Aww no boom!

I believe it must be shot with a bullet moving at a minimum 2200 fps.

http://www.tannerite.com/faq.php

I believe you need a minimum velocity of 2000 fps to achieve KABOOM.

Somebody was advertising a similar product which was sensitive to even a .22.

I wonder whatever happened to that? Maybe the distributor found out making the substance more sensitive was not such a good idea?

I love watching Tannerite videos, but my days of high-powered chemistry are long gone. I still have ten fingers.

Biggest two problems with Ammonium Nitrite and Aluminum powder is not enough velocity -- 2200 fps is "recommended" but I find 2500+ much more reliable. and mixing it up too far in advance of shooting it -- once you mix it the compounds start slowly reacting to the oxygen in the air and each other that reduces its sensitivity.

Its why it has near zero terrorist potential.

They make a "Goliath" brand that is usable with .22lr (~1200 fps) which I've found most entertaining with CCI mini-mags. I'm not sure what the third component is in this mixture, but I suspect it might be nitromethane, which also makes it fuse ignitable, although the degradation with time doesn't change.

This mixture is a staple of Hollywood special effects, especially when setup near diesel fuel for a nice flash because of its safety in handling as far as explosive mixes go.

I've shot what I think were tannerrite exploding targets but you had to hit them dead center or no boom.

I've shot what I think were tannerrite exploding targets but you had to hit them dead center or no boom.

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That too, if you just "wing" it the stuff spills out without detonating. we generally setup a 2" or 4" (depending on the target size) reactive (steel) target near the mix to get sighted in with before shooting the mix.

Its great fun, but rather expensive, especially if you have many "duds".

Sportsman's Guide currently has a 3-pack of 1lb Targets for $20 which is about as cheap as I've ever found it. My friends from California love shooting this stuff when they visit

If you can find the right sized flimsy plastic containers you can cut it to half lb packs after mixing. But it has a detonation velocity of ~2500 fps so you don't want anything more substantial than what its shipped in lest shrapnel come back at you!

You might get a better response from a magnum handgun with plastic bottles plumb full of colored water.
Just make sure they are full up to the brim.
Water isn't compressible and when hit with a decent force will usually blow the bottle dramatically apart.
Just a thought.

"mixing it up too far in advance of shooting it -- once you mix it the compounds start slowly reacting to the oxygen in the air and each other that reduces its sensitivity."

Cautionary: The "regs" require that binary explosives have to be mixed and used on-site, which precludes any time interval for the mixture to react with either the air or within itself while being stored elsewhere.

I also think it's illegal to mix more than ten pounds of the stuff. But that's for me to think and you to find out fer shore if that's what "some other dude I heard about" is doing.

Maybe some mods ought to go over this thread and delete some posts which might imply some kind of illegal activities, yes?

No?

Terry

REF:

http://www.ammoland.com/2012/05/atf-comments-on-binary-exploding-targets/#axzz3Sc1dgozs

In addition, a Federal explosives license or permit is required for the transport of explosive materials. Therefore, a person must obtain a Federal explosives license or permit if they mix binary exploding targets and subsequently transport them to a shooting range or to any other location

For further information, please contact the Explosives Industry Programs Branch at [email protected] or 202-648-7120.

Read more: http://www.ammoland.com/2012/05/atf-comments-on-binary-exploding-targets/#ixzz3Sc1zCSPI
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
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OK, no problem here, but note the "Cautionary" salutation in my post. I also seem to recall that use of these things is limited to "theatrical purposes," if I recall correctly. But I could be wrong on that and it's up to you to "find out fer shore."

Wisecracking about it, that implies that you'd better be video-ing the process while you're igniting the stuff.

My point is that I've seen some vids where apparently illegal activities are going on, like "25 lb of Tannerite in a Chevy Nova!"

I don't think the Tannerite folks have the responsibility to advise you of all the laws (Federal and Local). Maybe they go over it in their instructions or something, but I never bought any of it so I don't know fer shore.

I want to clearly point out that I'm no expert on binaries, just relating stuff I picked up on it here and there without [Citations Needed] like a Wiki article, and it's up to you to "find out fer shore."

Just "Cautionary," like "Don't run with scissors."

Terry

You might get a better response from a magnum handgun with plastic bottles plumb full of colored water.
Just make sure they are full up to the brim.

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Yep We have a once a year "zombie" shootout with milk and soda jugs filled with colored water. Also those plastic coffee containers such as Folgers work great. Hit them dead center and the lid goes up about ten feet in the air! My family and two others get together and we have fun doing this. Afterwards we eat BBQ! Good fun!

The comments regarding Tannerite reaction efficiency and bullet velocity are correct. One thing to watch out for with ammonium nitrate is the fact that it will absorb moisture fairly quickly in humid conditions. Also make sure the sensitizer is well mixed. Anything you can do to hold the container together will help ensure complete ignition. We use duct tape. Always respect the instructions regarding shrapnel, maximum allowable quantities, and recommended safe shooting distances.

"mixing it up too far in advance of shooting it -- once you mix it the compounds start slowly reacting to the oxygen in the air and each other that reduces its sensitivity."

Cautionary: The "regs" require that binary explosives have to be mixed and used on-site, which precludes any time interval for the mixture to react with either the air or within itself while being stored elsewhere.

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Certainly true that once mixed it is an explosive and needs special consideration for transport, but its all to easy to mix it up at the start of a session for a "grand finale" and have too much time go by before its decided to shoot it.

It was mixed and shook while we were walking downrange

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That is usually the way I do it too. Seems the root of your problems was from using a pistol round without enough velocity.

As I said the "Goliath" brand has a third ingredient to increase the sensitivity making about 1200 fps set it off which is in the range of many handgun rounds. It was gratifyingly loud when set off with CCI mini-mags from a 10/22 rifle.

I really like putting empty 2-liter plastic bottles on soft ground -- hitting right at the bottom where they sit on the dirt sends them 20-30 feet in the air and they hold up for a fair number of shots with the usual limit being when they've flown over the backstop.