M-80 (explosive)
Encyclopedia
M-80s are a class of large firecracker
s, sometimes called salutes
. The Simulator, Artillery, M80, was originally made in the early 20th century by the U.S. Military
to simulate explosives or artillery
fire; Later, M-80s were manufactured as fireworks
. Traditionally, M-80s were made from a small cardboard
tube, often red in color, approximately 1½ inches (3.8 cm) long and 9/16 inch (1.4 cm) inside diameter, with a fuse or wick coming out of the side; this type fuse is commonly known as cannon fuse or Visco fuse
, after a company responsible for standardizing the product. The tubes often hold approximately 2½–3 gram
s of pyrotechnic flash powder
; one source states that an M-80 has at least 3 grams of explosive. Some contain up to 5 grams or more.
contains ~35 grams of powder.
(class 1.4G), as opposed to Display Fireworks (which were Class B, and are now 1.3G)— civilians are no longer allowed to carry a pyrotechnic device containing more than 50 milligrams of pyrotechnic flash powder. In 1966, M-80s and cherry bomb
s were banned by the United States
Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) and the Child Protection Act of 1966. Furthermore, they were then made illegal by the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
) in the 1970s. In 1975, U.S. federal regulations were passed to limit all consumer-grade fireworks in the United States to a maximum of 50 milligrams flash powder, down from a previous maximum of 200 milligrams (though firecrackers mounted onto a rocket stick, or other aerial firework devices, such as Rocket
s, Roman Candles, and Cake
s, may have up to 160 mg).
The M-80 was originally created for the military as a simulator for live explosives. The M in the name stood for Military and the 80 referred to the size of the tube. Complete with end-caps, the cardboard tube was sized to hold exactly 80 grains (not grams) of black powder. This was a definition of size, not content. The "powder" content was typically on the order of 35 to 45 grains, because leaving an air gap allows buildup of pressure before the case ruptures, thus making a louder bang with a visible flash. After M-80s became commercial fireworks, the bursting charges varied with the manufacturer and included black powder, flash powder, chlorate/sulfur/antimony sulfide powder and even sawdust impregnated with a small amount of nitroglycerin, to name a few known varieties. [This information comes from a 1965 fireworks manual ]
Numerous injuries accompanied their use during the 1950s and 1960s, and still occur, as M-80s are still produced and sold - primarily on Indian reservations. Despite instructions to only ignite the product on the ground (many M-80s even have the words "do not hold in hand" written on the tube), many users attempt to light an M-80 while holding it, then throw it before it explodes. Others attempt to relight a device that went out. Due to their illicit nature, M-80s may also contain unstable compositions, such as picric acid, nitroglycerin or chlorate/sulfur mixtures, which adds to the possibility of injury. There have been documented cases of users losing their fingers or hands. Peter Criss
, drummer for the rock band Kiss
, was a victim of an M-80 during a 1976 Richmond Coliseum
concert when a fan threw an M-80 onto the stage, nearly knocking him off his drum riser and leaving him with partial hearing loss for the remainder of the night.
M-80s can still be legally manufactured in the United States by those holding a federal explosives license. Federal and state officials sometimes distribute them to farmers to scare away wildlife encroaching on their crops.
While there are currently many firecrackers sold legally in the United States today to consumers under names such as "M-80 Firecracker", "M-8000", or "M-##" (where ## is a number), none of these contain more than 50 mg of flash powder, and the name is just a lure
to make consumers think they are more powerful than they are. These firecrackers most commonly have a small capsule with up to 50 mg of powder and a fuse in it. Surrounding the capsule is plaster or a similar material, and finally a red tube and two plastic endcaps. Because of the size of these firecrackers, buyers are occasionally deceived into thinking that the entire tube is full. Also the fuse, at times, protrudes from the ends of these firecrackers, as opposed to the middle of the tube in real M-80s. Genuine M-80s have paper endcaps, and contain 50–60 times more powder. (Contrary to urban legend, an M-80 that contains 3,000 mg of powder is not equivalent to a quarter-stick of dynamite. Dynamite generally contains a stable nitroglycerin based high explosive, whereas M-80s or any other kind of firecracker contains a low explosive powder, like flash powder or black powder.) Some illicits, however, contain(ed), or were reported to contain, small amounts of picric acid (similar to TNT), for greater effect.
