Posted: 12/3/2008 11:33:40 AM EDT
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Ok, I know that I can only hold the specified amount of assembled rounds as dictated by my FAC.
I also know that there are health & safety requirements for an explosives licence with given quantities of Black Powder. I am assuming there is no maximum quantity of cases, heads, primers, (please correct me if I am wrong) but what about smokeless powder? My question is this: - Is there any maximum amount of smokeless powder that can be held before some sort of explosives licence is required? My planning is that once I am satisfied with a given load for each of my rifles I’d like to stock up on components as I find supply is very erratic. I want to be certain of course that I am not breaking any laws and have all the necessary licences and storage facilities. Cheers. |
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I have be led to believe that there was a limit set at 15kg of smokeless powder, but where that came from I don't know. An RFD told me that this is no longer a requirement of law but is used as a guide by many FLA's.
Heads are limited if they are classed as expanding heads.....in which case they are counted as a live round. May have got the powder it wrong.....anyone know any better? |
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No expanding ammo for me, so that's not an issue.
It does seem there might be a limit of sorts and I can't imagine they would let you hold any quantity as it could be bloody dangerous! Hmm, I may just have to check with my FLO, not vital right this minute but want to know what I can stock up on. |
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Having just looked on the Met Web-Site, it would seem only 5KG can be held without further licensing.
http://www.met.police.uk/firearms_licensing/explosives_applications.html Thought I'd share that with group. That's a little over 11lbs or 77,000 grains. |
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The explosive elements, typically smokeless powder and primer, are subject to controls under the Explosives Act, but only in large quantities. The Control of Explosives Regulations state that:
Statutory Instrument 1991 No. 1531 The Control of Explosives Regulations 1991 - Keeping explosives for private use 10.—(1) No person shall keep any explosive for private use except explosive of one or more of the following descriptions- (a) gunpowder; (b) smokeless powder; (c) any propellant made or adapted and also, in either case, intended exclusively for small arms ammunition; (d) an explosive listed in Schedule 1. (2) No person shall keep any explosive in any premises for private use except one or more of the following- (a) any quantity of fireworks which are kept for less than 14 days before being used and are kept in a safe and suitable place with all due precautions for public safety; (b) any quantity of fog signals kept by any railway operator for use on the railway if packaged so as to be in Division 1.4 and Compatibility Group S for the purposes of the 1983 Regulations; (c) such quantity of percussion caps or small arms ammunition or a mixture of them as will ensure that the quantity of explosives kept in the premises under this sub-paragraph, including any explosives kept by other persons, does not exceed 15 kilograms; (d) such quantity of gunpowder as will ensure that the quantity of explosives kept in the premises under this sub-paragraph, including any explosives kept by other persons, does not exceed 10 kilograms; and (e) such quantity of any explosive mentioned in paragraph (1) as will ensure that the quantity of explosives kept in the premises under this sub-paragraph, including any explosives kept by other persons, does not exceed 5 kilograms. Well that's me confused 
2 (c), (d) and (e) could all apply but appear to be contradictory....
I'd be cautious about referring to anything that has the word "guidance" in the title as it's the regulations that apply the limits, not guidance. 
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What explosives may be stored without registering premises?
One or more of the following: a. 10kg black powder; and b. No more than 5kgs of one of the following options - i. shooters’ powder (black or nitro - powders) ii. any explosive or combination of explosives listed in Schedule 1 of COER 1991. (See Annex A) iii. a combination of shooters powder and any one or more of the explosives listed in schedule 1 of COER 1991. (See Annex A) and also c. 15kg net explosive content or one or other of the following, or a combination of them – i. small arms ammunition ii. primers for use in small arms ammunition or percussion caps or; NB: whichever of the options in ‘c’ above you may select, the total explosive contents of the items must only ever add up to 15 kg. As a rule of thumb, .6 grain is usually used as the explosive content of primers and caps. If you are in doubt about the amount in particular primers, the manufacturer’s data sheets or your supplier should have the information. For those who will require to keep more than 5 kg of nitro-powders please see the note at the end of paragraph 8 above. 11. Registration of storage If you store greater than the stated amounts above you will need to register the place where you store your explosives. If you are only storing small arms ammunition, the application for registration and subsequent renewals are to be made to your local authority (usually the trading standards department or fire service). The registrations will normally be for one year at a time. This also applies to Registered Firearms Dealers (RFD’s) who sell only small arms ammunition and primers. There is no provision in MSER for a local authority to issue a registration to run co-terminously with the RFD certificate. If one or more of the explosives to be stored requires an explosive certificate then the application for registration and subsequent renewals are to be made to the police. These registrations may be granted to run co-terminously with the explosives certificate (e.g. for a maximum of 3 years) When an application for registration is made to store only smokeless powder, the application is to the police. The registration is granted for up to 3 years, as is any subsequent renewal. |
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Quoted:
The explosive elements, typically smokeless powder and primer, are subject to controls under the Explosives Act, but only in large quantities. The Control of Explosives Regulations state that: Statutory Instrument 1991 No. 1531 The Control of Explosives Regulations 1991 - Keeping explosives for private use 10.—(1) No person shall keep any explosive for private use except explosive of one or more of the following descriptions- (a) gunpowder; (b) smokeless powder; (c) any propellant made or adapted and also, in either case, intended exclusively for small arms ammunition; (d) an explosive listed in Schedule 1. (2) No person shall keep any explosive in any premises for private use except one or more of the following- (a) any quantity of fireworks which are kept for less than 14 days before being used and are kept in a safe and suitable place with all due precautions for public safety; (b) any quantity of fog signals kept by any railway operator for use on the railway if packaged so as to be in Division 1.4 and Compatibility Group S for the purposes of the 1983 Regulations; (c) such quantity of percussion caps or small arms ammunition or a mixture of them as will ensure that the quantity of explosives kept in the premises under this sub-paragraph, including any explosives kept by other persons, does not exceed 15 kilograms; (d) such quantity of gunpowder as will ensure that the quantity of explosives kept in the premises under this sub-paragraph, including any explosives kept by other persons, does not exceed 10 kilograms; and (e) such quantity of any explosive mentioned in paragraph (1) as will ensure that the quantity of explosives kept in the premises under this sub-paragraph, including any explosives kept by other persons, does not exceed 5 kilograms. Well that's me confused
2 (c), (d) and (e) could all apply but appear to be contradictory....
