Everything You Need to Know about Tannerite
Learn more about the history of Tannerite, whether it's legal, and some notable instances of things going wrong...
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Tannerite is a (mostly) legal explosive that is available online and in gun stores across the United States.
How does it work? How much does it cost? What does mostly legal mean? I’ll answer all those questions and more today, as we go over everything you need to know about Tannerite.
Table of Contents
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What is Tannerite?
Tannerite is a binary explosive (there’s two parts to it) that detonates whenever something with a velocity at or over 2000 feet per second strikes it.
Fortunately, it is also extremely stable and will not explode if struck with something heavy, or if it gets dropped, tossed, or abused. It cannot be detonated by fuse or electric charge.
Tannerite is actually a brand name. There are other binary explosives available, like Sonic Boom and Sure Shot.
These days, Tannerite is commonly used as a universal name for any commercial binary explosive. It’s kind of like how all cotton swabs get called Q-Tips and all facial tissues get called Kleenex.
Technically, when you buy Tannerite you aren’t buying an explosive of any kind. You are buying two separate compounds.
Tannerite does not legally become an explosive until the two powders are mixed (you’ll see why this is important soon). The powders are a combination of oxidizers and a fuel. Most commonly, the fuel is aluminum powder and the oxidizers are ammonium nitrate and ammonium perchlorate.
Tannerite History
Tannerite got the name from its inventor, Daniel Tanner. In 1996, Tanner began to experiment with creating binary explosives after turning 21 and receiving a federal explosives license (as one does).
The experiments were a success, and Tanner named his creation Tannerite. In 2001, he received a patent for his mixture of compounds.
One of the main reasons for its success was its use on early firearm-focused YouTube channels.
I’m not alone in listing my first exposure to anything related to Tannerite to FPSRussia. The mad, not-so-Russian, guntuber rose to fame by shooting guns and blowing stuff up.
Tannerite wasn’t an overnight success, but it certainly grew in popularity.
Along the way, Tannerite became a popular target type with recreational shooters. Sadly, whenever something becomes popular, some of our less-intelligent brethren use it irresponsibly, and it gains negative attention.
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Is Tannerite Legal in the U.S.?
It seems wild that explosives like this wouldn’t be regulated; however, according to the ATF, “Persons manufacturing explosives for their own personal, non-business use only (e.g., personal target practice) are not required to have a Federal explosives license or permit.”
The two compounds separately are not considered explosives by themselves, so you can purchase them without a federal explosives license. When you mix the two compounds, you are manufacturing explosives for personal use.
That means you can’t sell it. Using binary explosives for business is not illegal, but you will need a federal explosives license or permit for that.
There is also some discourse online on the subject of using binary explosives in YouTube videos that are monetized. This all started when the ATF raided popular Youtuber FPSRussia’s ranch, on the grounds that he was using the explosives to generate money via his content.
No charges were ever pressed, and the sheriff of the county where FPSRussia resides said the raid was in connection to the murder of FPS Russia’s business partner (which is a whole other thing).
Other channels have monetized videos featuring Tannerite, and the issue hasn’t resurfaced publicly. All that said, if you want to start a YouTube channel with Tannerite, I’d consult a lawyer who’s savvy on explosives law.
Is Tannerite Legal in Your State?
While federally legal in most cases, a number of states have introduced legislation regarding Tannerite and other binary explosives.
- Maryland led the way as the first state to regulate tannerite. In 2012, the state government passed a law that required a license to use binary targets, effectively eliminating their use by recreational shooters.
- Ohio allows citizens to own the unmixed compounds, but mixing and shooting the targets without a permit can be a second-degree felony.
- New York introduced a law in 2020 regulating explosives, including Tannerite and similar binary explosives. This law requires a permit to purchase, store, transport, and use Tannerite.
- Vermont classifies Tannerite as a firework, and you’re required to have a firework permit to use it.
- Louisiana classifies Tannerite as an explosive subject to state laws governing its use. While it’s legal to use and shoot, you can’t have more than five pounds of it without a license. Tannerite is also subject to local ordinances and noise curfews.
Where is Tannerite Banned?
Before shooting on public land ensure its permitted and legal to do so.
The U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management have widespread bans that cover much of the western United States. Always check for applicable regulations before using Tannerite.
Notable Incidents of Tannerite Gone Wrong
My goal isn’t to discourage Tannerite use; it’s to encourage the safe use of Tannerite. You should know that Tannerite has started numerous fires, caused injuries, and even resulted in deaths.
In one case, an eight-year-old boy died after an adult stuffed Tannerite in an oven. In another, a gender-reveal party took the life of a 56-year-old woman. One bachelor party resulted in the death of a man standing behind the shooter.
In Georgia, a man made the foolhardy decision to use three pounds of Tannerite to blow up a lawn mower. He stood a mere 25 yards away, and the explosion threw a piece of shrapnel fast enough to remove his leg below the knee.
In Arizona, the Sawmill Fire started when a Tannerite target was used as part of a gender reveal. After exploding, the compound started a nearly 47,000-acre fire that cost 8.2 million dollars to stop.
Luckily, no one was hurt, but the shooter was hit with a massive bill and five years of probation.
In addition to the explosion hazard, Tannerite is toxic. Don’t leave it where kids or animals can eat it.
If you fear you may be unable to safely use explosives, I’ll give you a pro tip: don’t play with explosives.
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To safely use Tannerite, never try to blow up something that could create shrapnel. This means no vehicles, lawnmowers, appliances, glass, or anything else that might cause dangerous fragmentation.
If you want something fun to blow up, stick to watermelons, easter eggs full of chalk, and piles of dirt.
A general rule is to place any target that weighs 4 ounces or more at least 100 yards away. Any targets larger than a pound needs to be set at least 200 yards away. You should really never use more than two pounds per target.
Never use Tannerite or any other binary explosive in an area with a high fire risk. They can and have started wildfires, and you don’t want to be responsible for that.
Finally, you should wear ear and eye protection whenever you use Tannerite.
What’s the Point of Tannerite?
Tannerite is generally used for entertainment. The only serious purpose I can think of for the everyday shooter is long range shooting.
When shooting extreme distances with rounds like .338 Lapua and .50 BMG, Tannerite lets you know when you hit your target.
Then again, one of the great things about America is you don’t need a reason to want something.
Tannerite is just one of those things that’s fun to shoot. Outside of the safety considerations, remember that explosives are absurdly loud, create a cloud of smoke, and can shake the ground – so be nice to your neighbors. Let them know you are gonna be blowing stuff up.
This could help avoid calls to the police. If you use a public range that allows the use of Tannerite, remember to be safe with other shooters and clean up your mess.
Final Thoughts
Tannerite is a good way to spice up a boring range day. After a solid day of training and target practice, it can be good to unwind and blow something up.
Just remember to stay legal, stay safe, and have fun with it!
Have you ever used Tannerite? Let us know in the comments. Got more legal questions? Find out What You Need To Know About Self-Defense Shootings, according to an attorney!
Latest Updates
- September 2026: Removed sections, reorganized.
- August 2026: Full rewrite