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Old April 1, 2013, 01:45 PM   #1
dakota.potts
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What are the limits on a destructive device?

If you had the money, how big of a destructive device could you own? I hear a lot how during the time of the framers many private citizens owned cannons and war ships and I believe this is somewhat appropriate in the modern day. I'm fairly certain you could own a mortar. But what if we step up? A 155 Howitzer? A private plane with missiles? What about a JDAM or FOAB? Or even a Surface to air rapid fire missile system? Just curious.
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Old April 1, 2013, 06:19 PM   #2
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The biggest I have seen is DeGroat's T8 90mm.

Not my pic but I was there when they were shooting this thing. It felt like the earth moved under my feet when it went off.




Here is a link to the owner's online photo album of it. http://www.armamentsales.com/photos/...ls.php?album=8
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Old April 3, 2013, 09:38 AM   #3
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That would be fun to reload...
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Old April 3, 2013, 01:17 PM   #4
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"That would be fun to reload... "

Yeah, but try finding the brass.
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Old April 3, 2013, 01:19 PM   #5
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I'm sure the brass supply is pretty limited. I'm equally sure that the demand is, too.
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Old April 3, 2013, 02:29 PM   #6
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Well I dont even know how you would clean it, although you could take a hand brush and fit your arm down in the tube...

The lead looks like it comes out pretty solid, I am assuming the rifling on the pulled round, that the band is initially solid, and the rifling is created by the process of firing...
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Old April 3, 2013, 02:39 PM   #7
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Wouldn't each round also be a DD, requiring separate registration and tax?
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Old April 3, 2013, 06:37 PM   #8
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If I remember right the projectile on that thing weighs 17 pounds and it uses 8 pounds of powder per shot.

A low explosives licence is required for the powder. No DD for each shot, the projectiles are inert.

If I remember right...
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Old April 3, 2013, 08:18 PM   #9
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When my youngest grandson was four he qualified as a destructive device. Kid could tear up an anvil.
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Old April 4, 2013, 01:19 AM   #10
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That's what I'm talking about. Weapons that would need a DD tax for each round. For instance, a surface to air missile launcher with missiles. Theoretically, under the right circumstances, would one of these be legal for a private citizen?
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Old April 5, 2013, 03:28 AM   #11
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There are some registered 155mm howitzer DDs.
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Old April 5, 2013, 05:14 PM   #12
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Eod, do you have proof of this?

Dakota, have you read the destructive device definition? Any rocket with over 4 ounces of propellant or a missile with more than 1/4 ounce explosive charge is a DD.

Could someone own a missile launcher? Yes. Does anyone own a missile launcher? I seriously doubt it.
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Old April 5, 2013, 05:59 PM   #13
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I know those are considered destructive devices as well as anything over .50 Caliber that's not a shotgun/doesn't have a sporting exemption. For example, a 14.5mm anti material rifle.

I'd like to see links to the Howitzers as well.
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Old April 6, 2013, 07:52 AM   #14
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Proof? Find your own proof.

Here's a video of people shooting their DDs... I didn't see anything over 90mm, but there is no legal distinction between 90mm and 155mm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIfrSmZLQX8
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Old April 6, 2013, 07:47 PM   #15
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Making a claim on the internets and then telling someone that they should find their own proof is like admitting "it didn't happen" when someone says "pics or it didn't happen."
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Old April 8, 2013, 02:28 PM   #16
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He's perfectly welcome to search the CFR and read all the laws about Destructive Devices. Nobody is stopping him. All the proof he needs is in the CFR.

Until then, look at the cool pictures and videos of people firing their howitzers, tanks, and recoiless rifles.
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Old April 8, 2013, 09:59 PM   #17
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I've recently found anti-tank cannons and recoiless rifles for sale on the internet but no missile systems or Howitzers or anything so that I'm curious what the apparent divide is.
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Old April 9, 2013, 11:53 AM   #18
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SWEEEEET! Especially loved that M18 Hellcat!

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Old April 10, 2013, 10:21 PM   #19
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You can get a 40mm grenade launcher.
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Old April 11, 2013, 03:30 AM   #20
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I know you can go that far but I'm trying to think BIG
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Old April 11, 2013, 12:39 PM   #21
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You can find tanks for sale. Some of the main guns work.
http://armyjeeps.net/armor1.htm
http://www.tanksforsale.co.uk/Tanks_...sale_page.html
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Old April 19, 2013, 12:12 AM   #22
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I kind of want a 36-gun frigate and Letters of Marque, should have no trouble getting a crew...
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Old April 19, 2013, 04:09 AM   #23
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I wuold like to shoot a mortar. Anything that fit in the trunk of my car will do: may be not on the huge side but it looks fun to me the "indirect shooting".

The 36-gun frigate idea from Kilimanjaro is also intriguing a lot!!! 12 pounds guns I suppose...
the real deal is the letter of marque: you can do a lot of good with that!
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