Eh? For firearms, yes. But not for explosives, as the specific rules concerning those are set by the state. I have friends with Federal licenses for explosives, and that primarily covers sellers, manufacturers, and distributors, not the retail purchaser, and the license itself mostly revolves around safety issues, not access controls.
In Nevada, at least a couple years ago, purchasing high explosives was cash-and-carry. I think the state required that you sign a receipt or something. The person in whose home they found detonators and detcord is liable for a misdemeanor if I remember correctly, for improper storage.
Explosives have been FAR less regulated than firearms for a long time. Private consumption of high explosives is on the order of millions of pounds a year, and with virtually zero problems year after year. Everyone just always assumes that the sale is strictly regulated (like you did), when in fact it is not. At least a few years ago, one could mosey on into the local explosive magazine and buy a ton or two of whatever suited your fancy. And explosives are dirt cheap (they are simple industrial chemicals, after all), a little cash can get you a hell of a big boom.
Federally, explosives are controlled by law very similiar to firearms. See USC 18-842 http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/842.html