CFE Pistol - Stumbled into a nice 38sp load

ICTwadcutter

ICTwadcutter

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I recently started reloading for the 9mm and on the recommendation of a friend purchased a pound of CFE -Pistol powder to try out with my usual staple of tried and true revolver propellants. Having good success with the 9mm loads I was working up I decided to give the new powder a go with a couple boxes of 125 grain 38/357 XTP bullets i'd recently rediscovered at the bottom of one of my reloading totes. I checked the Hogdson website for 38 special data and put together a sample size from 5.5 gr thru 6.1 gr to run through a 4 inch M67 I like to carry. Didn't know what to expect and didn't have a chrony handy but holy smokes was it accurate, especially toward the top end. Shooting slow DA I was able to get 1 inch groups POA at 7 meters, on par with my usual wadcutter load for that gun. Sorry I don't have a box score for this load but would definitely recommend it to those looking to try something new for defensive near +p options.
 
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If you have any 158gr lead bullets around.......
you will find that it will work well in a medium low target loading also.
Enjoy.
 
CFE Pistol is a great powder for most medium loads, and at least in my neck of the woods is easily found....
 
CFE-P has been great in my mid range 44 and 357 mag loads, upper end 38 spl., 44 spl., 9mm and 45acp loads. I find it very close to HS-6, a powder I had been using for these loads.
 
Good info, OP. Would I feel guilty givin' it a try even though I have a lot of Bullseye and W231? :)
 
How well does CFE meter? I noticed from the burn rate chart that it is slower than HP-38, my go to powder for 38 special target loads. Does it make a difference for low-medium loads? I'm trying to find a back-up just in case I run out of HP-38. Thanks.
 
I find it meters very well and am real glad that I bought 16 pounds of it when I found it. I use it 9mm, 38, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP. Don
 
Couple of follow up items about my brief experience with CFE Pistol. It meters well for me, but I could see it binding up my old lee perfect powder measure the way it used too when I dropped AA #5 thru it - CFE may not be that fine in shape and size, but it's definitely not big and flaky like Unique.

The powder looks to be in the same burn rate vicinity as HS6, AA5, which have always given me best results in mid range 357 loads under 158 gr SWCs. Have settled on Bullseye and W231 for most of my light target 38 special loads.

Nevada Ed, yes I have a few 158 gr SWC around, I have chased off 3 or 4 mailmen over the last 5 years who got tired of delivering my bulk lead purchases. :)

Forgot to mention in my original post that I did try my CFE loads out of a colt detective special too. Accuracy was not nearly as good as with the M67 so it may not be the best powder for snubbies based on one data point.

Safe and happy shooting:)
 
Zackary said:
How well does CFE meter? I noticed from the burn rate chart that it is slower than HP-38, my go to powder for 38 special target loads. Does it make a difference for low-medium loads? I'm trying to find a back-up just in case I run out of HP-38. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I've found that CFE Pistol meters rather well, not as good as H110 or one of the Accurate Handgun powders but good enough to hold to a true variation of +/- 0.1 grains. BTW, I ran a 50 piece Capability Study using my RCBS Competition measure and the SD was 0.035, so if you are splitting hairs 99.8% of the charges thrown will be within 0.105 grains of the target.

About the only fault I can find with CFE Pistol is that just like CFE223 it is a bit dirtier shooting than most other powders I've used. In the case of CFE Pistol I'm using it mainly for 380 ACP loads and the pressure for this particular caliber is only 20,000 psi, so those using it with 9mm or another high pressure caliber may not find it's as dirty as I find it. I'll also admit for my 223 loads I'm loading for accuracy and with the 68 grain Hornady BTHP I'm loading with the powder charge is rather moderate, so I more energetic load might clean that up as well. However, at the moderate pressures I'm using I've found that both powders leave a residue that I can only describe as an oily black sludge. Hasn't seemed to effect function at all but I would not recommend you clean your weapons at the kitchen table or while you are wearing a favorite shirt.
 
