DOYLINE, Louisiana USA — In a powder mill in the piney woods of northern Louisiana, workers of the GOEX Black Powder plant carry on an American tradition, grinding out granules of black powder. GOEX, Inc. is the only producer of black powder in North America.

Their predecessor, E.I. Dupont, was once the largest powder producer in America, and several of the mill's workers are third-generation powder hands themselves, bringing the expertise and experience of their fathers and grandfathers to the process.

GOEX, Inc. has began the process to attempt to have black powder reclassified from an category 1.1 explosive to a category 1.3 explosive, the same class as smokeless powder.  As a class 1.1 product, black powder is closely regulated by the Bureau of Alchohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATF).  While class 1.3 materials are regulated to assure safe handling, they do not fall under the same regulatory scrutiny, record keeping and review.

According to the GOEX website, they "have established a clear scientific basis that black powder, especially sporting powders, are no more hazardous than smokeless powder, and should be regulated similarly."  In order to undertake this process, they are attempting to establish just how much scrutiny from regulators and transportation agencies black powder has generated, along with the costs incurred by consumers, dealers and distributors.

GOEX is asking for individuals to share with them how the 1.1 classification of black powder has imposed a hardship or increased the costs of purchasing and shipping the product.  They are seeking individuals who may have given up their license, or had their federal permit revoked due to black powder regulations.

If you would like to read more about this or contribute your story to their cause, visit the GOEX website.

Website: http://www.goexpowder.com/

04-27-2008 10:57 PM  #1
Just Jerry Freeform rockets advocate   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 555	Re: America’s black powder producer seeking regulatory change I am interested to hear they feel, "Class 1.3 material is regulated to assure safe handling, but does not fall under close BATFE scrutiny, record keeping, or review." If true, then rocket propellant which at its worst hazard class is 1.3, but typically receives 1.4 by test or exemption, could possibly NOT be subject to "close BATFE scrutiny, record keeping, or review." Just Jerry

04-28-2008 12:34 AM  #2
SpartaChris Certified Level Two   Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 51	Re: America’s black powder producer seeking regulatory change What are the odds they get the NRA on their side?

04-28-2008 01:04 AM  #3
Bayourat Level 3   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 25	Re: America’s black powder producer seeking regulatory change I ordered 4lbs. of Goex 4F BLack Powder and it shipped as a 4.1 flammable solid. When did it get considered a 1.1 explosive?

04-28-2008 01:12 AM  #4
shockwaveriderz Model Rocket Historian   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 18	Re: America’s black powder producer seeking regulatory change if the BATFE had been closely watching 1.4 rocketry explosive stuff , half of us would be in gitmo by now. terry dean

04-28-2008 08:34 AM  #5
Anthony Cesaroni Certifiable   Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 49	Re: America’s black powder producer seeking regulatory change Quote: I ordered 4lbs. of Goex 4F BLack Powder and it shipped as a 4.1 flammable solid. When did it get considered a 1.1 explosive? Did it come in individual 1 lb cans under a DOT exemption? Otherwise it’s 1.1D. http://nordics.orica.com/N...lackPowderenAug2006_.pdf Anthony J. Cesaroni President/CEO Cesaroni Technology/Cesaroni Aerospace http://www.cesaronitech.com/ (941) 360-3100 x101 Sarasota (905) 887-2370 x222 Toronto

04-28-2008 08:36 AM  #6
Just Jerry Freeform rockets advocate   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 555	Re: America’s black powder producer seeking regulatory change Quote: I ordered 4lbs. of Goex 4F BLack Powder and it shipped as a 4.1 flammable solid. When did it get considered a 1.1 explosive? That's a small quantity shipping exemption offered by DOT. If you ship a rail car full of the stuff it ships as 1.1. Just Jerry

04-28-2008 01:32 PM  #7
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2135	Re: America’s black powder producer seeking regulatory change It should be noted that even if black powder is reclassified as a 1.3, it would only impact the area of transportation and shipping. A federal explosives permit would still be required for purchase as well as approved storage for any use other than in black powder historical guns.

04-28-2008 11:28 PM  #8
Just Jerry Freeform rockets advocate   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 555	Re: America’s black powder producer seeking regulatory change Quote: It should be noted that even if black powder is reclassified as a 1.3, it would only impact the area of transportation and shipping. A federal explosives permit would still be required for purchase as well as approved storage for any use other than in black powder historical guns. Maybe THAT'S what YOUR reply should be to their feedback request. Ask they ask that any use allowed to go 1.3 also be exempt from treatment as a detonable material (which it is not) and as "intended to explode", since both guns and cannons (and rockets) have a big hole on one end and the contents are not "constrained". Just Jerry

04-29-2008 09:31 AM  #9
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2135	Re: America’s black powder producer seeking regulatory change Quote: Maybe THAT'S what YOUR reply should be to their feedback request. Does this mean you've already sent yours? If not, ...

04-29-2008 11:12 AM  #10
UncleVanya   Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 1425	Re: America’s black powder producer seeking regulatory change On a related topic - I noticed that GOEX offers two black powder lines: Regular and Express. The Express stuff sounds like a marketing thing but I was curious if anyone had tried any. Here's the marketing text from the site: Quote: GOEX Express Black Powder is a high-performance, premium black powder made of a careful mix of the finest quality materials manufactured to rigorous and precise specifications for cleaner burning and softer fouling performance. Designed for competitive shooters, GOEX Express provides very high velocities for extreme accuracy at long distances with a low standard of deviation. GOEX Express Black Powder is available in Fg, FFg and FFFg and granulated to provide optimum performance in metallic cartridges and shotgun shells.

04-29-2008 11:16 AM  #11
UncleVanya   Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 1425	Re: America’s black powder producer seeking regulatory change Quote: ...should be to their feedback request. Is anyone else bothered by the fact that they only accept mailed comments?

04-29-2008 11:38 AM  #12
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2135	Re: America’s black powder producer seeking regulatory change Quote: Is anyone else bothered by the fact that they only accept mailed comments? That should keep the Internet kooks out.

04-29-2008 12:24 PM  #13
Just Jerry Freeform rockets advocate   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 555	Re: America’s black powder producer seeking regulatory change Quote: Is anyone else bothered by the fact that they only accept mailed comments? I bypassed that by emailing to one of the principals. Jerry

04-29-2008 09:42 PM  #14
Aphyle Hot HCl and rubber @ AM   Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 103	Re: America’s black powder producer seeking regulatory change Quote: On a related topic - I noticed that GOEX offers two black powder lines: Regular and Express. The Express stuff sounds like a marketing thing but I was curious if anyone had tried any. Yes, I've tried some in my .45-70 reloads, and I noticed very little difference, in fact, almost negative. Muzzle velocity was higher than FFg, but lower than Goex Cartridge, and the standard deviation was higher for the Express. Doubt that this makes any genuine difference in an ejection charge. Some of the old school BPCR (black powder cartridge rifle) folks think that it is pretty much just marketing. That said, the powder actually looks like a more consistent grain size, but that may just be what I wanted to believe for the price premium of Express.