Tannerite Guide (2026): Which Kit to Buy, Prices, Laws and Safe Use

Anyone can ring steel. Tannerite turns a hit at 200 yards into a boom you feel in your chest and a cloud everyone at the range can see. That's the whole appeal: instant, undeniable proof you connected, and the kind of range day your kids will remember. It's also a product with real rules attached, and most of the trouble people get into comes from not knowing them.

This guide covers what Tannerite actually is, which kit to buy and what it costs, where you can buy it, the federal and public-land rules, and the safe-use rules the maker publishes. Every price, rule and quote comes from tannerite.com, ATF, the Code of Federal Regulations or the Forest Service, checked on September 26, 2026. It's a research guide, not a hands-on test, and nothing here is legal advice.

What is Tannerite?

Tannerite is a brand, not a chemical. Tannerite Sports says Daniel Tanner formulated its binary rifle targets in 1996, patented them, and still makes every target in the USA. "Binary" means the kit comes as two separate components. ATF describes binary explosives in general as pre-packaged products with two separate components that usually aren't classified as explosives on their own; once they're combined, the mixture is an explosive material under federal law (ATF: Binary Explosives).

Mixed Tannerite is designed to react only when hit by a fast rifle bullet. Tannerite says a solid hit from a round moving 2,000 feet per second or faster sets it off, and lists common cartridges like .223/5.56, .243, .270, 7.62x39, .308 and .30-06. Handguns, .22 rimfires and shotguns won't reliably do it. The company markets it strictly as a shot indicator for target practice, and says that by mixing it you become the manufacturer of an explosive and take on the liability that comes with that.

How we researched this guide

We pulled every Tannerite price from the company's own online store, read its FAQ, legal and shipping pages, and checked the federal rules on ATF's site and the Code of Federal Regulations. We also checked Sportsman's Warehouse, which didn't list Tannerite brand targets online on September 26 but did sell Sonic Boom exploding targets. Nobody at OSS America shot these targets for this guide.

Every Tannerite kit, compared

Prices from tannerite.com on September 26, 2026, before shipping ($14.95 for 1 to 15 lb, $24.95 for 15 to 30 lb). Per-pound and per-target figures are our math.

The pattern is simple: the bigger the pack and the bigger the targets, the less you pay per pound. Single half-pound targets cost $15.98 per pound; the ProPack 2lb gets it down to $9.10. Sonic Boom's 1 lb 10-count at Sportsman's Warehouse ($84.99) worked out cheaper per pound than any Tannerite kit that day.

Which Tannerite to buy

#1

Tannerite Starter Kit (six 1/2 lb targets)

Best first Tannerite purchase

tannerite.com: $35.99 · Per pound: $12.00 · Per target: $6.00

Six half-pound targets, the premeasured catalyst, a mixing container and instructions: everything you need for a first range day with friends, in one box. Tannerite itself pitches the Starter Kit as the one for gifts and first-timers. Half-pound targets are also the smallest and least expensive way to learn how the product behaves on your range.

In the box	6 x 1/2 lb targets, catalyst, mixing container, instructions
Price	$35.99
Per target	$6.00
Per pound	$12.00

Pros

• + Low buy-in for a first try
• + Everything needed is in the box
• + Six shots to share around

Cons

• − Higher cost per pound than the bigger packs
• − Shipping adds $14.95 (1 to 15 lb) from tannerite.com

See it at Tannerite →

#2

Tannerite Half Pack 10 (ten 1/2 lb targets)

Best value in half-pound targets

tannerite.com: $50.99 · Per pound: $10.20 · Per target: $5.10

If you already know you like it, the Half Pack 10 gets you ten half-pound targets for $50.99, or $5.10 each. Tannerite's twenty-target Pro Pack 20 ($99.99) is only 20 cents cheaper per pound, so the Half Pack 10 is the smarter buy unless you shoot a lot of targets at once.

In the box	10 x 1/2 lb targets, catalyst, mixing container, instructions
Price	$50.99
Per target	$5.10
Per pound	$10.20

Pros

• + Ten targets in one order
• + Near the lowest per-pound price for half-pound targets
• + Small targets for plinking at 100+ yards

Cons

• − Half-pound targets give the smallest effect
• − Pro Pack 20 is marginally cheaper per pound if you'll use 20

See it at Tannerite →

#3

Tannerite 1 lb Extreme Range single target

Best single target to try

tannerite.com: $10.99 · Per pound: $10.99 · Per target: $10.99

The 1 lb Extreme Range target is the middle of the line: one one-pound target with catalyst and a mixing container for $10.99. Buy one to see if a one-pound target suits your range before committing to a pack, or step up to the 1 lb Brick (four targets, $37.99).