Thanks for the head's up , that's another powder I will add to my "buy it if you see it " list.
I mainly load cast lead bullets and was not sure if it was appropriate , the Hodgdon data I looked at was for jacketed bullets. I will look for more data .
I'm always on the look out for a jug of powder sitting on a dealer's shelf.
Gary
 
At my club, our bowling pin matches are shot at 25 yards.
Adds a bit of challenge to it.
CFE-P has become my go-to powder for mid range 44 magnum pin loads. Ant that's shooting coated lead bullets.
It just works best.
Good stuff.
 
A lot of my reloading these days,like that of many others,is using the powders that are available.
Here in the NW Austin area I can get my fill of Titegroup at most Academy stores and some occasional Clays,Bullseye and Unique at BassProShop.
A 2.3gr drop of Clays works very well for my 38spl 148gr HBWC target loads in a Model 15.
A 3.5gr drop of Titegroup for 38spl 158gr LSWC proves to be very accurate at 15yds out of an 2.5" S&W PC 686.
A 4.0gr drop of Bullseye takes care of my 45ACP loads while 7.0gr of Unique pushes the 45LC 230gr LRN loads in a 1982 4" Model 25-5(no pin)

Where you guys getting your W231?
 
I am down to my last pound of W231 so I have been switching over to CFE pistol. So far I like it I usually just select a middle of the road charge weight and run with it. If it works great I leave it be, if not I tinker with other charge weights, if those don't work then I try another powder, that I can get.
 
per post #8

My J frame snub nose did not do well with the 110-125 Jhp or the 158gr lead bullets with my CFE test.
However it was very good in a 6" barrel and matched w231 in the 357 magnum.
 
The Winchester powders that I do see on the shelves are the most expensive closely followed by Alliant Bullseye,Red Dot and Unique that are around the $30 per lb mark.
The 1lb jar of Titegroup at Academy is $20 and change.It's the only pistol powder they sell.
Reloading is about cost per round and the fun of it!
 
Is that Academy Sports. if so ours here said they can't sell powder except they sell primers and black powder. I would buy Titegroup all day at $20 a pound. As a member of the outdoor range I can buy their powder for $29 a pound and they have a petty good assortment. I could go to the LGS and pay $40 a pound. They have a good assortment also and it don't matter what you want it is all $40 a pound. Don
 
Magload said:
As a member of the outdoor range I can buy their powder for $29 a pound and they have a petty good assortment. I could go to the LGS and pay $40 a pound. They have a good assortment also and it don't matter what you want it is all $40 a pound. Don
Click to expand...

Start looking for bulk. I bought a 8lb. jug of CFE-P for $134 from my club's range office.
 
Magload said:
Is that Academy Sports. if so ours here said they can't sell powder except they sell primers and black powder. I would buy Titegroup all day at $20 a pound. As a member of the outdoor range I can buy their powder for $29 a pound and they have a petty good assortment. I could go to the LGS and pay $40 a pound. They have a good assortment also and it don't matter what you want it is all $40 a pound. Don
Click to expand...

Yep,Academy Sports in the NW Austin Texas Area.
They have 3 rifle powders but only the Hodgdon Titegroup for pistol.
They carry mostly CCI primers @ $3.99/100 and Hornady bullet of all flavors.

A whole aisle is dedicated to loaded cartridges except 22lr.They're kept behind the counter

Academy on-line orders over $25 orders get free shipping.
 
Last edited:
Nevada Ed said:
per post #8

My J frame snub nose did not do well with the 110-125 Jhp or the 158gr lead bullets with my CFE test.
However it was very good in a 6" barrel and matched w231 in the 357 magnum.
Click to expand...

My experience with CFE-P in 38 Special is similar. I was also firing from 2" snubbie. In fact, I would say CFE-P is the worst powder I have tried in 38 SPL.

My experience with this powder has shown that it works very well in high pressure cartridges, but does not do well in low pressure cartridges such as 38 SPL, 45 ACP, 380 Auto, and 45 COLT. In fact, I would say it was the worst powder I have tried in each of those applications.

9mm LUGER is a high pressure cartridge, and CFE-P is my favorite powder in 9mm. I imagine it will also perform well in 357 MAG, 44 MAG, 40 S&W, and any other high pressure application.

I did have slightly better results if I used a MAGNUM primer in the lower pressure cartridges, but there are a lot of better powders out there that do not require MAGNUM primers.

Just my .02

Mike
 
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