Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Al - HandLoader Forum CFE223 for 30-30

I've been playing with loads for my 94 carbine (headed up to the big woods this November and going to take it with me) and I'm pleasantly surprised by the performance of CFE223 and Hdy 170 FP bullets. It's a classic deer rifle and a classic load so i wanted to love a classic powder for it, but just could'nt get the velocity I wanted out of 3031 or BLC-2. The CFE gave legitimate 2000 FPS loads out of a 20" barrel and very good accuracy. I just loaded up a batch with LVR powder to see if I can get similar speed and accuracy with a less temperature sensitive powder. Maybe I'm just late to the party but I'm just truly surprised how well CFE performed, LVR gets all the hype around "fast" 30-30 loads but I feel like CFE is going to be nipping right on it's heels.

on a slightly related note, I';m going to be working up some loads for my Dad's 35 remington, anyone got any secret sauce powders that play well with 200 grain soft points? I'm going to try LVR of course and maybe 3031 (since I've already got a bottle)

Try it with Speer 130gr FP. You will probably like what it does some better than those 170gr.

Im usually a big fan of light weight and high speed but the deer in northern VT can get quite large and it’s not uncommon to have to take a shot at the south end of a northbound deer and I’d prefer the extra penetration of the 170. I might give them a try if I ever decide to take the 94 out down here though

I used CFE223 for 32 Win Special loads. Since only Speer makes a bullet for it, used their data for it. Can't remember what powder I used for 35 Remington, but haven't loaded for it in years since it shoots the Leverevolution ammo superbly.

got any RL-7?!?

I'm a 748 guy for .30/30 and haven't worked with cfe but anything that gets 170s over 2K is good stuff. Reminds me of the time I had to switch to AA#2 for steel plate loads because....out of 231 and Hp38 they worked just fine and I "found" a new powder for .45.

How many grains 223 did you use for the 30/30 load?

Isn't IMR 3031 the gold standard for 30-30?

I use it for 308 and it's equal to if not better than any varget or 4064 loads ive developed.

I’m just seeing a typo in my original post, I wrote 2000 fps but I’m getting 2200 fps avg.

35 grains cfe behind a hdy 170fp and a cci primer

That’s what I thought too, but even when I worked up to the “old” 3031 recipes that a a few grains above most recent load manuals, I could just barely squeak up to like 1970-1980 fps.

They 2400'ed 3031. Used to 2400 was THE magnum pistol powder it's still good but if you want max velocity you've gotta use H110/W296 (same stuff). 748 seems to do the trick for the old Winlins.

Rer: 130gr, I see AR Comp almost matches CFE 223, but with several grains less. That's a significant difference in recoil