Tannerite Laws and Safety in Colorado: What Shooters Need to Know

Meta description: Learn how Colorado and federal rules may apply to Tannerite, where exploding targets are restricted, and how to reduce legal, fire, and injury risks.

Tannerite and similar products are binary exploding targets: their components are sold separately and produce an explosion when combined and struck by a bullet. That reaction can create serious hazards, including fire, blast injuries, and damage to property. In Colorado, legality depends on more than the product label: federal explosives rules, state and local requirements, land-manager restrictions, and current fire orders may all matter. Because rules can change by location and conditions, shooters should confirm requirements before transporting or using any exploding target.

What Tannerite Is—and Why the Legal Details Matter

Tannerite is a brand of binary rifle target. The term is also used informally for similar products. A binary target is supplied as separate components that are combined before use; once mixed, it is designed to detonate when struck by a projectile. It is not the same as an ordinary paper, steel, or clay target.

That distinction matters because laws may treat unmixed components differently from a prepared explosive. It does not mean that every form of possession or use is automatically lawful. The product’s instructions, federal law, Colorado law, local rules, the shooter’s legal status, and the location of use can each affect the answer.

There is no single statewide “Tannerite is legal” rule that answers every situation. A person should not assume that a product available for purchase may be mixed, transported, stored, or detonated anywhere. When the legal status is unclear, the safest course is not to mix or use the product until the appropriate authorities have confirmed the applicable rules.

Federal Rules That May Apply

The federal Explosives Laws, primarily in Title 18 of the U.S. Code and regulations in 27 C.F.R. Part 555, govern explosives and certain activities involving them. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) administers these requirements. Federal rules can address licensing, permits, storage, prohibited persons, and the manufacture or distribution of explosive materials.

ATF materials distinguish between binary explosive components sold separately and explosive material after components are combined. That distinction should not be read as blanket permission to mix or use a product. The legal analysis can depend on the product and circumstances, and other federal, state, or local restrictions may apply. People should consult current ATF guidance or qualified legal counsel rather than relying on an online summary or a seller’s description.

Federal law also restricts certain people from possessing explosive materials. In addition, explosives storage requirements may apply in circumstances where material is regulated. A person who is unsure whether a rule applies should avoid mixing, transporting, or storing the material until they have checked with ATF or a lawyer familiar with explosives law.

Federal land rules are a separate issue. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Forest Service, and other agencies can restrict exploding targets through regulations, local orders, seasonal fire restrictions, or closures. Permission to shoot firearms on a particular area does not necessarily mean exploding targets are allowed there.

Colorado Law and Local Restrictions

Colorado has laws and regulations concerning explosives, fire prevention, firearms, and public safety. Requirements can depend on whether material is being sold, stored, transported, or used, and on the specific activity involved. State law is not the only consideration: counties, municipalities, fire districts, and land managers may impose additional limits.

Colorado’s fire conditions make location especially important. Dry grass, wind, and seasonal fire danger can turn a shooting activity into a wildfire. A county or fire district may issue restrictions that are more specific than general state guidance. Restrictions may change quickly, including during a day of high winds or extreme fire danger.

Before using an exploding target, check with the county sheriff, local fire authority or fire marshal, and land manager for the exact location. Ask specifically whether binary exploding targets are allowed, whether a permit or other approval is required, and whether a current fire restriction prohibits them. A general answer about recreational shooting may not address exploding targets.

Colorado’s laws and rules can be amended, and local restrictions may be issued by order rather than appearing in a general state statute. For legal research, use the current Colorado Revised Statutes and official agency notices. If a local authority gives a restriction or direction, follow it even if a product seller or an older online post says otherwise.

Public Lands, Ranges, and Private Property

BLM and U.S. Forest Service Land

Rules vary among federal lands and can change with fire danger. BLM field offices and national forests may prohibit exploding targets, restrict target shooting, or close specific areas. Fire restrictions can ban explosives even when firearms are otherwise permitted. Check the relevant office’s current alerts, closure orders, and recreation rules for the precise area—not just a general agency webpage.

