REACH COMPLIANCE - List of Powders

B

Blobby159

Well-Known Member
I think this may well be of interest to those of us in the shooting sports who reload some/all of our ammunition (rifle/shotgun/gallery).

Today I received from an Officer in BASC this list of reloading powders affected (or not) by the "REACH Compliance Legislation". It is ONLY those that have a "Y" in column three - Exempt from REACH authorisation - that are now available to us for use in the UK.
It is not absolutely inclusive so I will post additions and updates as and when (or if) I receive from the originator in BASC...

ATB ...... and shoot safely
Blobby159

Manufacturer Product name Exempt from REACH authorisation Notes
Hodgdon HP-38 Y Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction) <0.1%
Hodgdon H110 Y Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction) <0.1%
Hodgdon H414 N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction)
Hodgdon H380 N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction)
Hodgdon Lil' Gun Y Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction) <0.1%
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V Y Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction) <0.1%
Hodgdon HS-6 Y Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction) <0.1%
Hodgdon H335 N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction)
Hodgdon BL-C(2) N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction)
Hodgdon Titewad Y Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction) <0.1%
Hodgdon Titegroup Y Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction) <0.1%
Hodgdon Longshot Y Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction) <0.1%
Hodgdon US869 Y Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction) <0.1%
Hodgdon LEVEREVOLUTION Y Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction) <0.1%
Hodgdon SUPERFORMANCE Y Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction) <0.1%
Hodgdon CFE Pistol Y Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction) <0.1%
Hodgdon CFE 223 Y Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction) <0.1%
Hodgdon CFE BLK Y Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction) <0.1%
Hodgdon H4227 N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
Hodgdon H4895 N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
Hodgdon H4198 N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
Hodgdon Varget N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
Hodgdon H4350 N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
Hodgdon H50BMG N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
Hodgdon H4831 N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
Hodgdon H4831SC N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
Hodgdon H1000 N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
Hodgdon Retumbo N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
Hodgdon H322 N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
Hodgdon Benchmark N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
Hodgdon Hi-Skor 700X Y
Hodgdon Hi-Skor 800X Y
Hodgdon Clays (AS-30N) Y
Hodgdon International (AS-50N) Y
Hodgdon Universal (AP-70N) Y
Hodgdon Trailboss Y Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction) <0.1%
Hodgdon Pyrodex P N/A Inconclusive (ingredients witheld as trade secret)
Hodgdon Pyrodex RS N/A Inconclusive (ingredients witheld as trade secret)
Hodgdon Pyrodex Select N/A Inconclusive (ingredients witheld as trade secret)
Hodgdon Triple 7 N/A Inconclusive (ingredients witheld as trade secret)
IMR Blue Y
IMR Green Y
IMR Red Y
IMR UnEqual Y
IMR IMR 3031 N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
IMR IMR 4007SSC N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
IMR IMR 4064 N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
IMR IMR 4198 N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
IMR IMR 4227 N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
IMR IMR 4320 N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
IMR IMR 4350 N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
IMR SR4756 Y
IMR SR4759 Y
IMR IMR 4831 N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
IMR IMR 4895 N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
IMR SR7625 Y
IMR IMR 7828 N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
IMR PB Y
IMR IMR 7828SSC N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
IMR IMR 4166 Y
IMR IMR 4451 Y
IMR IMR 4955 Y
IMR IMR 7977 Y
IMR IMR 8133 Y
IMR IMR 8208 XBR N 2,4-dinitrotoluene (carcinogenic)
Alliant Powder Bullseye Y
Alliant Powder Power Pistol Y
Alliant Powder BE-86 Y
Alliant Powder E3 Y
Alliant Powder Pro Reach Y
Alliant Powder 20/28 Y
Alliant Powder Steel Y
Alliant Powder Unique Y
Alliant Powder Sport Pistol Y
Alliant Powder Promo Y
Alliant Powder Extra-Lite Y
Alliant Powder .410 Y
Alliant Powder Herco Y
Alliant Powder 2400 Y
Alliant Powder Green Dot Y
Alliant Powder Blue Dot Y
Alliant Powder Red Dot Y
Alliant Powder Clay Dot Y
Alliant Powder American Select Y
Alliant Powder Black MZ Y
Alliant Powder Blue MZ Y
Alliant Powder Power Pro series Y
Alliant Powder AR Comp N Diisopentyl phthalate (toxic to reproduction)
Alliant Powder Reloader series N Diisopentyl phthalate (toxic to reproduction)
Ramshot Nitro 100 NF N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Ramshot Zip N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Accurate #2 N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Accurate #5 N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Ramshot Silhouette N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Ramshot True Blue N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Accurate TCM N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Accurate 4100 N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Ramshot Enforcer N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Accurate 11FS N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Ramshot X-Terminator N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Accurate 2230 N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Ramshot TAC N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Ramshot Hunter N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Ramshot Big Game N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Ramshot Magnum N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Accurate 2520 N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Ramshot Competition N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Accurate #7 N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Accurate #9 N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Accurate 1680 N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Accurate 5744 N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Accurate 2200 N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Accurate 2460 N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Accurate 2700 N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Accurate Magpro N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Accurate Solo 1000 N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Accurate LT-30 N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Accurate LT-32 N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Accurate 2015 N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Accurate 2495 N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Accurate 4064 N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Accurate 4350 N Dibutyl Phthalate (toxic to reproduction). Ramshot looking to change formula "within the next year or so".
Ramshot Blackhorn 209 N/A Inconclusive (ingredients witheld as trade secret)
Vihtavuori N100 series Y
Vihtavuori N300 series Y
Vihtavuori N500 series Y
Reload Swiss RS12 Y
Reload Swiss RS20 Y
Reload Swiss RS24 Y
Reload Swiss RS30 Y
Reload Swiss RS36 Y
Reload Swiss RS40 Y
Reload Swiss RS50 Y
Reload Swiss RS52 Y
Reload Swiss RS60 Y
Reload Swiss RS62 Y
Reload Swiss RS70 Y
Reload Swiss RS80 Y
 
