LRRPF52 Wrote:I almost exclusively load with CFE223 under 123gr bullets for my mass-production lots, namely 123gr A-AMAX.

My brass comes out looking new, tight primer pockets, ready for another load.

I load 31.2gr of CFE223 under 123gr Hornady A-MAX or SST.

It doesn’t generate a lot of chamber pressure, but exceeds factory 123gr velocity.

I double-polish though, before and after de-priming.

Hornady’s CFE223 data includes the 120gr GMX lumped-in with the 120gr A-MAX, 120gr ELD-M, 123gr SST, 123gr A-MAX, and 123gr ELD-M, so it sets the max charge off that 120gr GMX monolith, which is as long as many 140gr bullets, and is harder, so it resists being driven into the lands more than soft cup and core bullets.

I suspect my brass life would be lower and case growth longer if I was loading with something like 8208 XBR or AR Comp, but I would defer to those who mass-produce with those under 123gr and heavier/longer.

I have used 8208XBR under the 100gr NBT and 107gr SMK, as have several people I know in the real world, and I think they get at least 8 loads with Hornady brass with 8208 XBR/107 SMK. I’ll ask them next time we talk.

That includes 20” RLGS and 12” Grendel suppressed exclusively.

Most of my 123gr A-MAX/CFE223 has been shot through the 17.6” Lilja MLGS/-.625”.

LRRPF52 Wrote:I have Leverevolution as well, but I don’t think I ran across it in any 8lb kegs.

It generates much higher velocities without pushing pressure as well.

CFE223 worked for me with lighter weight monoliths like 95gr Lehigh and 94gr GMX, but it might be a bit slow-burning for short cup and core bullets in the 85-95gr weights.

Harpoon1 Wrote:Ok, so you’re using CFE223 with 120-123 grn bullets mostly out of convenience, because you have more of it on hand? Is that a fair representation?

No idea why Hodgdon doesn’t have data for either one with the Grendel?

LRRPF52 Wrote:Performance was the main driver. Someone here turned me onto it back in 2012. Might have been Bwild97.

I was getting good performance with TAC too though.

I called Hodgdon about it back in 2014 I think and couldn’t wrestle an answer out of them on why they didn’t list it.

Hornady published data on it, so it has former pressure test breech support.

603Country Wrote:I vote for annealing Hornady, for sure. When I acquired a Grendel, I had everything I needed to load for it but brass. So, I paid too much for 200 rounds of Hornady factory 123 gr SST, with the plan or hope that I could load them 5 or 6 times to ease the pain of the price I had paid. I loaded 50 rounds with the once fired brass that I did not anneal. Of the 50 rounds, 49 cases had either split necks or shattered necks. Since then I have annealed all once fired Hornady brass, but have not reloaded any of it. I switched to Starline and have 2 reloads on 50 cases with no issues. Maybe I just got a bad batch of factory ammo.

LRRPF52 Wrote:I’ve never had a Hornady split neck yet. Early-on, I had one piece of Lapua brass split a neck, which I attribute to the fact that I was using Imperial Sizing Wax at the time and applied too much to it, overworking the neck.

I switched to Hornady One-Shot and have not had any issues since. It’s so much faster to use a spray lube anyway. I generously lube my cases, to include ensuring that lube gets inside the necks.

I let the brass dry and then proceed with the next steps in my process.

There were guys early-on here who shot their headstamps out of Lapua brass with 20+ firings.

I switch back and forth between shooting hand loads and factory ammo. I’ve shot a lot more factory ammo over the past 4-5 years I think.

Harpoon1 Wrote:Do you clean the “one shot” off after sizing?

I just came across this, didn’t realize how much effect it could have.

Jump ahead to 10:00

https://youtu.be/bCdoGR9H6Nc