I’m liking the “decoppering ” powders!

[fatelvis]

After using Reloder16, CFE223, and IMR4166, I notice they leave a dark, “sooty” deposit that is easily cleaned, but I really am impressed with the good job they do of preventing copper fouling. I haven’t seen any blue on my patches when cleaning with Shooters Choice, since I’ve been using them. I’m more comfortable shooting longer without cleaning, knowing the fouling isn’t accumulating.
I like when a product does what it claims to do!

 

[4xforfun]

You need to test the copper with Sweets, Warthog, Barns , or some other form of strong copper cleaner. THAT will be the test!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I bet you changed barrels, bullets or cleaning accessories about the exact time you changed to that powder because a bullet is still going to drag in the barrel no matter what you try. using the RL powder you may be overwhelmed with the soot and carbon so it may not have the chance to copper up under it

 

[dolek]

Cool news,less copper is a good thing. Sounds like you can now concentrate on enjoying your shooting and worry less about fouling win/win.

 

[fatelvis]

using the RL powder you may be overwhelmed with the soot and carbon so it may not have the chance to copper up under it

I agree, there is a sort of soot left behind, but it is easily removed and doesn't seem to accumulate like copper fouling. It seems to reach a certain point of deposit, and remains stable. Maybe it produces a consistent, uniform bore condition? I don't know, but it seems to work!

 

[geraldgee]

I agree, there is a sort of soot left behind, but it is easily removed and doesn't seem to accumulate like copper fouling. It seems to reach a certain point of deposit, and remains stable. Maybe it produces a consistent, uniform bore condition? I don't know, but it seems to work!

My own experience with RL16 is that as chamber pressure increase, the soot decreases. During load development for both my 6.5Lapua & 6.5 Creedmoor, I started with charge weights on the lower end and I remember thinking that it was the dirtiest powder I've ever used. As charge weights increased, I found less and less sooty deposits. I am not talking MAX loads here either. I'll change powders before I run loads that beat up brass or my rifles.
Good luck with the reloading.

Gerald

 

[brantfredrickson]

In 50 round sessions where the temperature/bore conditions change enough with others powders to move into and out of the sweet spot, I have better luck with RL 16 and HBN coated bullets. Copper fouling agent? HBN? An unkown? I don't know.

 

[fatelvis]

As charge weights increased, I found less and less sooty deposits.

I like to hear that! I am in the process of working up a load, and it is nice to know that it will be cleaner as I move up in pressure/velocity.

 

[Texas10]

It has been my experience that soot in the barrel is an indicator of incomplete or inefficient combustion. Varget in my 223 leaves a soot deposit whereas Varget in my 6BR or 308 there is virtually no soot. A look down the bore after shooting both and I can see a big difference.

Anyone made a connection between low SD/ES and soot levels? Is it possible soot accumulations is an indictor it's time to change powders for a particular load?

 

[Larryh128]

After using Reloder16, CFE223, and IMR4166, I notice they leave a dark, “sooty” deposit that is easily cleaned, but I really am impressed with the good job they do of preventing copper fouling. I haven’t seen any blue on my patches when cleaning with Shooters Choice, since I’ve been using them. I’m more comfortable shooting longer without cleaning, knowing the fouling isn’t accumulating.
I like when a product does what it claims to do!

RL16 isn't coppering my barrel either and no I didn't change anything else. Always skeptics.

 

[AckleymanII]

Copper is much easier to get out than Carbon. Even wipe out will remove the copper, carbon is another story.

Often, fouling is in layers of carbon and copper, you get through one layer to find another.

$200 lyman bore scope allows you to see, patches are often NOT a good indicator.

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

After using Reloder16, CFE223, and IMR4166, I notice they leave a dark, “sooty” deposit that is easily cleaned, but I really am impressed with the good job they do of preventing copper fouling. I haven’t seen any blue on my patches when cleaning with Shooters Choice, since I’ve been using them. I’m more comfortable shooting longer without cleaning, knowing the fouling isn’t accumulating.
I like when a product does what it claims to do!

I'm liking RL-16 for what it brings to the 30-06 Ackley Improved with 185 gr. Berger bullets & RL-26 for what it brings to the 280 Ackley Improved with 180 gr. bullets as far as accuracy & velocity. - Forum member "Shootsdots" pointed me to RL-16 and he is spot on with the information he provided.

 

[Jimmy James]

As far as reloading for 223 and 308, if i could only use 1 pdr it would be CFE223.

 

[SSL]

Very little soot and virtually no copper using CFE223 in my .17 Remingtons and .22-250. Only powder I use in either any more. Top velocities and accuracy is outstanding.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

It's very typical of any powder I've ever seen to leave less soot as the powder charge is increased. More powder=more pressure. More pressure=more heat and a more efficient, cleaner burn.

 

[Flouncer]

Mentioned several times now. Pressure increases result in less carbon fouling. A bad twist on that would be if I am getting lots of fouling, say 12-15 patches for 3 shots, then I am not loaded hot enough. Assuming the barrel isn't rough, it's lapped, correctly broken in and slew of other intangibles .. . .

 

[Lbart]

You may want to look at Vihtavuori powders, they now have "decoppering" agents. https://www.vihtavuori.com/powders/vihtavuori-decoppering-agent/

 

[Monte F]

I have been using 4166 in my Rem. R-25 chambered in .243 win. with good results. Running cleaner with very little copper fouling. Accuracy has been good shooting it in 600yd. mid-range AR tactical matches.

 

[LoganDon]

I am shooting 17 MachIV with a new barrel and it really fouls. Anyone have any idea what powders foul less in the 17?

 

[GrocMax]

Y'all do realize anti-copper agents have been used for a very long time, you just didn't hear about it, i.e. St Mark's. Its somewhat of a marketing point these days, CFE223 is NOT a new formula. They've been using tin dioxide in some of their powders for a very long time.

Take a peek at a few MSDS sheets, the older ones that single out one powder, not the new ones that list every powder used by that brand (Winchester, Alliant, AA, Hodgdon, etc.) and contain vague descriptions like 0%-5%.