[Mark Tyson]

A recent thread in the rifles section about an anti-materiel rifle piqued my interest. I want to know more about destructive devices. What is the legal definition of a destructive device? Are explosives legal? How many of you guys and gals own these things? Please tell me all you know or point me to where I can find out more.

[Mark Tyson]

http://ia.imdb.com/media/imdb/01/I/17/17/12m.jpg

"Anybody? Anybody? Bueller?"

[bountyhunter]

I want to know more about destructive devices. What is the legal definition of a destructive device? Are explosives legal?

No offense, but I think it is a tribute to the intelligence of the board members in general that this one went unanswered.

[keederdag]

I know a little about destuctive devices. Yes you can own them, and they make machine gun's seem cheap. I know that HE rounds of any type are regestered on a single round basis AKA "the explosive trane" meaning cartrige. I think law's differ from state to state on explosives themselves however. I know and have known several guy's who had licences to own/use explosives. The seemed to pretty well get whatever they wanted. I have seen C-4, Plastique, det-cord, and dynomite with a high % of nito in private hands (and used for fun) I never really asked too many questions because these things make me REEEAAAALLY nervouse. I used to shoot with a bunch of guy's including Mike Dillon, before he got kinda snobish, that had a yearly machine gun shoot, where they would use 70% nitro dynomite as targets. And blow up old cars, ect. with explosives. Many of these guy's were cop's, so I'm not sure what came from where exactly. The shoot's pretty much ended after some crazoid militia group appeared in the local new's doing the same stuff, but in (PREPERATION ?) So it's been a while.:)

[Mark Tyson]

For the record: I AM NOT THINKING ABOUT BUILDING EXPLOSIVES. I AM NOT THAT STUPID.

I was just curious about those big caliber rifles - really big ones, like the South African anti-material gun over in the rifles section. I want to know what constitutes a destructive device. Something bigger then .50 caliber, other than a shotgun? What about a .600 nitro express? I'm just curious. Do you register it with the ATF?

Didn't mean to alarm anybody. Sorry.

[Zak Smith]

Two words: "agricultural purposes."

[zahc]

good questions, all.:)

[Triad]

When it comes to rifles I think the difference between a DD and non DD is whether or not BATFE considers it to have a "sporting" use. I think any of the military rounds bigger than .50 are considered to be DD's.

.600 Nitro is not a DD but those 20mm rifles are.

[Quartus]

The 20mms are destructive devices because they use an explosive warhead, I believe.


Mark, there are legal ways to own such things under Federal law, but some states don't see it that way. Just like full auto. Persons with proper training can be licensed to use explosives, and buying and possessing boom makers goes with being licensed to use them, of course. The exact laws differ from state to state, of course.

[CleverNickname]

The 20mms are destructive devices because they use an explosive warhead, I believe.

You can get 20mm shells with solid projectiles, no explosives. Then they're not NFA-regulated. Of course the firearm is still regulated. IIRC, the magic number is 1/4 oz of HE. Any more and it's NFA, less and it's not. FWIW, .50 BMG Raufoss rounds have less than 1/4 oz of HE, so they're not NFA-regulated.

[ACP230]

The ATF website is clunky and hard to get around on, but you can find the legal definition of "Destructive Devices" there.

Some are C&R weapons and are listed on the C&R list, also posted on the ATF website.

Small Arms Review has an occasional article on really big stuff.
Dan Shea's book "Machine Gun Dealer's Bible" may also have some info for you. The book is sold by Moose Lake Publishing which also publishes SAR.

HTH.

[labgrade]

Everything is legal - seriously. You only have to jump through the hoops & pay yer fee. The cost of some things are way prohibitive.

That's fed law. States - YMMV.