In the box	1 x 1 lb target, catalyst, mixing container, instructions
Price	$10.99
1 lb Brick (4 targets)	$37.99 ($9.50/lb)

Pros

• + Cheaper per pound than half-pound singles
• + Try the size before buying a case

Cons

• − Single targets cost more per pound than packs

See it at Tannerite →

#4

Tannerite Pro Pack 10 (ten 1 lb targets)

Best bulk one-pound pack

tannerite.com: $92.99 · Per pound: $9.30 · Per target: $9.30

Ten one-pound targets with premeasured catalyst, a mixing container and instructions for $92.99, or $9.30 per target. Tannerite pitches the PP10 at shooters who believe "bigger is better." At $9.30 per pound, it's one of the lowest per-pound prices in Tannerite's line.

In the box	10 x 1 lb targets, catalyst, mixing container, instructions
Price	$92.99
Per target	$9.30
Per pound	$9.30

Pros

• + Low per-pound price
• + One-pound targets give a bigger effect than halves
• + A season's worth for a group

Cons

• − About 10 lb of product to ship and store
• − Big up-front spend

See it at Tannerite →

#5

Tannerite 2 lb Extreme Range single target

Biggest single Tannerite target

tannerite.com: $18.99 · Per pound: $9.50 · Per target: $18.99

The 2 lb Extreme Range target is the largest in Tannerite's lineup, one two-pound target for $18.99. Note the bigger size comes with a bigger buffer: Tannerite's 2 lb instructions say to place it a minimum of 200 yards downrange, double the 100-yard minimum on its general instructions. If your range can't give you 200 yards, stick to the smaller targets.

In the box	1 x 2 lb target, catalyst, mixing container, instructions
Price	$18.99
Per pound	$9.50
Minimum distance	200 yards (Tannerite 2 lb instructions)

Pros

• + Largest single target Tannerite sells
• + Low per-pound price for a single

Cons

• − Needs at least 200 yards of range
• − Too much for small properties

See it at Tannerite →

#6

Tannerite ProPack 2lb (five 2 lb targets)

Lowest per-pound Tannerite pack

tannerite.com: $90.99 · Per pound: $9.10 · Per target: $18.20

Five two-pound containers, one mixing jar and ten catalyst pouches (two per target) for $90.99. At $9.10 per pound it was the cheapest Tannerite product per pound on September 26, and Tannerite calls the 2 lb Extreme target its most popular. The same 200-yard minimum applies.

In the box	5 x 2 lb containers, 1 mixing jar, 10 catalyst pouches, instructions
Price	$90.99
Per target	$18.20
Per pound	$9.10

Pros

• + Lowest per-pound price in Tannerite's line
• + Five big targets for a long-range day

Cons

• − 200-yard minimum distance
• − Only one mixing jar for five targets

See it at Tannerite →

Alternative brand

Sonic Boom 1/2 lb Exploding Rifle Targets, 10 count

Sportsman's Warehouse: $49.99 · Per pound: $10.00 · Model SBTHP10P

Sportsman's Warehouse didn't list Tannerite brand online on September 26, but it did sell Sonic Boom binary targets for store pickup or shipping: the 1/2 lb 10-count for $49.99, a 1 lb 10-count for $84.99 and a 1 lb 22-count for $137.99. Its rules differ slightly from Tannerite's: the Sportsman's listing says shooters must be at least 50 yards away and the target must be hit by a centerfire rifle bullet of at least 40 grains at a minimum of 2,200 fps. We'd still follow Tannerite's more conservative 100-yard minimum.

Pros

• + Cheapest per pound in our chart (1 lb 10-count)
• + Buy it in store or online at Sportsman's Warehouse

Cons

• − Not Tannerite brand
• − No owner reviews on the 1/2 lb listing yet

Check price at Sportsman's →

Where to buy Tannerite and what it costs

• Direct from Tannerite. Tannerite's online store ships UPS or FedEx Ground from Oregon. Shipping is by weight: $14.95 for 1 to 15 lb, $24.95 for 15 to 30 lb, $45.95 for 30 to 60 lb. It does not ship to Colorado or Maryland, to PO boxes, or directly to Canada (shipping policy).
• Local stores. Tannerite keeps a retail location finder on its site. Buying locally skips shipping and lets you ask the counter about local rules.
• Alternatives. Sportsman's Warehouse sold Sonic Boom binary targets online on September 26 (above).

Budget one more thing: Tannerite says it only ships with the exact catalyst for the targets you buy and doesn't sell catalyst separately, so buy the number of targets you'll actually shoot.