There were several of the 'N' powders available at the Shooting Show, at reasonable prices, to clear, presumably.

Most of the powders that I've got are 'N', but they should last me some time.
 
JTO said:
There were several of the 'N' powders available at the Shooting Show, at reasonable prices, to clear, presumably.

Most of the powders that I've got are 'N', but they should last me some time.
Click to expand...

SNAP!! Quite the Pain isn't it 'JTO'?....

I have yet to get an answer regarding 'NORMA' and 'VECTAN' Propellants. When I do I will post here, but doesn't help us directly now does it? Hohum!!...

Regards....
 
big ears said:
one could believe this was engineered by Vit and RS.
Disaster about reloaded powders and ramshot.
Click to expand...

IMHO there is more to that than one would initially think 'big ears'!!.. It truly smacks of Protectionism for the local European propellants, and remember, this is a piece of EU legislation!! I may be seeing things that aren't there, but it seems way too convenient to me for there not to be more than 'smoke' in this one.....

Regards..
 
Blobby159 said:
IMHO there is more to that than one would initially think 'big ears'!!.. It truly smacks of Protectionism for the local European propellants, and remember, this is a piece of EU legislation!! I may be seeing things that aren't there, but it seems way too convenient to me for there not to be more than 'smoke' in this one.....

Regards..
Click to expand...

IIRC the text of the REACH directive explicitly states that protectionism is one of the two main objectives.
Warning: actually reading the information the EU publishes itself can make you considerably more eurosceptic.
 
big ears said:
Does seem strange as I thought, as you say, Rl = RS

BE
Click to expand...

I think we are getting muddled up between two SIMILAR but NOT the SAME terminologies here in that the new 'RS' powders are the EQUIVALENT to Reloader powders, but are NOT Exactly the Same in actual Chemical makeup!??.......

Regards...
 
Blobby159 said:
I think we are getting muddled up between two SIMILAR but NOT the SAME terminologies here in that the new 'RS' powders are the EQUIVALENT to Reloader powders, but are NOT Exactly the Same in actual Chemical makeup!??.......

Regards...
Click to expand...

Not quite - RS is the trade name that the Swiss producer (Nitrochemie or some such) use to sell their own powder. One of their powders (RS60) is also sold by Alliant as RL17. Other RL powders are produced by Bofors, (like RL15 which is also sold as Norma M203B) and probably by other producers as well. Like Hogdgon I don't think Alliant actually manufacture any smokeless powder.
 
Alliant 'Reloder' powders are Reach-compliant according to the importer who continues to receive and distribute them. In fact, as this company (Edgar Brothers) is also the Hogdon/IMR group distributor for all Europe and has been hit hard by the loss of most of its existing big sellers, it is promoting the Alliant range heavily to try and recoup some lost business.

