Has any one tried this yet in the 8x57? They say it is slightly faster than rl-15, and that it takes about 2 grains less to achieve the same velocities. Is that a good way to start? Is that how should I go about starting? I plan on starting loading at Rl-15 starting loads and working up is that the way I should go? Or should I load a round at say 44 grains and then a round at 1 grain intervals till I reach say 2700 fps for 175 grain bullets? watching for pressure signs.M222

Did a ladder with arcomp. From 44 to 48 grains. 2360 to 2670, with those charges and 175 grains prvi bullets. Seems to be about right for trials. The top 3 charges 47, 47.5, 48 went into a group of about 1.2 inches. Might be able to go up maybe another grain, extraction was easy and the was only a slight flattened look to the primers.

By comparison I use the following loads in my 8x57 Brno mod. 22F

1. 160 gr. Barnes TTSX BT, 57 grs. of CFE223 for 2836 FPS

2. 150 gr. Hornadt, 57 grs. CFE/223 for 3022 FPS

3. 180 gr. Nosler Balistic Tip, 48 grs. of H4895 for 2707 FPS

I used only H4895 for years, but gave the newer powder CFE/223 a try and am more than pleased and it cleans the bore as you shoot it. It does clean the bore, but had to shoot mine a 100 or so times before the benefit showed up, but not it stays squeaky clean..

All these loads were chronographed with 3 to 5, 5 shot groups for accuracy, they are the average of the number of groups I fired with each of test loads, and they are the loads I settled on, some loads were hotter, others lower, but these are my hunting loads.

Your results are quite interesting and comparable to mine it seems. I used IMR-4350 and RL-15 for years but, both very similar but RL-15 sure meters a lot better. but I think Im sold on this CFE/223 powder..

Ill try your powder if I can find it, none in Twin Falls so far.

I've tried AR-Comp with 185 Rem's at 3.04" COAL, FED primers and RP brass...≈2700fs near max pressure...but RL17 did ≈2760 at less pressure and CFE223 did ≈2800 a slightly higher pressures. No major pressure problems other than more/less flattening of of the Fed "Gold" primers...EZ extract.

I fired one case (randomly picked) per powder 10 times to check case life expectancy and all the cases were still going strong...no "ring around the rosy" and only a small amount of trimming after 3-4 firings. The dies were fitted to the chamber and I use Redding Comp shell holders which helped.

I settled on a 102% load of RL-17 and the 185 Rem bullet as the pressure(PER QL)was slightly over 50 KPSI...and ALMOST 2800 fs/3200 #ft Chrono'ed isn't all that bad with a 185 gr bullet...plenty good for sage rat-things.

Good Luck

Hey guys. I know it has been a few months since I started this post, but I have been busy with life and just got back to the range today to try some loads with ar comp and the 175 grain prvi bullet. These are 3 shot groups, and there is some more testing I need to do to verify these are not flukes. I thought you guys might want to see them.
https://i1357.photobucket.com/...3240_zpszpimff8u.jpg
this one is 48.5 grains of ARcomp and ppu cases with wlr primers.its .96 inch at 2676 avg.

https://i1357.photobucket.com/...3228_zpsawmbpwhb.jpg
this one is 47 grains at 2627 avg.

Ill probably test the 47 grain load more i"m more about accuracy and a grain and a half more for 50 fps is not really worth it. I am going to load up some more and check if these are just lucky groups.