Re: Tannerite Makes Pumpkins go bye-bye!
Not trying to hijack the thread, but I was wondering if anyone here can shed some light on Tannerite for me. I have heard / read mixed things about the legalities behind it. There are a few shops here that sell it, and I have heard people shooting it out in the desert before. I had mentioned to a friend that I was thinking about getting some and he sent me the info posted below. My question is, can Joe Q Public legally buy this stuff, mix it up, shoot it and have it detonate legally? I would like to try it some time, but don't want to risk anything by doing so. Sorry if this has been covered before, I just thought I would throw the question out here since it follows the topic of this thread.
Thanks for any and all input.
<span style="color: #FF0000">http://le.utah.gov/~code/TITLE76/htm/76_10_030600.htm</span>
76-10-306. Explosive, chemical, or incendiary device and parts –– Definitions –– Persons exempted –– Penalties.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Explosive, chemical, or incendiary device" means:
(i) dynamite and all other forms of high explosives, including water gel, slurry, military C-4 (plastic explosives), blasting agents to include <span style="color: #FF0000">nitro-carbon-nitrate, ammonium nitrate,</span> fuel oil mixtures, cast primers and boosters, R.D.X., P.E.T.N., electric and nonelectric blasting caps, exploding cords commonly called detonating cord, detcord, or primacord, picric acid explosives, T.N.T. and T.N.T. mixtures, nitroglycerin and nitroglycerin mixtures, <span style="color: #FF0000">or any other chemical mixture intended to explode with fire or force; </span>
(ii) any explosive bomb, grenade, missile, or similar device; and
(iii) any incendiary bomb, grenade, fire bomb, chemical bomb, or similar device, including any device, except kerosene lamps, if criminal intent has not been established, which consists of or includes a breakable container including a flammable liquid or compound and a wick composed of any material which, when ignited, is capable of igniting the flammable liquid or compound or any breakable container which consists of, or includes a chemical mixture that explodes with fire or force and can be carried, thrown, or placed.
(b) "Explosive, chemical, or incendiary device" does not include rifle, pistol, or shotgun ammunition, reloading components, or muzzleloading equipment.
(c) "Explosive, chemical, or incendiary parts" means any substances or materials or combinations which have been prepared or altered for use in the creation of an explosive, chemical, or incendiary device. These substances or materials include:
(i) timing device, clock, or watch which has been altered in such a manner as to be used as the arming device in an explosive;
(ii) pipe, end caps, or metal tubing which has been prepared for a pipe bomb; and
(iii) mechanical timers, mechanical triggers, chemical time delays, electronic time delays, or commercially made or improvised items which, when used singly or in combination, may be used in the construction of a timing delay mechanism, booby trap, or activating mechanism for any explosive, chemical, or incendiary device.
(d) "Explosive, chemical, or incendiary parts" does not include rifle, pistol, or shotgun ammunition, or any signaling device customarily used in operation of railroad equipment.
(2) The provisions in Subsections (3) and (6) do not apply to:
(a) any public safety officer while acting in his official capacity transporting or otherwise handling explosives, chemical, or incendiary devices;
(b) any member of the armed forces of the United States or Utah National Guard while acting in his official capacity;
(c) any person possessing a valid permit issued under the provisions of Uniform Fire Code, Article 77, or any employee of the permittee acting within the scope of his employment;
(d) any person possessing a valid license as an importer, wholesaler, or display operator under the provisions of Sections 11-3-3.5 and 53-7-223; and
(e) any person or entity possessing or controlling an explosive, chemical, or incendiary device as part of its lawful business operations.
<span style="color: #FF0000">(3) Any person is guilty of a second degree felony who, under circumstances not amounting to a violation of Title 76, Chapter 10, Part 4, Weapons of Mass Destruction, knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly possesses or controls an explosive, chemical, or incendiary device. </span>
(4) Any person is guilty of a first degree felony who, under circumstances not amounting to a violation of Title 76, Chapter 10, Part 4, Weapons of Mass Destruction, knowingly or intentionally:
(a) uses or causes to be used an explosive, chemical, or incendiary device in the commission of or an attempt to commit a felony;
(b) injures another or attempts to injure another in his person or property through the use of an explosive, chemical, or incendiary device; or
(c) transports, possesses, distributes, or sells any explosive, chemical, or incendiary device in a secure area established pursuant to Section 76-8-311.1, 76-8-311.3, 76-10-529, or 78A-2-203.
