A current perpendicular to plane (CPP) giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor having an antiparallel coupled free layer including a first magnetic layer of Fe and a second magnetic layer of FeXN, where X can be Al or Ta. The first and second magnetic layers of the free layer are separated from one another by a Cr coupling layer. The sensor may also include an antiparallel coupling layer including Fe magnetic layers separated by a Cr coupling layer. The pinned and free layers may be separated by a Cr spacer layer.