Hodgdon Announces New Powder for 2017
The Hodgdon Powder Company announced it would introduce a new powder in 2017. This new spherical powder is called CFE BLK, and it was specifically designed for the 300 BLK cartridge.
This powder is part of the company’s CFE line. CFE stands for Copper Fouling Eraser because it helps reduce copper residue in the barrel when used. Other powders in this line include the original CFE 223 and the more recently introduced CFE Pistol.
For the 300 BLK, the company states the powder runs supersonic and subsonic cartridges reliably in the AR platform. Additionally, Hodgdon states that CFE BLK works very well in other rifle cartridges with relatively small case capacities. For this reason, the powder is said to work well for the .218 Bee, .17 Hornet, .221 Fireball and similar cartridges. The company also states the powder performs admirably in 7.62×39 and 6.8 SPC loads.
According to the company, the powder meters exceptionally well which should allow for consistent powder charges.
Hodgdon says the powder should begin shipping in January with load data becoming available some time in December. The powder will be sold in the standard one and eight pound containers.
For those of you loading for the 300 BLK, what powder(s) are you using? Have you tried any of the company’s CFE powders? Do you see a reduction of fouling in the barrel?
An advocate of gun proliferation zones, Richard is a long time shooter, former cop and internet entrepreneur. Among the many places he calls home is http://www.gunsholstersandgear.com/.
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I'm currently running H4198 for 208gr subsonic use in a 10.5" barrel.
Everything else I have tried leaves a lot of fine ball powder residue behind in the action which can induce malfunctions after modest round counts and requires me turning the gas system up to get them to cycle well. Not really ideal.
So far (250 rounds in) H4198 cycles much better than most other subsonic powders. Although, it does leave unburnt powder behind in the action, the short cut extruded sticks are much easier to clean up and feel less likely to weasel their way into moving parts that could cause a malfunction.
I am pumped for CFEBLK, especially since it is being billed as optimized for sub-sonic 300BO. If it can burn more cleanly than H4198, offer high enough pressures to cycle the action well, and still ride UNDER 1050fps, I am in!
I'm shooting almost exclusively powder coated cast bullets, but I'm still interested in CFE BLK for its other advantages besides reduced copper fouling. I like that it meters well in a progressive press, but what I'm most hopeful about is the chance that Hodgdon will provide copious load data for supersonic and subsonic loadings in 300 BLK. There's now a fair amount of load data for 300 BLK, but it still seems a bit haphazard trying to find good loads for subsonic and supersonic for the same powder.
I just had my first field sighting of CFE Pistol powder at Reloader's Supply in Richmond Kentucky last Friday. I didn't buy any because I'm happy with Hodgdon Universal, I just bought another 16 pounds of it, and my powder coated cast bullets don't benefit from the Copper Fouling Eraser aspect of CFE Pistol.