I was wondering who has experience with this powder, more specifically loading 9mm 147gr Campro bullets. Tried loading up a couple mags worth using the Hogdon and the Nosler data as a starting point. They claimed that 3.7gr of powder would get me in the 880fps range (130 power factor) my results were way off from those charts. I was barely cracking 760fps which of course wrecked havoc with FTF's and FTE'S. I've already gotten some good advice on some dimensional item to look into with my load that may be the culprit, but I was also suggested to seek out others that use this specific powder to get their input on results since my local guru doesn't have any experience with it.
CFE Pistol powder
- Thread starter welder179
- Start date
I would just increase the powder charge until you get proper functioning and desired power factor; you can go as high as 4.2 grains if necessary according to both the Hodgdon and Campro data. It isn't unusual for the velocity you actually get to be substantially different from what is published in the load data.
I would not use seating depth to adjust velocity. Seating depth is determined in order to have your rounds correctly fit your pistol, so that the bullet does not jam into the rifling. First determine your seating depth, and then work up the powder charge.
I would not use seating depth to adjust velocity. Seating depth is determined in order to have your rounds correctly fit your pistol, so that the bullet does not jam into the rifling. First determine your seating depth, and then work up the powder charge.
I've used CFE powder for 9mm pretty well exclusively for a couple years now, but mostly with 124 grain Campro's - when testing loads via chrono I was getting very close to published data using a P226.
I've just recently tried experimenting with 147 grain Campros, again with CFE Pistol, and am liking what I'm seeing so far - or at least my P320 X5 is. Haven't done any extensive testing yet, but also using 4.1 loads as mentioned above for the results below (25 meters - slow fire, seated). FWIW with more trials I've done with CFE Pistol and the 124's, I found best accuracy was with loads close to, but not right at, published maximums.
I've just recently tried experimenting with 147 grain Campros, again with CFE Pistol, and am liking what I'm seeing so far - or at least my P320 X5 is. Haven't done any extensive testing yet, but also using 4.1 loads as mentioned above for the results below (25 meters - slow fire, seated). FWIW with more trials I've done with CFE Pistol and the 124's, I found best accuracy was with loads close to, but not right at, published maximums.
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Nope, but the Romeo1 red dot is a big help lol.
Guess I should get one!!!
So I upped the charge to 3.9gr and I shortened my OAL to 1.120 this got me to the velocities I was looking for to make power factor. But I notice on the Campro website they recommend a 1.090 OAL so I made up some more to that length and I will report back on results.
My original mistake was setting my OAL way to long (1.160), a habit from my experience loading rifle bullets ba k in the day. I was corrected as per my local guru that what rules apply for rifle don't always apply for pistol and then educated me on bullet jump and using the seating depth to help get the pressures needed to get a clean burn of powder.
My original mistake was setting my OAL way to long (1.160), a habit from my experience loading rifle bullets ba k in the day. I was corrected as per my local guru that what rules apply for rifle don't always apply for pistol and then educated me on bullet jump and using the seating depth to help get the pressures needed to get a clean burn of powder.
Pistol OAL is determined by your pistol. Take the barrel, plunk the round in and test. I'm right around the 1.1 OAL as well, but always do a plunk test. If it doesn't spin freely or drop out, you need to adjust. If you reload for multiple pistols, use the shortest pistol OAL.
Just Youtube "Plunk Test" to see how.
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silver bullet
CGN Regular
- Location
- Caledon, Ontario
I use CFE Pistol powder and Campro 147 gr bullets and CCI Small Pistol primers almost exclusively.
In my FNS9L and Glock 17 Gen3, needs 851 fps, O.A.L. of 1.100
data as follows;
3.7 gr (minimum) averages 121 power factor (pf) FNS, and 126 Glock
3.8 gr 123 pf FNS and 129 Glock
3.9 gr. 127 pf FNS and 133 Glock
124 gr bullets require 1,009 fps, O.A.L. is 1.150
4.9 gr (minimum) averages 127 pf FNS and 128 Glock
5.0 gr. 131 of FNS and 132 Glock
Interesting notes:
As you can see, there is less of a difference in the power factor with 124 gr bullets.
The longer barreled FNS produces lower fps than the Glock. It's been suggested it has something to do with the different Glock rifling.
The FNS will have the very very rare failure to eject at 3.7 gr (147 gr bullet).
S&B small rifle primers produce lower fps than CCI small pistol primers. (1 or so fps)
S&B small pistol primers produce even less. (3 or 4 fps)
So....I shoot 147 bullets at 3.9 and 124 bullets at 4.9
I also have extras loaded at 4.0 and 5.0 in case something goes funky with testing at a match.
In my FNS9L and Glock 17 Gen3, needs 851 fps, O.A.L. of 1.100
data as follows;
3.7 gr (minimum) averages 121 power factor (pf) FNS, and 126 Glock
3.8 gr 123 pf FNS and 129 Glock
3.9 gr. 127 pf FNS and 133 Glock
124 gr bullets require 1,009 fps, O.A.L. is 1.150
4.9 gr (minimum) averages 127 pf FNS and 128 Glock
5.0 gr. 131 of FNS and 132 Glock
Interesting notes:
As you can see, there is less of a difference in the power factor with 124 gr bullets.
The longer barreled FNS produces lower fps than the Glock. It's been suggested it has something to do with the different Glock rifling.
The FNS will have the very very rare failure to eject at 3.7 gr (147 gr bullet).
S&B small rifle primers produce lower fps than CCI small pistol primers. (1 or so fps)
S&B small pistol primers produce even less. (3 or 4 fps)
So....I shoot 147 bullets at 3.9 and 124 bullets at 4.9
I also have extras loaded at 4.0 and 5.0 in case something goes funky with testing at a match.