All Re powders are made in Europe either by Bofors in Sweden (which we also see as Norma with at least one Re/Norma pair the same product under different labels), or by Nitrochemie Wimmins A.G. in Switzerland (the Reload Swiss manufacturer) and again there is an overlap between suppliers with some grades selling under two names.

Alliant Re17 and Reload Swiss RS60 ARE one and the same thing - not similar, equivalent or anything else. Likewise, Alliant Re33 and Reload Swiss RS80 ARE one and the same thing.

So far as Bofors, Karlskoga factory's products go, Norma 203-B and Alliant Re15 ARE the same thing under two names / labels and Norma MRP and Re22 are so close to each other they may be one product, but there are differences of opinion over this.

As LeftHandGuy says Alliant ATK doesn't manufacture smallarms propellants but buys them in, primarily from three sources, Eurenco Bofors, Karlskoga; Nitrochemie Wimmins; General Dynamics St. Marks Powder Co, Florida.

I'd also be very surprised indeed if Eurenco P B Clermont in Belgium whose reloading grades are marketed as Ramshot, but whose primary customers are ammunition plants catering to governments and military users is making non-compliant powders as by definition it would now be shut down. Likewise, I bet RUAG Ammotech UK would be surprised to learn it has been illegally importing and distributing Norma 203-B which is apparently non-compliant alongside Re15.

(It is just possible that Re17 isn't approved as its distribution in Europe stopped after RS60 became available and Alliant ATK may very well have decided not to incur the EU's fees for recertifying it for Reach.)
 
Laurie said:
Alliant 'Reloder' powders are Reach-compliant according to the importer who continues to receive and distribute them. In fact, as this company (Edgar Brothers) is also the Hogdon/IMR group distributor for all Europe and has been hit hard by the loss of most of its existing big sellers, it is promoting the Alliant range heavily to try and recoup some lost business.

All Re powders are made in Europe either by Bofors in Sweden (which we also see as Norma with at least one Re/Norma pair the same product under different labels), or by Nitrochemie Wimmins A.G. in Switzerland (the Reload Swiss manufacturer) and again there is an overlap between suppliers with some grades selling under two names.

Alliant Re17 and Reload Swiss RS60 ARE one and the same thing - not similar, equivalent or anything else. Likewise, Alliant Re33 and Reload Swiss RS80 ARE one and the same thing.

So far as Bofors, Karlskoga factory's products go, Norma 203-B and Alliant Re15 ARE the same thing under two names / labels and Norma MRP and Re22 are so close to each other they may be one product, but there are differences of opinion over this.

As LeftHandGuy says Alliant ATK doesn't manufacture smallarms propellants but buys them in, primarily from three sources, Eurenco Bofors, Karlskoga; Nitrochemie Wimmins; General Dynamics St. Marks Powder Co, Florida.

I'd also be very surprised indeed if Eurenco P B Clermont in Belgium whose reloading grades are marketed as Ramshot, but whose primary customers are ammunition plants catering to governments and military users is making non-compliant powders as by definition it would now be shut down. Likewise, I bet RUAG Ammotech UK would be surprised to learn it has been illegally importing and distributing Norma 203-B which is apparently non-compliant alongside Re15.

(It is just possible that Re17 isn't approved as its distribution in Europe stopped after RS60 became available and Alliant ATK may very well have decided not to incur the EU's fees for recertifying it for Reach.)
Click to expand...

I stand corrected...... I think??..

All VERY Complicated as to who does what for whom and even yet, what is EXACTLY the same in every/all chemical compositions and what might just not be...

""Alliant Re17 and Reload Swiss RS60 ARE one and the same thing - not similar, equivalent or anything else. Likewise, Alliant Re33 and Reload Swiss RS80 ARE one and the same thing.""
Could I ask where this kind of information is obtained from and how one knows FOR 100% CERTAINTY that these links are true and correct please,?.? Or is it a repeat of someone's Quote but without the full proof??

However, if this complicated understanding YET means that we can STILL purchase our much used and loved RELOADER powders (for one example here) then so be it and who am I to complain or stir the waters??? I use RL 15 , 19 & 22 quite a bit, and should also REALLY like to see 16 & 17 reinstated and/or re-imported into the UK.. And maybe RL 26?? .....

Regards,
Blobby159
 
Last edited:
Powder suppliers as a rule will deny that their product is the same as another brand's grade and if pressed will either ignore queries or claim that although they come from the same source, theirs has a magic brand 'X' ingredient that the other lacks thereby differentiating it.

