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rolph 3 days ago

blackpowder is just barely chemistry, more like engineering.

carbon, sulphur, and potassium nitrate, in a particular ratio.

potassium nitrate is watched, and reported in large quantities, or particular form, but can be manufactured by most people that can follow a recipe.

regulating the propellant cant stop it from being made.

also someone really didnt think it through by regulating "receivers"

they regulated what is most often the easiest part to manufacture. the core parts [barrel, bolt, chamber] are difficult to build, require tech to build from stock, and are sold off the shelf, while receiver needs 4473 as if it was a fully functional firearm, and that is the part that can be built, from a 2x4 or a billet of material, depending how long you want it to last.

mothballed 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

Black powder guns, at least ones of antique design (but modern production), are federally ~unregulated already anyways. A 6 year old in North Dakota could order one mailed right now to his house, no background checks, right off the internet -- legally.

There is also the "felon carry" as its called late 19th century black powder percussion pistols, you can also order off the internet, regardless of criminal history and with no scrutiny of the chain of custody.

codedokode 3 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Making a bullet is definitely more difficult than printing a plastic gun handle (you need the bullet itself, and the cartridge fit it perfectly), and you have a non-zero chance to lose some parts of the body if you make a mistake.

noxer 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

Lead melting is not difficult. The brass case you can just collect used ones. The primer would be harder to make (you can buy them online ofc) but with access to fireworks it is possible with no knowledge of chemistry and no realistic risk of losing body parts.

The guy who killed Shinzo Abe didn't need any of these things and still shot him.

themafia 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

I invite you to examine the construction of a shotgun shell.

Good luck banning that in any meaningful form.

linksnapzz 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Sigh. None of the ammunition used in modern (i.e. made in the past 125 years) uses black powder propellant.

rolph 3 days ago | parent [-]

black powder is cheap and easy to make, its also dirty, slow expanding, very smokey. but when there is no powder available, blackpowder is the most expedient thing.

its also low gas pressure so if you are manufacturing from tentative material, you really should load with black powder, and use enough that it wont squib.

there are a few videos still around, where people load with smokeless powder in a musket, or muzzle loader, instead of blackpowder.

this will blow your barrel open.