Author Topic: flare guns (Read 445 times)

rickyp · « **on:** February 24, 2005, 04:00:20 PM »

This is a little off topic but will not really fit in anyplace.
I am looking at the 12 ga flare guns and flares sold at walmart
how bright are the flares? will they light up the area like the military flares? can I get white 12 ga flares? I have only seen the red at walmart.

this may be dumb but can they be fires out of a normal 12 ga shotgun?

Gun Runner · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2005, 08:37:04 PM »

Used to carry one on my boat. There fairly bright, not a real high altitude type, and used to us an old single shot 12 ga for them. Tryed it out with the single shot first to make sure it worked. Never needed it but always had it.

Gun Runner

rickyp · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2005, 01:35:26 AM »

Quote

not a real high altitude type

how high do they go?

would I have to worry about setting ground cover fires if i set some off on land?

Gun Runner · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2005, 05:14:38 AM »

Rickyp, not sure but seemed like around 1200 ft. They were high enough that a plane or chopper searching could see them. We were testing them off a high ledge over a lake to make sure we dint start a fire. There is always the chance that there might be a hot piece comes in contact with the ground that could start a fire. I started out with the OLIN pack (round plastic screw togather container) that had the the plastic pistol (Do not try to shoot a reg 12 gag. shell in it) it contained 3 12 ga flares and 2 hand held flares. The reason I went to the single shot shotgun was ifin I needed it for something else. I carried a pack of assorted 12 ga loads from #7's thru slugs.

Gun Runner

rickyp · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2005, 07:14:37 AM »

it is cool that one can shoot them out of a 12 ga shotgun.

I am looking for something that will light up the aera so I can see what is going on or so I can be seen.
likewhen i am out fishing at night shoot off a flare so I can see if anything is around me.

Rustyinfla · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2005, 01:25:25 PM »

They are so bright that I don't see how you can tell what color they but the red ones are for emergency rescue and the white ones are for practice. Sometimes you can find the flares in a 4 pack. 1 white and 3 red. They aren't like the military parachute flares which are intended to stay in the air for a while. A simple road flare might be a better idea, then you wouldn't have to worry about getting charged with falsely sending up a distress signal.

Rusty <><

kevin.303 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2005, 06:24:02 PM »

don't fire it through a shotgun that has a fixed choke, or any choke for that matter. it works fine in cylinder bores, and i don't want to be the one that tries it on any other choke. this topic was brought up on canadiangunnutz and this is what happened;

Quote

A few years ago an acquaintance thought he would try a 12 gauge flare in his nice Winchester Model 12 to see what would happen. The flare caught in the full choke of his 30 barrel, continued to burn and turned about an inch of the barrel cherry red until it burned out. After the barrel cooled there was a gray ring left about 2 inches from the muzzle and the steel's temper was ruined. The result is that his formerly 30" full choke trap gun is now a 26" cylinder choked skeet gun.

not a pretty picture.

S.S. · « **Reply #7 on:** February 26, 2005, 06:20:02 PM »

You can get a nice flashlight for a whole lot cheaper than a Flare
gun? And it will last a whole lot longer too.