New Guy with a question, 50 or 55 grain for a NEF .223

[petemi]

I've heard nothing but good about CFE223.  I picked up a jug before the panic, but haven't loaded any yet.  I'm eager to try it.  My current .223 load is the 52 gr. HPBT over 25.8 gr. RL15 for a modest 3157 fps out of the Superlight.

Thanks Hoyt, I hadn't thought to try it in my Handi and Ruger .308s.  What bullet do you load?  Before I started reloading, I shot 168 gr. NBTs and they've worked well in my reloads too.

I took a quick look at Hodgdons tables for the .308 168 gr. BT.  This is spooky.  For a gain of 166 fps the pressure jumps 12,200 psi    I don't think I'd go near that max load.

168 GR. SIE HPBT

Hodgdon

CFE 223

.308"

2.800"

46.6

2662

48,200 PSI

49.0

2828

60,400 PSI

Pete

[Rustyinfla]

   Jason, I've shot 62 grain Black Hills ammo in my light weight with a 1:9 twist. It stays under an inch all day but I don't get in a big hurry and heat the barrel up too much either. Just no need to.

  YMMV

[hoytcanon]

I've heard nothing but good about CFE223.  I picked up a jug before the panic, but haven't loaded any yet. 
Thanks Hoyt, I hadn't thought to try it in my Handi and Ruger .308s.  What bullet do you load?  Before I started reloading, I shot 168 gr. NBTs and they've worked well in my reloads too.
I took a quick look at Hodgdons tables for the .308 168 gr. BT.  This is spooky.  For a gain of 166 fps the pressure jumps 12,200 psi    I don't think I'd go near that max load. Pete

Pete... I am shooting the 168 BT's and 165 SST's over 48 grains of CFE... boy howdy! What an accurate loading in Win brass and Win LR primers... I have the bullets seated out a bit... no problem in my two Handi .308's... COL @ 2.825"... both guns love the load over my previous best Varget and H4895 loads... not likely I'll go back... and for the record, I am not seeing any pressure signs and no appreciable increase in recoil in a shot for shot comparison... so far it is a win/win/win...