M-80s containing the full original explosive charge continue to be manufactured, bought, and used illegally in the United States
. However, in many other countries where regulations are less stringent, large firecrackers such as the M-80 and its equivalents continue to be legally produced, sold, and used. Note that despite their destructive potential, the M-80 being classified as an explosive is debatable . They produce varying strengths of shock waves. As a result, several governments have classified such large salutes as explosive devices.
Firecracker
A firecracker is a small explosive device primarily designed to produce a large amount of noise, especially in the form of a loud bang; any visual effect is incidental to this goal. They have fuses, and are wrapped in a heavy paper casing to contain the explosive compound...
s, sometimes called salutes
Salute (pyrotechnics)
In pyrotechnics a salute is a device primarily designed to make a loud report , and may or may not have a visual effect. Most salutes will also have a very bright flash and are made from many different formulas depending on manufacturer and desired effect. They may have aluminum, antimony,...
. The Simulator, Artillery, M80, was originally made in the early 20th century by the U.S. Military
Military of the United States
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
to simulate explosives or artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
fire; Later, M-80s were manufactured as fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
. Traditionally, M-80s were made from a small cardboard
Cardboard
Corrugated fiberboard is a paper-based material consisting of a fluted corrugated sheet and one or two flat linerboards. It is widely used in the manufacture of corrugated boxes and shipping containers....
tube, often red in color, approximately 1½ inches (3.8 cm) long and 9/16 inch (1.4 cm) inside diameter, with a fuse or wick coming out of the side; this type fuse is commonly known as cannon fuse or Visco fuse
Visco fuse
A visco fuse is a higher quality fuse used for consumer fireworks. It is most commonly colored green or red, and is found as a twisted, coated strand. It is also used to create delays in the firing of multiple firework displays.- Description :...
, after a company responsible for standardizing the product. The tubes often hold approximately 2½–3 gram
Gram
The gram is a metric system unit of mass....
s of pyrotechnic flash powder
Flash powder
Flash powder is a pyrotechnic composition, a mixture of oxidizer and metallic fuel, which burns quickly and if confined produces a loud report. It is widely used in theatrical pyrotechnics and fireworks and was once used for flashes in photography.Different varieties of flash powder are made from...
; one source states that an M-80 has at least 3 grams of explosive. Some contain up to 5 grams or more.
Canada
M-80s are not authorized under the Explosives Act, thus making importation, possession, transportation, storage or manufacturing illegal in Canada.Germany
In Germany there is a military hand grenade simulator called "DM22" containing about 5g of flash powder. It is the successor to the "DM12" which contained ~16g flash powder but was considered too dangerous years ago (bangers available for the general public in Germany are not allowed to contain flash powder, only black powder). For comparison, the Quarter stickQuarter stick
Quarter Stick is a generic term used to describe a large firecracker that falls within a certain range of dimensions. Typically, a Quarter Stick consists of a thick walled cardboard tube containing approximately 20 grams of pyrotechnic flash powder, with a short length of Visco fuse protruding...
contains ~35 grams of powder.
United States
Due to property damages and bodily harm caused by M-80s, Class C fireworks—now known as Consumer FireworksConsumer fireworks
Consumer fireworks are fireworks sold to the general public for use. They are generally weaker in explosive power compared to professional displays.- Examples of consumer fireworks :...
(class 1.4G), as opposed to Display Fireworks (which were Class B, and are now 1.3G)— civilians are no longer allowed to carry a pyrotechnic device containing more than 50 milligrams of pyrotechnic flash powder. In 1966, M-80s and cherry bomb
Cherry bomb
Cherry Bombs are approximately spherical shaped exploding fireworks, ranging in size from three-quarters-inch to one-and-one-half-inch in diameter...
s were banned by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Consumer Product Safety Commission
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission is an independent agency of the United States government created in 1972 through the Consumer Product Safety Act to protect "against unreasonable risks of injuries associated with consumer products." The CPSC is an independent agency that does...
(CPSC) and the Child Protection Act of 1966. Furthermore, they were then made illegal by the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is a federal law enforcement organization within the United States Department of Justice...