I'd be cautious about referring to anything that has the word "guidance" in the title as it's the regulations that apply the limits, not guidance. as is usual the MET have their own ideas 
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So, same as always with anything to do with firearms 'it's a bit of a grey area.'
Surely all this crap law needs to be re-written in a sensible format that is not ambiguous. Councils have different rulings on explosives to the MET and the Statutes as well I'll bet. In any case, as I'm MET area, I'll be playing it safe and making sure I don't exceed 5KG. I just can't be bothered with any agro. Not worth risking a court appearance and the loss of my firearms. Cheers all. |
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Quoted:
The explosive elements, typically smokeless powder and primer, are subject to controls under the Explosives Act, but only in large quantities. The Control of Explosives Regulations state that: Statutory Instrument 1991 No. 1531 The Control of Explosives Regulations 1991 - Keeping explosives for private use 10.—(1) No person shall keep any explosive for private use except explosive of one or more of the following descriptions- (a) gunpowder; (b) smokeless powder; (c) any propellant made or adapted and also, in either case, intended exclusively for small arms ammunition; (d) an explosive listed in Schedule 1. (2) No person shall keep any explosive in any premises for private use except one or more of the following- (a) any quantity of fireworks which are kept for less than 14 days before being used and are kept in a safe and suitable place with all due precautions for public safety; (b) any quantity of fog signals kept by any railway operator for use on the railway if packaged so as to be in Division 1.4 and Compatibility Group S for the purposes of the 1983 Regulations; (c) such quantity of percussion caps or small arms ammunition or a mixture of them as will ensure that the quantity of explosives kept in the premises under this sub-paragraph, including any explosives kept by other persons, does not exceed 15 kilograms; (d) such quantity of gunpowder as will ensure that the quantity of explosives kept in the premises under this sub-paragraph, including any explosives kept by other persons, does not exceed 10 kilograms; and (e) such quantity of any explosive mentioned in paragraph (1) as will ensure that the quantity of explosives kept in the premises under this sub-paragraph, including any explosives kept by other persons, does not exceed 5 kilograms. Well that's me confused
2 (c), (d) and (e) could all apply but appear to be contradictory....
I'd be cautious about referring to anything that has the word "guidance" in the title as it's the regulations that apply the limits, not guidance. The problem comes when you realise that smokeless powder is not an explosive, it's classed as a propellant. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
The explosive elements, typically smokeless powder and primer, are subject to controls under the Explosives Act, but only in large quantities. The Control of Explosives Regulations state that: Statutory Instrument 1991 No. 1531 The Control of Explosives Regulations 1991 - Keeping explosives for private use 10.—(1) No person shall keep any explosive for private use except explosive of one or more of the following descriptions- (a) gunpowder; (b) smokeless powder; (c) any propellant made or adapted and also, in either case, intended exclusively for small arms ammunition; (d) an explosive listed in Schedule 1. (2) No person shall keep any explosive in any premises for private use except one or more of the following- (a) any quantity of fireworks which are kept for less than 14 days before being used and are kept in a safe and suitable place with all due precautions for public safety; (b) any quantity of fog signals kept by any railway operator for use on the railway if packaged so as to be in Division 1.4 and Compatibility Group S for the purposes of the 1983 Regulations; (c) such quantity of percussion caps or small arms ammunition or a mixture of them as will ensure that the quantity of explosives kept in the premises under this sub-paragraph, including any explosives kept by other persons, does not exceed 15 kilograms; (d) such quantity of gunpowder as will ensure that the quantity of explosives kept in the premises under this sub-paragraph, including any explosives kept by other persons, does not exceed 10 kilograms; and (e) such quantity of any explosive mentioned in paragraph (1) as will ensure that the quantity of explosives kept in the premises under this sub-paragraph, including any explosives kept by other persons, does not exceed 5 kilograms. Well that's me confused
2 (c), (d) and (e) could all apply but appear to be contradictory....
I'd be cautious about referring to anything that has the word "guidance" in the title as it's the regulations that apply the limits, not guidance. The problem comes when you realise that smokeless powder is not an explosive, it's classed as a propellant. Thanks, Didn't know that!!! Is it written anywhere in the classigications? |