AR chambers can handle up to around 2.300" COL...It's your magazine that will limit
your COL to around 2.280" or so...The way around this to find a magazine that will handle the longest COL, some guys are finding that some 6.8 SPC
mags can give them a 2.300" COL, PRI brand mags are known to give great COL lengths for example...You can also try the new ASC 6.8 or 6.5 SS
magazines as well...YMMV.

A cartridge comparator can help you determine your chambers maximum cartridge length etc., like the one made by Hornady and some others...

I am encouraged too with the results the Grendel guys here are getting with CFE223 powder, I'm going to try it with my 6.5mm AR variant as well...
Does anyone else have some more ballistic/velocity data with CFE223 powder ? If it can give you both extra velocity and maintain great accuracy the
rest is just gravy.

Anyway, Good Luck.