REACH, Banned Powders and Factory Ammo?

[chriswjx]

All this talk of REACH on the lead ban thread has made me wonder about shooters powders.

Various American powders no longer being available in the UK due to this same bit of paper...

Question is though, surely American factory ammunition will be using these powders? Can't see Hornady or Federal turning to Viht or RS just to manufacture ammunition for us/Europe?

 

[andyk]

I can’t remember the details but there’s some sort of exemption/lack of application where the powder is part of loaded ammo.

 

[billgatese30]

I can’t remember the details but there’s some sort of exemption/lack of application where the powder is part of loaded ammo.

Most likely as its fully contained and the user won't come into contact with it in the fully assembled state. However as a powder it can be handled and its dust inhaled etc.

 

[Heym SR20]

All this talk of REACH on the lead ban thread has made me wonder about shooters powders.

Various American powders no longer being available in the UK due to this same bit of paper...

Question is though, surely American factory ammunition will be using these powders? Can't see Hornady or Federal turning to Viht or RS just to manufacture ammunition for us/Europe?

As part of the documentation on the import process will be details of powders used. REACH regs include the whole of the EU as well as the UK, so the likes of Hornady will / should take this into account when manufacturing ammo gor the European market. There are plenty of American powders that do meet REACH requirements.

The powders that have been phased out where pretty much developed during WW2. Modern powders are much more efficient. Besides the likes of Vhit etc are now major players in the US market. Indeed European Arms industry pretty much dominates the US nowadays with the likes of Beretta, Sig Sauer, BAE and Rolls Royce all very big in the US Military supply chain. Admittedly they do have US manufacturing plants so as to avoid all the tarriffs etc.

 

[Stalker-of-the-deer]

Its to do with the manufacturing and handling if the powder.

You dont come in cintact with it in factory ammo.

Also things like blc2 are old and inefficient in comparison to more modern offerings

 

[webley701]

Also things like blc2 are old and inefficient in comparison to more modern offerings

Out of interest, how are you defining ‘inefficient' in this context?

 

[Stalker-of-the-deer]

Out of interest, how are you defining ‘inefficient' in this context?

Modern powders are consistent, have better engineered burn rates, higher energy density, and superior temperature stability.

 

[Smellydog]

Makes me wonder how ever we coped.

So how come if it's more "efficient" we aren't dropping a lot less in the case?
There is virtually no difference in performance, in fact new data when compared to old data is near anemic in some examples.