Is Tannerite legal? The federal and public-land basics

Short version: legal to buy and use in much of the country, with real limits on where you use it, what you do with it after mixing, and in some states whether you can have it at all. What the official sources say:

• Buying unmixed: ATF says it doesn't generally regulate the sale of the separate binary components, even when sold together as a kit (ATF).
• Mixing for your own target practice: no federal explosives license or permit is required for personal, non-business use (ATF).
• Transporting or storing it mixed: a federal explosives license or permit is required to receive or transport mixed binary explosives, and ATF gives "transporting mixed exploding targets to a shooting range" as the example. Mixed product must otherwise be stored in an explosives magazine. In practice: mix it at the range, right before you shoot it.
• Prohibited persons: people barred from possessing explosives under 27 CFR 555.26 may not possess mixed exploding targets (ATF).
• National forests: the Forest Service's fire rules prohibit "possessing or using an exploding target" on National Forest System lands (36 CFR 261.5(h)). Don't take it to a national forest, period.
• States and localities: ATF notes some states prohibit exploding targets because of fire risk. Tannerite doesn't ship to Colorado or Maryland, and warns that some California counties may require an explosive or destructive-device permit. Tannerite also says to get permission from local authorities unless you're on private property.

Safe-use rules, straight from the maker

These come from Tannerite's own FAQ and product instructions. Follow the printed instructions that come with your kit; don't improvise.

• Distance: place targets at least 100 yards from the shooter and any spectators, and at least 200 yards for the 2 lb targets.
• Rifle only: a high-power centerfire rifle with a bullet at 2,000 fps or faster. No handguns, rimfires or shotguns.
• Setup: set the target on a cardboard box off the ground, in an area clear of debris and dry grass.
• Fire danger: don't use it where a fire order is in effect or near anything that burns. Tannerite warns that sparks from bullets hitting rock or metal must be considered in any shooting area.
• Never place a target inside, on top of, or under metal, rock or any other object that could throw debris or sparks, and never inside another object. Tannerite calls that dangerous and improper use.
• Only what you'll shoot: mix at the shooting site, only what you'll use that day, and never more than 2 lb together.
• Be a good neighbor: Tannerite says that if there are noise complaints, be respectful and stop.

Our own addition: ear and eye protection for everyone on the line, every time.

Setting up a rifle for it? An AR-15 in .223/5.56 fires one of the cartridges Tannerite lists; see our top 10 AR-15 rifles guide. Our 15 best rifle scopes help you make that first-shot hit at 200 yards.

Frequently asked questions

What is Tannerite?

Tannerite is a brand of binary exploding rifle targets made in the USA by Tannerite Sports. Each kit holds two separate components that you combine at the range, following the included instructions; the mixed target reacts with a loud report and a vapor cloud when hit by a fast centerfire rifle bullet. It's sold as a shot indicator for target practice.

Is Tannerite legal?

Under federal law you can buy the unmixed kit and mix it for your own target practice without a license, according to ATF. You need a federal explosives license or permit to transport or receive it once mixed, and exploding targets are prohibited on national forest land (36 CFR 261.5(h)). Some states and counties restrict or ban them, and Tannerite doesn't ship to Colorado or Maryland. Check your local rules.

What gun do you need to set off Tannerite?

A centerfire rifle with a bullet moving at least 2,000 feet per second, per Tannerite, such as .223/5.56, .243, .270, 7.62x39, .308 or .30-06. Handguns, .22 rimfires and shotguns won't reliably set it off. Tannerite's shop sells separate White Lightning rimfire targets for .22s, but its own listing says those are made by another company, don't share Tannerite's insensitive properties, and can start a fire in dry areas.

How far away should you shoot Tannerite?

At least 100 yards from the shooter and spectators, and at least 200 yards for the 2 lb targets, according to Tannerite's instructions.

Can you store or transport mixed Tannerite?

Not without the proper federal license or permit. ATF requires a license or permit to transport mixed binary explosives and requires mixed product to be stored in an explosives magazine. Tannerite's advice: mix only what you'll shoot, at the place you'll shoot it.

How much does Tannerite cost?

On tannerite.com on September 26, 2026, a single 1/2 lb target was $7.99, the six-target Starter Kit $35.99, the ten 1 lb Pro Pack 10 $92.99 and the five 2 lb ProPack $90.99, plus shipping by weight from $14.95.

Does Tannerite expire?

Tannerite says unmixed targets stored dry at room temperature can last about 10 years. Heat and humidity can make the contents clump; the company's FAQ covers what to do in that case.

The bottom line

Start with the Tannerite Starter Kit, move to the Half Pack 10 or Pro Pack 10 once you know your range can handle it, and only buy 2 lb targets if you have 200 yards to spare. Mix it at the range, never carry it mixed, keep it off national forest land, and check your state and county before you order. Do that and it's one of the most fun ways to prove a hit.

Talk soon,
OSS AMERICA

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