Many types of powder about to be banned in the E.U.

D

doghunter

New member
G'day from Australia.

A friend in England has advised me that many types of reloading powders are to be banned in Europe (The E.U.) due to environmental concerns about certain components in the propellant. Here is a link that alerted me for anybody that cares http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=130127

My concern is that Australia (and other parts of the planet) have aspiring bureaucrats that slavishly soak up this info and then introduce it locally as their own bill. The anti-shooting sports lobby (typically greenies) then jump on the bandwagon to push their agenda. Whatever happens in the E.U. seems to happen here a few years later.

Is this the next step drive a wedge into the shooting sports?

Regards * doghunter *
 
Sounds like a legitimate concern, given that anti-gunners will seize on about anything that will help doom our sport. If there is some sort of scientifically provable environmental damage from gunpowder, then the most likely strategy to fight a ban would be to put it into perspective with some facts about the minuscule use of such compounds relative to other nasty stuff like insecticides.

I have wondered, at times, what the effect on us humans is from breathing a lot of byproducts of burning gunpowder at matches. It's not something I think about much unless I get a snoot full of some particularly smelly smoke when the wind shifts in my direction.

I also wonder about the vapors from some gun cleaning products. Some have warnings, some don't. Do they have material safety data sheets on this stuff if you request it?

On the other hand, there are probably a lot of other things that pose more legitimate concerns in this modern world.
 
Did a little research

I did a little research on this a few years ago. The bulk of the hot gas produced from burning smokeless propellant is carbon dioxide. Mixed in with it is some hydrogen nitride and some water in the form of high pressure steam. There are also traces of nitric oxide , carbon and potassium - calcium salts from the buffers and restrainers. In the small quantities we inhale I have been told getting stuck behind a dirty diesel truck is worse.

Bore solvents on the other hand you don't want on your skin. Many manufacturers were forced to remove the nitro benzene from their products some time ago because that compound is a known carcinogen. There are a couple still around that use it but in reduced quantities.
 
A few years ago we had a tea party to get away from such nonsense. Maybe it's time for one in the EU.

Later
Dave
 
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If true

Dave Coots said:
A few years ago we had a tea party to get away from such nonsense. Maybe it's time for on in the EU.

Later
Dave
Click to expand...

all of this just goes to show that the people need to rule through the ballot box, and not career administrators.
 
Don't forget that the paranoid greenoid climatoids in your country are typically the people who extrapolate this type of stuff to push their own legislation. The ageing hippies of California spring to mind.

We never had the luxury of a tea party here in Australia, so what happens in the U.K. invariably finds it way down under.

I already heard that powder prices are tipped to rise substantially next year - could this be related?

* doghunter *
 
The smell of burnt gunpowder only makes me wistful for past times shooting and wishful for more...never seemed to have any other health effects
 
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