Smokeless Powder reclassified by ATF

[RoyGBiv]

ATF Reclassifies Wetted Nitrocellulose as Explosive Materials Under Federal Laws

Conclusion

ATF’s sudden and unexpected change in policy on wetted nitrocellulose will likely have a significant impact on industry’s ability to deliver products to the military and commercial markets. Industry members have relied on the exemption for wetted nitrocellulose for many years and are aware of no accidental detonations or diversion of this product into illicit channels. Consequently, it is unclear why ATF believed it necessary to change its policy and, more importantly, why ATF announced the change in a newsletter article with no advance notice to industry.

We are working with ATF to address the issues raised in this alert, including a possible agency announcement of delayed enforcement. We will notify our readers of any developments in the future.

and... Latest ATF Surprise Could Drive Ammo Prices Through the Roof

[TexasTornado]

ATF Reclassifies Wetted Nitrocellulose as Explosive Materials Under Federal Laws

Conclusion

ATF’s sudden and unexpected change in policy on wetted nitrocellulose will likely have a significant impact on industry’s ability to deliver products to the military and commercial markets. Industry members have relied on the exemption for wetted nitrocellulose for many years and are aware of no accidental detonations or diversion of this product into illicit channels. Consequently, it is unclear why ATF believed it necessary to change its policy and, more importantly, why ATF announced the change in a newsletter article with no advance notice to industry.

We are working with ATF to address the issues raised in this alert, including a possible agency announcement of delayed enforcement. We will notify our readers of any developments in the future.

and... Latest ATF Surprise Could Drive Ammo Prices Through the Roof

Doesn't ammo already have to be shipped as an explosive? I'm not understanding what this changes.

Edited: helps if you read ALL of it. I'm picking up bad habits from all of the engineers I work with it appears.

[TXBO]

I think that happened back in June. I don't recall the specifics but it's nothing to panic about. Seems like there is an exception of some type for small arms ammo. Powder manufacturers are operating under exceptions also.

[Pawpaw]

Nice find Andy!

On one hand, that''s good news. On the other hand, this whole fiasco just highlights ATF incompetence.

[OldCurlyWolf]

Doesn't ammo already have to be shipped as an explosive? I'm not understanding what this changes.

Edited: helps if you read ALL of it. I'm picking up bad habits from all of the engineers I work with it appears.

I have a sign I occasionally put up which reads:

" Sometimes you have to just shoot the engineer and complete the Job"

[mr surveyor]

Doesn't ammo already have to be shipped as an explosive? I'm not understanding what this changes.

Edited: helps if you read ALL of it. I'm picking up bad habits from all of the engineers I work with it appears.

I have a sign I occasionally put up which reads:

" Sometimes you have to just shoot the engineer and complete the Job"

I agree with your sign 100%. :)


jd

[WildBill]

I am not sure of the definition of "wetted" nitrocellulose.
I assume that it is raw material for large quantities for commercial manufacturing of ammunition.
I also assume that it is different than smokeless powder, which is usually a mixture of nitrocellulose and other compounds.
Maybe someone can clarify.

[TexasTornado]

Doesn't ammo already have to be shipped as an explosive? I'm not understanding what this changes.

Edited: helps if you read ALL of it. I'm picking up bad habits from all of the engineers I work with it appears.

I have a sign I occasionally put up which reads:

" Sometimes you have to just shoot the engineer and complete the Job"

Where did you get such a perfectly glorious sign??? I MUST have one!

[ScottDLS]

I am not sure of the definition of "wetted" nitrocellulose.
I assume that it is raw material for large quantities for commercial manufacturing of ammunition.
I also assume that it is different than smokeless powder, which is usually a mixture of nitrocellulose and other compounds.
Maybe someone can clarify.

Yes. That is the case. So smokeless powder was never going to be controlled as HE, but the raw material component wetted nitrocellulose was going to require HE handling. Now they backed off.

[Mike S]

I am not sure of the definition of "wetted" nitrocellulose.
I assume that it is raw material for large quantities for commercial manufacturing of ammunition.
I also assume that it is different than smokeless powder, which is usually a mixture of nitrocellulose and other compounds.
Maybe someone can clarify.

Yes. That is the case. So smokeless powder was never going to be controlled as HE, but the raw material component wetted nitrocellulose was going to require HE handling. Now they backed off.

This.

If I understood correctly from the two linked articles, "wetted" nitrocellulose is safer to ship, store, & handle. This is why it hasn't been required to adhere to the same standards as high explosives. HE must be stored according to compatibility (ie, blasting caps & other detonators not stored in the same bunker as C-4/TNT/etc); storage bunkers must meet certain requirements to prevent a chain reaction if one blows up; limits on net explosive weight in each bunker to prevent said chain reaction; security & access control measures; record keeping; etc ad nauseum.

However, once the water or alcohol that 'wets' the nitrocellulose is evaporated off, it regains it's HE properties. From what I gather from the articles & the embedded retraction Andy posted, the ATF is concerned that the looser controls of wetted nitrocellulose (ie, storage and accountability of stock) pose a risk of some threat group getting ahold of some for nefarious purposes. I'm going to guess there will be a middle ground met somewhere that addresses both the industry's needs with the government's need to prevent bad people from doing very bad things.

[anygunanywhere]

This just illustrates how some fedgov official can snap their fingers and impose their tyrannical schemes on the citizens.

We are so close to losing our 2A freedoms to fedgov rules that you can hear the jackboots hitting the ground.

[Pawpaw]

Bearing Arms responds:

http://bearingarms.com/bob-o/2016/09/01 ... ampaign=nl