Has anyone come up with a good recipe for 250 gr 44 mag Keith bullets using Hodgdon CFE Pistol? This is a fairly new powder and has been great for mild to wild loads. I'm trying to find a load that'll throw the lead down range at 900- 1000 fps. Not trying to kill grizzlies, just knock down steel critters (chickens, pigs, turkeys & rams) out to 100 yards.
The TinKnocker

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Don't You Ever Wash That Thing

I've never shot the 250gr in 44 magnum, but I shoot a 240gr RNFP and 10grs of CFE Pistol. Gives about 1100fps.

CFE Pistol works well in 44 magnum, and just about every other caliber too.

I use 8.5 grains CFE-P with that bullet.
Chronos 960 FPS. I use this for bowling pins at 25 yards.
As for those steel critters, 38 Special +P 160 grain LRN at 955 FPS does just fine.

Sent from my LG-D800 using Tapatalk

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

Thanks y'all. I've used CFE (10.2gr) with .429 240 gr swc but hadn't tried it with a 250gr bullet. I wasn't able to find any data anywhere and am skeptical about too much experimentation. Thanks for the advice.

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Don't You Ever Wash That Thing

What kind of deviation and spread did you see? I haven't chronoed this powder but I find it certainly likes some pressure. My sub 8.5gr loads under 200gr rnfp were very erratic. Out of curiosity I did some downloading and brought a brass rod with me to the range. I wanted to find out how low it could go into bunny fart territory. The answer was 6gr gets a squib with a CCI300's in a .44RM case. Like most medium powders I've found this one performs best toward the warmer end of its data.

I'm guessing the shear weight of the 250gr Keith causes enough resistance for good pressure sub 9gr even though the shorter shank leaves more empty space. I would be interested to know how consistant 8.5gr performed over the chrono.

ES:38 SD: 9.84

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

Have been loading 9 to 10 grains with 240 grain MBC coated SWC's or Xtreme RNFP's for plinking loads with great results.
CFE-P has worked well for me in 357 mag, 45acp and 9mm also. Good mid to upper range powder. Has replaced HS-6 for me.

Taroman,
Your suggestion of 8.5gr worked very well. I loaded 6 each with 8.5gr & 9.9gr (recommended starting load as per Hodgdon for 240gr swc). Shooting the 7 1/2" Magnum Hunter, the 9.9gr wasn't bad but the 8.5gr got better accuracy and felt better in hand.
Thanks for your advice.

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Don't You Ever Wash That Thing

Glad it worked for you!

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

Do you gentlemen know if anyone is selling coated 250gr Keith bullets?

I wish I did. A good friend cooked up 50 rnds of these and gifted them to me. If you find any online let us know!!

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Don't You Ever Wash That Thing

Western Bullet in Montana makes the 250 grain Lyman 429421.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

That one is not coated.
MBC does sell a 240 grain version of the Keith that is coated.
44 Elmer K - Hi-Tek
I really don't think that 10 grains makes much of a difference if the pressures are all under the 35kpsi max for the magnum.
The ACME version has such a pronounced bevel base I am sure ol' Elmer is rolling in his grave when it is mentioned.
44 Cal. 240 grain SWC Coated
SNS is also now offering the the Hi-Tek bullets:
.44 MAG/SPL 240 Semi Wad Cutter - Coated - 500ct - snscasting
All these guys look to be using very close to the same mould including Bayou:
.44 Caliber 240 Gr. SWC - 500 Ct. - Bayou Bullets
At least there you can choose the color!
They also sell the stuff for you to coat your own.

I would love to try the CFE-P but already have pretty much a lifetime supply of other midrange pistol and shotgun powders acquired during the shortage.
Funny how that worked out eh?
Also still have some from the pre-shortage era so a good selection just nothing with that new-fangled chemistry.

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NEMO
"Everything 44"