(5) Any person who, under circumstances not amounting to a violation of Title 76, Chapter 10, Part 4, Weapons of Mass Destruction, knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly removes or causes to be removed or carries away any explosive, chemical, or incendiary device from the premises where the explosive, chemical, or incendiary device is kept by the lawful user, vendor, transporter, or manufacturer without the consent or direction of the lawful possessor is guilty of a second degree felony.
(6) Any person who, under circumstances not amounting to a violation of Title 76, Chapter 10, Part 4,Weapons of Mass Destruction, knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly possesses any explosive, chemical, or incendiary parts is guilty of a felony of the third degree.
<span style="font-weight: bold">More:</span>
Tannerite
(Not to be confused with the copper oxide mineral Tenorite.)
Tannerite is the trademark for a patented ammonium nitrate-based binary explosive used primarily as a target for firearms practice. Tannerite is unique in that it is exceptionally stable when subjected to less severe forces such as a hammer blow or being dropped. It is supplied as two powders which are combined to produce the explosive.
Uses
Tannerite is intended to detonate when shot by a high-powered rifle. Small caliber rimfire or slow moving pistol ammunition will not initiate a detonation.
Tannerite is used by shooting clubs to provide explosions for their participants in large-scale weaponry demonstrations or other events. Ordinarily, firing high powered machine guns and other rifles will not produce much more than sound upon impact of the round on the target. With reactive targets, these shooting clubs can provide a movie-like experience such as exploding cars.
It is recommended to use 0.5-pound (0.23 kg) of the mixed composition for targets, as "larger amounts may cause a larger than safe detonation, and smaller amounts may not provide the marksman with the optimal blast showing that the target has been hit".
Tannerite detonations occur at a very high velocity, producing a large explosion and cloud. It may be useful for persons who are firing at long ranges; in this scenario, a long-range rifle shooter emplaces targets, retreats to his firing position, and fires. The shooter does not wish to have to walk down range to see if he
It also has uses as a general explosive that can be sold, transported, and stored <span style="color: #FF0000">(before mixing)</span> in the United States without any special permits.
Manufacture and sale
Tannerite is sold in pre-sized quantities for target practice, avalanche control and police use, as well as by the pound.
Since the two components are not explosive until mixed, they can legally be purchased in the USA without a license, as combining the components constitutes manufacturing explosives. Once mixed, the components are an explosive and it is illegal to transport these materials on public roads in a vehicle without proper insurance, packaging and placarding. Storage of the mixed Tannerite is also prohibited unless stored in approved magazines.
Tannerite consists of two components, a catylist or sensitizer and a bulk material or oxidizer. The oxidizer is a mixture of 85% 200-mesh ammonium nitrate and 15% ammonium perchlorate, while the catylist is a mixture of 90% 600-mesh dark flake aluminium powder, 5% 325-mesh Titanium sponge and 5% 200-mesh zirconium hydroxide. Simpler mixtures of ammonium nitrate and aluminium powder are also known to work, but are less sensitive and harder to reliably detonate.
With the pre-sized quantities, the company provides non-sparking polyethylene mixing bottles. As oxidizers and combustibles, the unmixed components still have shipping restrictions. The company's website does not disclose their international shipping policy.
In the news
On January 14th 2008, a man in Red Wing, Minnesota was accused of detonating 100 lb (45 kg). of Tannerite inside the bed of a dump truck by shooting it with a .50 caliber rifle from 300 yards (270 m) away. The ensuing blast could be felt at Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant, and officials from the FBI, BATF, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, US Postal Service, and the US Coast Guard became involved, along with local law enforcement agencies.
The man, Brian Wesley Childs, was arrested for gross disregard for human life and destruction of property with an explosive or incendiary. Childs has since pleaded guilty to detonating an explosive device and unlawful possession of components for explosives, for which he was fined $2,583 and sentenced to three years' probation; the charge of disregard for human life was dismissed. [/color]