Re Re17/RS60 I got that from the UK distributor's own mouth back in the days when there was no Reload Swiss brand in the UK and Nigel Cole-Hawkins imported RS50 and 60 in bulk and bottled them as TR140 and Elcho-17 respectively telling buyers to use Alliant's 17 data for the latter. Early RS burning rate charts had the three left hand columns as RS, Nitrochemie's factory code, and Alliant and those grades that were the same thing had the horizontal cells shaded in yellow across the three to highlight them and show the overlaps.

On Norma v Alliant, both shooters and those in the gun trade have long either known or suspected the overlaps. When Alliant expanded the Re range nearly 30 years ago from Re7 being the sole remaining rifle grade, there were three grades that the trade reckoned were the same thing as Norma which was around in the UK at that time, but where the Alliant version was around 25% cheaper. Today, it's only Re15/203-B that are known to be identical (but Alliant / Norma deny it). In the US a lot of the tactical / sniper comp guys say that Norma keeps the best / most consistent lots for local bottling as 203-B and gives Alliant the poor ones. Probably a shooters' myth!

Norma has a very interesting burning rate table which uses the same 308 Win load for every powder and gives a relative MV and peak pressure value against IMR-4350 as the baseline with both values ascribed the value of 100.

Powder - Reloading Components | Norma

If you look at Re15 / 203-B, their relative MVs to 4350 are 120 and 119.9 for relative MV and 133.7 and 133.6 for relative pressure. You'd not get any closer than that between two production lots of a powder from any manufacturer, and I'd expect larger discrepancies more often than not. (Re22 / MRP are 90.2 / 89.9 rel MVs and 81.1 / 80.1 rel psi - not quite as close, but close enough for them to be different production lots of the same thing.) When you compare other published factors from Safety Data Sheets and elsewhere, it's sometimes possible to use the old adage that if it walks like a duck, looks like a duck, swims, and quacks ............ it is a duck, even though that may not always be 100% accurate.

Edgar Bros is now ordering some of the newer Bofors manufactured Reloder grades that we've lacked for some time. Whether it is just some or all of the missing products, I know not, but was assured on a forum (this one I think) that Norman Clark had a couple of tins of Re16 in stock a few weeks back.

Edgar Brothers's website shows AR-Comp, Re16, Re23, and Re26 in its recently updated section on Alliant range powders. It also now lists IMR 'Enduron' 4955 which is the stand-in for the 4831s and was the second last of the 5 new Endurons to be introduced but hadn't got here the last time I asked. A potentially very useful grade as Neither Viht nor Reload Swiss have a really good alternative single-based grade for H4831sc. (Actually, the Endurons are all double-based but like most Norma powders as 'mild' examples with very low nitroglycerin levels.)
 
Apthorpe said:
IIRC the text of the REACH directive explicitly states that protectionism is one of the two main objectives.
Warning: actually reading the information the EU publishes itself can make you considerably more eurosceptic.
Click to expand...
I'm not really sure REACH has anything to do with protectionism - the registration fees don't vary by region as far as I am aware. It is simply that every chemical that moves through Europe must be registered - even if it is manufactured in the US, and the end customer is in Asia, if it touches land in Europe it must be accounted for in REACH. This means that European manufacturers have no choice but to pay, outside of Europe they can weigh the registration costs (literally; the cost varies by amount sold/year) against their projected sales and clearly many manufacturers decided it wasn't worth it.
 
REACH is overarching across a wide range of chemicals used across a range of indiustries. It’s not just us shooters who are being singled out.

It is a peice of legislation designed to remove toxic products from use. Knowing now that IMR 4350 is carcinogenic, I am not sure I am happy using it. I don’t see much hardship in getting a tub of N150 and working up some new loads - sure beats having to do jobs at home!
 
"REACH is a regulation of the European Union, adopted to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals, while enhancing the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry." ECHA

The above is pretty clear that the intention has as much to do with aiding the European chemical industry as safety.
All sorts of substances we regularly use are carcinogenic. Being carcinogenic or not isn't really relevant. The issue is whether there is any realistic prospect of anyone actually being exposed to them in a manner that presents realistic risk of cancer. I'd bet that since 1945 nobody in a developed country has got cancer from exposure to the chemicals in these powders, and certainly nobody outside a munitions factory.
While there are many sensible measures in the directive, the real risks presented by swathes of these effectively banned chemicals are negligible. Oddly, a lot of them are mainly produced outside the EU, nominated as harmful by EU states, lobbied by their chemical industries, and are frequently cheaper or more effective than EU alternatives.
 
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