Note A - For unknown reasons Alliant obscures supplier information and compliance documents, making their sources of propellent difficult to determine. We assume the majority of the propellent packaged by Alliant is still contract-manfactured at Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RAAP), now operated by BAE Systems Ordnance Systems Inc. BAE is currently contracted to operate RAAP through 31 Dec 2026
Note B - Vectran single base powders are produced on a line that also manufactures double base products so Vectran lists it as containing 1-2% nitroglycerin.
Note C - Burn rate charts are relative among the powders listed and do not corelate between different publishers. In other words, a powder listed as #20 on one chart is not equivalent to one listed as #20 on a different chart. Also, none of the relative burn rate charts take into consideration brisance, QEX (heat of explosion), transition limits, etc. See note D
Note D - Some powders produced by the same manufacturer are retailed under different brand names and are exactly the same, e.g., some Lovex and Shooters World are exactly the same product. Only assume 2 powders are exactly the same if you have original manufacturers documentation to this effect. Even then, always start with a lower charge and work up. Manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers change constantly and what was originally exact same powders may change. (RE: Accurate 2230 and 2230C.)
Note E - The Small Arms Ammunition Database expends great effort to maintain accurate information. However, the ammunition component sector is subject to unique factors that sometimes make accurate, timely information difficult to obtain. Some of these factors include;
Political consideration - For a myriad of reasons sometimes suppliers do not want either the source or destination of their products to be known and deliberately obfuscate information Two examples of this are Alliant in the US and Thales in Australia.
REACH directives - Because of REACH directives, manufacturers often change he source of their supplies or reformulate their products to avoid or comply with REACH directives.
Suppliers and manufacturers of small arms ammunition are subject to modern day economic forces the same as other sectors. Companies and operations are routinely bought, sold, consolidated, broken up and resold. Many of these transaction are confidential and are the only source of information about these deals are legally required statutory filings. The shear volume of filings make it easy to miss a quietly done transaction.
