Reactive Targets for Rimfires - Tannerite Alternative

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onewing

New member
I just put together a movie of something I've been using for a few years, much enjoyment to be had. Its a thermite composition that is sensitive to bullet impact, so in effect creates a splash of liquid metal when hit by even the .22LR. The targets have very little explosive force but simulate it very well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=316t0TM1EUU

framesf.jpg


Hope its of interest to someone :p
 
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That's a great video, thanks! May have to cook up a little batch in the lab and give it a try.

A question for the OP: have you tried iron oxide/aluminum mixtures, and do they work as well?

I ask mainly because the cost of copper oxides is considerably higher than for iron. I do know it produces somewhat less energy per mole as a trade-off.
 
Looks like fun and I want to try it too. I'm wondering though ...if I order and have the chemicals on hand, is it legal to mix them? How many Federal watchlists do I put myself on by ordering the chemicals that I'm not on already?
 
If I'm correct, this is similar to tannerite in the aspect that its a binary combination that is completely legal as long as its not transported mixed or used for commercial purposes.

Looks pretty cool, thanks for the information. I've been using alum. powder and amonium nitrate for years and while I did have success with the .17 HMR at close range, never the slower stuff.
 
I think mrgoodwrench has it right, buy the components separately and mix them afterwards, and all is cool.
Thermite is notoriously difficult to get going, but the reaction is unstoppable once it takes off.
 
Unfortunately common iron oxide thermite will not work, the reaction just isnt fast enough, so even if you get the spark its dispersed before it can take hold. Not saying its not possible just that it doesn't for me under same circumstances as copper, and if it did you would end up with a "flare" of sorts not a simulated explosion.

Other metal oxides may work though none I can see of practical value, lead cloud is toxic, mercury obviously so :p silver too expensive, could try bismuth oxide though still more expensuve then copper.

Tannerite is a high explosive in every sense of the word, so if you can do that I can't see any legal problems with a thermite, transporting your ammo it blackpowder is more hazardous (looking at it from logical sense not a legal one, but no I'm not trying to pretend laws are based on logic :p). It would be a sensible idea to only mix as used anyway.
 
OK, thanks. I had my doubts about the Fe oxides/Al working. Since the quantities are rather small, Cu oxides with be manageable cost-wise.

I take my chemistry students outside every spring and set off some thermite, they love it.

To other posters, I would buy the components and only mix them prior to use for general safety reasons.
 
If your worried about bang for the buck, you could always tape a matchbox full to a litre of gasoline :) the mix is near ideal for that as its gasless and wont displace the oxygen and has lingering intense heat. Need a high power centrefire though to initiate the thermite and disperse the fuel (I've never done it).
 
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