Bulk black powder

[enfield2band]

I would say it is NOT a loophole either. The FEO's are probably keeping a check on where the powder is going, perhaps to avoid anyone stockpiling it. It did happen at one time. I heard of someone who had a tea chest full of loose powder in their cellar. That was many years ago but it is not impossible for someone to do it even now. A check on where it is going would flag this up and could be prevented.

[tacfoley]

I would say it is NOT a loophole either. The FEO's are probably keeping a check on where the powder is going, perhaps to avoid anyone stockpiling it. It did happen at one time. I heard of someone who had a tea chest full of loose powder in their cellar. That was many years ago but it is not impossible for someone to do it even now. A check on where it is going would flag this up and could be prevented.

Not a 'Guy' called Fawkes, was he?

I thought the figure was 15kg - maybe I'm out of date.

[Turnup]

Not a 'Guy' called Fawkes, was he?

I thought the figure was 15kg - maybe I'm out of date.

I believe you are correct - quantities exceeding that (including smokeless) need to be at a registered explosive store. I also believe that some FEOs limit the quantity to that which can be properly stored if less than 15kg but I am not sure they are actually within their powers to do so,

[enfield2band]

I believe you are correct - quantities exceeding that (including smokeless) need to be at a registered explosive store. I also believe that some FEOs limit the quantity to that which can be properly stored if less than 15kg but I am not sure they are actually within their powers to do so,

The last time I read about this all you had to do to designate your house/property as an explosive store was to contact the council and inform them and inform the local fire brigade so they knew what to expect if called out.

It may have changed but if you do want to classify your property as an explosive store it might be worth checking with the council or fire brigade.

Primers and the powder in loaded ammunition now count towards the maximum weight of stored explosive. I have the figures somewhere I'll see if I can find them.

[Turnup]

The last time I read about this all you had to do to designate your house/property as an explosive store was to contact the council and inform them and inform the local fire brigade so they knew what to expect if called out.

It may have changed but if you do want to classify your property as an explosive store it might be worth checking with the council or fire brigade.

Primers and the powder in loaded ammunition now count towards the maximum weight of stored explosive. I have the figures somewhere I'll see if I can find them.

Not quite so simple.

Firstly there is a charge of (IIRC) £85 every three years.

Secondly they will not designate an explosive store just anywhere and I doubt that in a residential area would be acceptable.

How do I know?

I shoot at an indoor range which is shared by 5 clubs. We have a common armoury (with separate individual security lock ups). Our FEO, who was a complete plonker and just out to be awkward, added up all the maximum ammunition holdings of all the clubs, assumed factory loads, and announced that this was in excess of the maximum permitted so he was going to reduce all our ammo holdings to get below the magic number. Logical reasoning such as "But it will never occur that all clubs hold their maximum at the same time" or "But the energy limits for this range do not allow us to load to factory levels so all the ammo here is either .22rf or downloaded" fell on deaf ears. We registered the range as an explosive store and told him to swivel. This was just one example of that man being totally jobsworth (and often wrong) and I believe there were complaints via NRA from other clubs and individuals who had experienced his zealotry. As PLO for my club I had a number of dealings with him both for the club as a whole and on behalf of a couple of our members. I had to be really quite firm in resisting his "initiatives" but these are a matter for a separate thread. He is gone now so we did not maintain the explosive store registration.

[DedIdick]

Not a 'Guy' called Fawkes, was he?

I thought the figure was 15kg - maybe I'm out of date.

10 kg black powder and up to another 5 kgs other shooters powder.

[tacfoley]

10 kg black powder and up to another 5 kgs other shooters powder.

According to the MLAGB - 'The maximum Black Powder that an individual can hold is 10 Kg plus 5 Kg of either Black Powder or Shooters Powder (Nitro Powder).' - total 15 Kg.

[DesG]

The rules for acquiring and storing are different to the rules for transporting and indeed are two separate licences which are now combined. Makes the whole question very difficult to answer doesn’t it?

I’ve just read my explosive licence. The only mention of quantity is the amount that may may be kept at the address on my licence. This would indicate that I could acquire and transport as much as i want to but not store it!

If lots of people chipped in and collected on the day the no problem. (probably)

[Peter Dunkley]

I am sure you are correct.
BUT if an FEO saw the large quantity and wanted to be nosey would he require you to account for it's disposal with proof of licence numbers?

[Turnup]

I am sure you are correct.
BUT if an FEO saw the large quantity and wanted to be nosey would he require you to account for it's disposal with proof of licence numbers?

He could ask but unless you are charged with something I doubt that he could require. Remember that they have to prove guilt, you do not have to prove innocence.