Never assume that a remote location is unregulated. Public-land users remain responsible for following agency orders, avoiding damage to natural resources, and ensuring that projectiles and debris stay within a lawful and safe area. If the land manager cannot confirm that exploding targets are permitted, do not use one there.

State and Local Areas

State wildlife areas, parks, and other public properties have their own rules. Shooting may be restricted to designated areas or prohibited altogether, and exploding targets may have separate limits. Contact the managing agency and check posted rules before bringing any target onto the property.

At a commercial shooting range, the range operator’s rules apply in addition to law. Many ranges prohibit explosive targets because of fire, liability, or facility concerns. Obtain explicit permission from range staff; do not interpret silence as approval.

Private Property

Private ownership does not eliminate fire, explosives, noise, firearm-discharge, or nuisance rules. County and municipal ordinances may regulate discharge within populated areas or near roads and buildings. Property owners should also consider neighboring land, livestock, structures, utilities, and wildfire exposure. Permission from the owner is necessary but may not be sufficient to make use lawful.

Safety Risks of Exploding Targets

An exploding target can produce a much larger and less predictable event than a conventional target. The bullet impact triggers a blast that can send fragments, rocks, target material, or nearby debris outward. Blast pressure and sound can injure people or animals, damage hearing, and harm nearby structures or vehicles.

Fire is a major Colorado concern. A detonation can ignite dry vegetation or other combustible material, and wind can carry a small ignition into difficult terrain. A shooter may not be able to see or reach the ignition point quickly. Fire risk can remain high even when conditions look manageable at the firing point.

Other hazards include ricochets, poor visibility after a detonation, unexpected reactions involving contaminated or improperly handled components, and confusion about whether a target has detonated. A target that does not react as expected should never be approached or handled on impulse.

Follow the product’s current manufacturer instructions and all applicable law. This article does not provide mixing, loading, placement, or detonation instructions. Do not modify a product, combine it with other materials, or use it contrary to its labeling. Keep people, animals, vehicles, and property outside the manufacturer’s stated safety area, and do not use a target where that area cannot be maintained.

A Practical Pre-Use Checklist

• Confirm the location: Identify the exact parcel, range, public-land unit, and responsible land manager.
• Check current restrictions: Review fire restrictions, closures, local ordinances, and range rules on the day of the planned activity.
• Ask the relevant authorities: Contact the local fire authority or fire marshal and the sheriff or land manager if the rules are unclear.
• Check product and legal requirements: Read current labeling and confirm whether federal or state explosives requirements apply to the intended activity.
• Assess fire conditions: Do not proceed when restrictions prohibit use or when weather and vegetation make ignition risk unacceptable.
• Protect people and property: Keep bystanders and animals away, and do not use a target where the manufacturer’s safety requirements cannot be met.
• Have an emergency plan: Know the location, have a reliable way to call 911, and be prepared to report a fire or injury promptly.

This checklist is a screening tool, not legal authorization. A “yes” on several items does not override a prohibition, closure, or official direction.

What to Do if a Fire or Injury Occurs

If a fire starts, move people to safety and call 911 as soon as it is safe to do so. Give responders the precise location, access route, visible fire conditions, and any information they need to approach safely. Do not attempt to fight a fire that is spreading, threatening people, or beyond the caller’s ability to control safely.

For a suspected unexploded or malfunctioning target, keep others away and do not approach, touch, move, or try to dispose of it. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for that situation and contact local emergency services or the appropriate authority for guidance. Treat an uncertain target as hazardous.

Reliable Sources to Check

Because rules vary and fire orders change, official sources are more dependable than old forum posts or informal advice. Useful starting points include:

• ATF Explosives for federal explosives regulations, licensing information, and agency guidance.
• BLM Colorado for field-office alerts, recreation requirements, and land closures.
• U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region for national forest rules, fire restrictions, and closure orders.
• Colorado Revised Statutes for current state law.
• The relevant Colorado county, municipality, sheriff, fire district, and land-management agency for local ordinances and current restrictions.

Before relying on any source, verify that it covers the exact location and the current date. An agency’s general shooting guidance may not specifically address binary exploding targets. When authorities disagree or the legal status remains uncertain, do not use the target until the issue is clarified.