Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Self cleaning powder now.

I see where Hodgon has CCE powder that ads claims to clean copper fouling out as you shoot you rifle. Sheesh.What's next?

I've heard Ramshot TAC is supposed to have a copper removing additive too.

I use TAC in my AR-15 and it seems like a very clean-burning powder. I don't have much copper come out when I clean the gun. IMO it burns cleaner than the R-19 and H4350 I use in a .30-06, not that they are very dirty.

Folks, we have very nearly 200 different propellants to choose from today. There simply aren't any missing pickets in that fence. So to introduce anything new and exciting, companies are down to creating what I'll call "niche" propellants. Instead of general-purpose products, these new powders are very specifically targeted.

We have a powder designed for three or four lever-action rounds. We have a powder that duplicates a few factory magnum loadings. We have a powder that is what the factory actually uses in some cartridges. And now we have a powder that is so specific it has the name of the intended cartridge included in its own name.

Several existing powders already contain the tin or bismuth compounds that remove copper fouling - such inclusions are mentioned in the military contracts the powders were designed for. Such additives have been around since the '30s. Its just that Hodgdon was the first to include that claim in its advertising. If you are a high-volume .223 shooter, this is probably a good powder to look at. If you shoot something else, it's probably not worth your time, effort or money.

CFE 223 is working very well in my 8x57 and does clean well. Velocity is up there too. Might be another one of those "wonder" powders that just works with the 8x57 as TAC does with the small cased mid-bores and Varget with the Whelen. Doesn't cost any more than the others either. Why not.