) in the 1970s. In 1975, U.S. federal regulations were passed to limit all consumer-grade fireworks in the United States to a maximum of 50 milligrams flash powder, down from a previous maximum of 200 milligrams (though firecrackers mounted onto a rocket stick, or other aerial firework devices, such as Rocket
Rocket (firework)
A rocket is a pyrotechnic firework made out of a paper tube packed with gunpowder that propels itself into the air in order to fly. Types of rockets include the skyrockets, which have a stick to provide stability during airborne flight; missiles, which instead rotate for stability or are shot out...
s, Roman Candles, and Cake
Cake (firework)
A cake firework, also known as a multiple tube device is a firework comprising a series of roman candles, small aerial shells, or a combination of both, connected together by a high-speed fuse. Typically, the internal fusing is set to fire each tube in series, or to fire several tubes at the same...
s, may have up to 160 mg).
The M-80 was originally created for the military as a simulator for live explosives. The M in the name stood for Military and the 80 referred to the size of the tube. Complete with end-caps, the cardboard tube was sized to hold exactly 80 grains (not grams) of black powder. This was a definition of size, not content. The "powder" content was typically on the order of 35 to 45 grains, because leaving an air gap allows buildup of pressure before the case ruptures, thus making a louder bang with a visible flash. After M-80s became commercial fireworks, the bursting charges varied with the manufacturer and included black powder, flash powder, chlorate/sulfur/antimony sulfide powder and even sawdust impregnated with a small amount of nitroglycerin, to name a few known varieties. [This information comes from a 1965 fireworks manual ]
Numerous injuries accompanied their use during the 1950s and 1960s, and still occur, as M-80s are still produced and sold - primarily on Indian reservations. Despite instructions to only ignite the product on the ground (many M-80s even have the words "do not hold in hand" written on the tube), many users attempt to light an M-80 while holding it, then throw it before it explodes. Others attempt to relight a device that went out. Due to their illicit nature, M-80s may also contain unstable compositions, such as picric acid, nitroglycerin or chlorate/sulfur mixtures, which adds to the possibility of injury. There have been documented cases of users losing their fingers or hands. Peter Criss
Peter Criss
George Peter John Criscuola , better known as Peter Criss, is an American drummer and singer, best known as the original drummer for the rock band Kiss...
, drummer for the rock band Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, was a victim of an M-80 during a 1976 Richmond Coliseum
Richmond Coliseum
Richmond Coliseum is an arena in Richmond, Virginia, where the SPHL Richmond Renegades played until the 2008-2009 season and the SIFL Richmond Raiders will play starting with the 2010 season. It is also the venue for various large concerts. The arena opened in 1971 and holds 13,500 people. A...
concert when a fan threw an M-80 onto the stage, nearly knocking him off his drum riser and leaving him with partial hearing loss for the remainder of the night.
M-80s can still be legally manufactured in the United States by those holding a federal explosives license. Federal and state officials sometimes distribute them to farmers to scare away wildlife encroaching on their crops.
While there are currently many firecrackers sold legally in the United States today to consumers under names such as "M-80 Firecracker", "M-8000", or "M-##" (where ## is a number), none of these contain more than 50 mg of flash powder, and the name is just a lure
False advertising
False advertising or deceptive advertising is the use of false or misleading statements in advertising. As advertising has the potential to persuade people into commercial transactions that they might otherwise avoid, many governments around the world use regulations to control false, deceptive or...
to make consumers think they are more powerful than they are. These firecrackers most commonly have a small capsule with up to 50 mg of powder and a fuse in it. Surrounding the capsule is plaster or a similar material, and finally a red tube and two plastic endcaps. Because of the size of these firecrackers, buyers are occasionally deceived into thinking that the entire tube is full. Also the fuse, at times, protrudes from the ends of these firecrackers, as opposed to the middle of the tube in real M-80s. Genuine M-80s have paper endcaps, and contain 50–60 times more powder. (Contrary to urban legend, an M-80 that contains 3,000 mg of powder is not equivalent to a quarter-stick of dynamite. Dynamite generally contains a stable nitroglycerin based high explosive, whereas M-80s or any other kind of firecracker contains a low explosive powder, like flash powder or black powder.) Some illicits, however, contain(ed), or were reported to contain, small amounts of picric acid (similar to TNT), for greater effect.
M-80s containing the full original explosive charge continue to be manufactured, bought, and used illegally in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. However, in many other countries where regulations are less stringent, large firecrackers such as the M-80 and its equivalents continue to be legally produced, sold, and used. Note that despite their destructive potential, the M-80 being classified as an explosive is debatable . They produce varying strengths of shock waves. As a result, several governments have classified such large salutes as explosive devices.