12ga flares in SG
- Thread starter echo4lima
- Start date
Dark Alley Dan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Darkest Edmonton
The ones I've had all stipulate open choke. They've worked fine for me.
I've heard they can get stuck in the barrel if you use a full choke...that can't be too good for the barrel...make sure you fire them over water, they can start a fire on land.
Last edited:
madtrapper143
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Steep Rock Lake NWO
Depending on brand they may be corrosive too.
Darryl
Darryl
better idea
most flares are pretty useless unless you are on the water. Shotgun flares, pencil flares and the like can barely clear the treetops in winter, or 50m in summer. Virtually impossible for ground searchers to see, and difficult from the air, as well. I am a Civil Air Search And Rescue Association navigator and spotter, and I tell you the truth. Flares are best at night, and worthless in the day. For days, get yourself a signal mirror, any outfitter has them. Can be seen from the air from 40km away, truth. Far more effective. It has to be a real mirror, though, not a CD. CDs look good in your hand, but they scatter more light than they reflect and are nowhere near as bright as a mirror. Even those cheap camping mirrors are better.
Carry flares for fun, for firestarting, or for night work (still have to clear the treetops, of course) but carry a signal mirror if you expect to be found.
most flares are pretty useless unless you are on the water. Shotgun flares, pencil flares and the like can barely clear the treetops in winter, or 50m in summer. Virtually impossible for ground searchers to see, and difficult from the air, as well. I am a Civil Air Search And Rescue Association navigator and spotter, and I tell you the truth. Flares are best at night, and worthless in the day. For days, get yourself a signal mirror, any outfitter has them. Can be seen from the air from 40km away, truth. Far more effective. It has to be a real mirror, though, not a CD. CDs look good in your hand, but they scatter more light than they reflect and are nowhere near as bright as a mirror. Even those cheap camping mirrors are better.
Carry flares for fun, for firestarting, or for night work (still have to clear the treetops, of course) but carry a signal mirror if you expect to be found.
They just go pop and go a short distance btw...nothing much fun about them. A cheapo Canadian Tire shell is more fun...
The flares skip around and bounce randomly, and do not go where you planned they'd go, plus they start fires...really only for marine use fired upwards.
I know how and when to deploy. I have pen flares in my PSK, I just happened accross a half dozen 12ga flares, was going to toss em in my vest as addition to the pen flares for "JIC" scenario or pop em off just for ####s and giggles, just wondered if they would be ok to shoot in a reg. gun.
It wasn't an opening to debate what to use for signaling for help.
It wasn't an opening to debate what to use for signaling for help.
I shot dozens of 12ga. flares when I was a young fella. Always through either Cyl. or IC chokes though, so I can't comment on their use with a full choke. But I will say that I never really noticed any unusual corrosion in the barrels... But shotguns were always cleaned and oiled soon after shooting anyway, so that doesn't mean that they are not corrosive.
And a buddy did start a grass fire once by trying to skip a flare of of a big rock...
And a buddy did start a grass fire once by trying to skip a flare of of a big rock...
