How to Log Explosives in Your Magazine

During Delivery and Daily Use

Accurate explosive logging is not optional — it is a legal requirement and a core part of professional blasting.  Under ATF 27 CFR Part 555, licensed blasters and permit holders must maintain accurate records  for 5 years of:

• Acquisition (what you receive)
• Storage (what you have)
• Use (what you shoot)
• Transfers (what you move)
• Loss or theft (if applicable)

Good logging protects:

• Your license
• Your company
• Public safety
• Your professional reputation

Let’s break this into two critical moments: Delivery Day and Daily Use.

Part 1 — Logging Explosives During Delivery Day

When explosives arrive, do not just unload and stack them.

Treat delivery like a compliance checkpoint.

Step 1 — Verify Before Signing

Before signing the delivery ticket:

1. ✔ Confirm product type
2. ✔ Confirm quantity
3. ✔ Confirm lot numbers
4. ✔ Check the condition of the packaging
5. ✔ Ensure correct magazine compatibility

Never sign before you physically verify.

Step 2 — Enter Acquisition Record Immediately

Your acquisition log must include:

• Date received
• Supplier name
• Product type
• Quantity
• Lot number (when applicable)
• Magazine location
• Do not wait until the end of the week.

The entry should be made the same day as delivery.

Step 3 — Store Correctly

1. ✔ Store detonators separately from high explosives
2. ✔ Lock the magazine immediately after placement
3. ✔ Update magazine inventory sheet
4. ✔ Limit access to authorized personnel only
5. Documentation and physical control must match.

Part 2 — Logging Explosives During Daily Use

Daily use logging is where most discrepancies occur. This is where discipline matters.

Step 1 — Record Removal From Magazine

Before the blast operation and leaving the magazine area:

1. ✔ Record quantity removed
2. ✔ Record product type
3. ✔ Record date
4. ✔ Record who removed it
5. ✔ Note intended blast location

Do not rely on memory.  If it leaves the magazine, it gets logged.

Step 2 — Match Shot Log to Magazine Log

After the blast:

1. ✔ Confirm actual quantity used
2. ✔ Return unused product immediately
3. ✔ Log returns clearly
4. ✔ Reconcile numbers the same day
5. The magazine log and shot log must tell the same story.

Step 3 — Update Running Inventory

At the end of each day:  Beginning Inventory

1. Deliveries
2. – Usage
3. ± Transfers
4. = Current Inventory

The number on paper must match what is physically inside the magazine.

Common Logging Mistakes

❌ Waiting until the end of the week

❌ Estimating instead of counting

❌ Forgetting to log the returned product

❌ Mixing detonator counts with high explosives

❌ Failing to update lot numbers

Most ATF violations are paperwork-related — not blasting-related.

Monthly Physical Inventory

At least once per month:

✔ Conduct a physical count

✔ Compare to acquisition & use records

✔ Investigate discrepancies immediately

✔ Document corrective actions

Never adjust numbers without explanation.

Professional Standard

Professional blasters treat inventory like:

• A safety system
• A security system
• A legal responsibility

Inspectors understand honest errors happen.  They do not tolerate sloppy records, concealment, or delayed reporting.

Simplify the Process

At Petr Explosives Group, we developed tools inside the PETS Toolbox to help blasters:

• Track deliveries

• Record daily usage

• Reconcile the monthly inventory

• Stay inspection-ready

Because inventory control isn’t paperwork — it’s protection.