ATF Makes Ammunition Error, works on Correctionhttp://www.ammoland.com/2016/09/atf-makes-ammunition-error-works-correction/#axzz4JIrjaiCCSeptember 2, 2016
Dean Weingarten
In June of 2016, the ATF announced that nitrocellulose, including nitrocellulose wetted with water or alcohol, would be considered a high explosive. This change in regulation was simply announced in the June ATF EXPLOSIVES Industry Newsletter, without a comment period or any previous consideration.
This change had a potentially devastating effect on ammunition manufacturers and manufacturers of smokeless gunpowder. If the ruling was upheld, it would have required enormous changes in gunpowder manufacture, making ammunition significantly more expensive, and likely halting the manufacture of smokeless gunpowder for a considerable period while changes to existing procedures were worked out, tested, and applied to the manufacturing process.
Astute people in the industry noticed and started to sound the alarm. It is not surprising that people are on the edge of alarm during the final months of the Obama administration, as the administration has shown an alarming tendency to ignore both Congress and the courts.
The ATF sought to put the issue to rest yesterday , 31 August. It issued an update stating that the status of previously authorized industry oractices will not be affected for some period. From the update:
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