Abstract: By means of optical fibre probe, optical-electrical converter, and oscillograph diagnostic technique, the run distance to detonation was measured as a function of initial shock pressure in a TATB/HMX-based explosive. High amplitude and short duration shock stimuli generated by an electric gun were used to initiate the cylindrical wedges of explosive material. The experimental technique was described, and the results in the form of POP plots for the TATB/HMX-based formulation were presented. These experimental data may give some insight into the effect of pulse duration on the initiation and growth to detonation characteristics in insensitive high explosives. For the short-duration shock loading, the effect of the pulse duration on the run distance to detonation of explosive is obvious. Under the same experimental conditions, the longer the pulse duration , the shorter the run distance to detonation. And for the same pulse duration, the higher the loading pressure, the shorter the run distance to detonation.