gunpowder under attack?

treefarmernc · August 1, 2009, 09:14 PM

Has anyone here heard any rumors of there being research done to limit the shelf life of gunpowder? I recently herd that certain organizations were trying to change the formula of gunpowder so that it can’t be stored for very long. This is just word of mouth though. I have not( as of yet) seen anything on the web.

**Tom Servo** · August 1, 2009, 09:19 PM

Urban legend.

The lineage of this thing goes back to the "expiring primer" myth that went around during the Clinton administration.

Myth: Ammunition companies, in cahoots with the Federal Government/New World Order/Space Zombies, were rumored to be making all primers in such a way that they would have a shelf-life of a few months.

Truth: Winchester shipped a batch of primers (Winclean, IIRC) that had a few duds. Somebody ran with the whole silly idea.

Scary thing is, I'd forgotten about the whole thing until about three months ago, when I was confronted with a panic-stricken guy who wanted to be sure the primers he was getting were not the "new" kind that would expire

The Internet: everything old is new again.

CortJestir · August 1, 2009, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Urban legend.

...and then some.

/thread

**Mike Irwin** · August 1, 2009, 09:31 PM

Yes, urban legend repeated here MANY times, and not just about gunpowder. Primers are also supposed to have chemical clocks in them to deaden them.

Unrealistic.

Since we've visited this topic many times in the past, and the answer is always the same, I'm going to close this.

August 1, 2009, 09:14 PM	#1
treefarmernc Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2009 Posts: 186	gunpowder under attack? Has anyone here heard any rumors of there being research done to limit the shelf life of gunpowder? I recently herd that certain organizations were trying to change the formula of gunpowder so that it can’t be stored for very long. This is just word of mouth though. I have not( as of yet) seen anything on the web. __________________ The mightiest oak in the forest was once only a little nut that stuck its ground.

August 1, 2009, 09:19 PM	#2
Tom Servo Staff Join Date: September 27, 2008 Location: Foothills of the Appalachians Posts: 13,059	Urban legend. The lineage of this thing goes back to the "expiring primer" myth that went around during the Clinton administration. Myth: Ammunition companies, in cahoots with the Federal Government/New World Order/Space Zombies, were rumored to be making all primers in such a way that they would have a shelf-life of a few months. Truth: Winchester shipped a batch of primers (Winclean, IIRC) that had a few duds. Somebody ran with the whole silly idea. Scary thing is, I'd forgotten about the whole thing until about three months ago, when I was confronted with a panic-stricken guy who wanted to be sure the primers he was getting were not the "new" kind that would expire The Internet: everything old is new again. __________________ Sometimes it’s nice not to destroy the world for a change. --Randall Munroe

August 1, 2009, 09:31 PM	#4
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Yes, urban legend repeated here MANY times, and not just about gunpowder. Primers are also supposed to have chemical clocks in them to deaden them. Unrealistic. Since we've visited this topic many times in the past, and the answer is always the same, I'm going to close this. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.