He also bought empty grenade housings for "thermite grenades".
That was a lawful activity. Millions of businesses have these grenades to protect important business papers from thieves.
As far as having machineguns, no one ever saw any convincing evidence that he did, in fact, have working machineguns. Even Chucky Schumer couldn't lay his hands on one. The FBI/ATF complex gave Chucky a weapon they said "looked like" one Howell owned.
You just know that when Chucky Schumer can't lay his hands on something it didn't exist.
Ok, now I am confused. Since at first you claimed to possess black powder was demonic. Since I have black powder for my muzzle loader for deer season, this gave me pause. Of course I don’t keep it in my home, but in a seperate out building. I think Koresh, being an avid shooter, as many do, most likely reloaded ammo casings. This would require black powder.
As to thermite grenades, if he had grenades handy, once they were under attack, I figure he would have used them.
I am not buying the line he had explosives in the house-church causing the fire. And you are correct, there is simply no evidence of machine guns. Meanwhile, the front door magically vaporized into thin air. We are supposed to believe exterrestrials swooped it into outer space. Not buying that one either.