Milsurp flare gun

midnightpossum

midnightpossum

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I just ordered a polish flare gun today from Tradex… in my initial e-mail to them ,I had asked if it can still be used as a flare gun, and was told YES.. so if this is the case.. can I get surplus flares or some sort of adapter, to use modern flares?… I am clueless when it comes to flares, however I thought it would be a neat yet useful toy, if I was in need of an emergency .
 
You can easily get 12 Gauge (that's flares only, mind you) adapters in quite a few places in Canada. As for actual shells, they actually are pretty easy to reload. You can get used or newly made (empty/ reloadable) ones from the US, since they are not controlled items.

With a bit of work and form signing, you might even be able to get some complete, newly manufactured flares from the US- they are actually pretty common there. Just don't ask me how, I'm not too sure.
 
Corps said:
You can easily get 12 Gauge (that's flares only, mind you) adapters in quite a few places in Canada. As for actual shells, they actually are pretty easy to reload. You can get used or newly made (empty/ reloadable) ones from the US, since they are not controlled items.

With a bit of work and form signing, you might even be able to get some complete, newly manufactured flares from the US- they are actually pretty common there. Just don't ask me how, I'm not too sure.
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Funny you mention the reloading of flares, as I was doing an internet search, I cam across a web page were a fellow had been reloading flares for years.. and basically blew his hand off… the pics of his hand before they removed it… just nasty.. I think it had something to due with the manufacture of the load material… lawsuit.
 
Any good Boat or Marine dealer should have flares. Canadian Tire even has had them in their sporting goods section for boating use.

One inch flares are available, but a bit expensive. If you do not know what you are doing, then trying to reload flares is just asking for trouble.
 
midnightpossum said:
Funny you mention the reloading of flares, as I was doing an internet search, I cam across a web page were a fellow had been reloading flares for years.. and basically blew his hand off… the pics of his hand before they removed it… just nasty.. I think it had something to due with the manufacture of the load material… lawsuit.
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The way I see it, it could have happened with any type of reloaded cartridge/shell. You're reloading, you put a charge in, Johnny McNeighbourson knocks and asks for spare mayonnaise, you go back, you load a second charge...

Point is, don't let it put you off. Reloading might be the most economical way to enjoy your flare gun.
 
Corps said:
The way I see it, it could have happened with any type of reloaded cartridge/shell. You're reloading, you put a charge in, Johnny McNeighbourson knocks and asks for spare mayonnaise, you go back, you load a second charge...

Point is, don't let it put you off. Reloading might be the most economical way to enjoy your flare gun.
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I agree with you… I just can't see me needing to use flares.. but it would be a comforting factor having them on hand. Now Bear bangers will get more use.
 
I have said flare gun, also the 12 ga. adapter. The adapter will not take a full size shotgun shell, as the shell needs to be shortened just a bit. (safer that way- I would say NEVER shoot a normal shot shell with one of these) 12 ga. flares are available at Canadian tire and other hunting/hardware stores. Reloading a shortened shot shell is entirely possible- but the flare compound can be tricky stuff to play with.
jan.
 
buffdog said:
Any good Boat or Marine dealer should have flares. Canadian Tire even has had them in their sporting goods section for boating use.

One inch flares are available, but a bit expensive. If you do not know what you are doing, then trying to reload flares is just asking for trouble.
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12 gauge flares aren't exactly cheap either. Probably cheaper to shoot a .50 BMG.:)

Grizz
 
If you are very friendly with a Wildlife Officer, you might be able to score a box of Gummint-purchased "Schreckpatronen" (as it says on the box here): "fright cartridges".

They are also known as "bear bangers". Good for keeping bears away from your kittens and beehives and garbage and other bearish things. Noisy as hell. Also corrosive on your nice gun.

They are commonly used at Airports to scare birds out of the flight-path so that aircraft can take off or land safely.

Half a dozen big Crows in the turbine can do nasty things.....

Note carefully that proper flares are a DIFFERENT LENGTH than a regular shotgun shell: they are SHORTER. The adapters might ALLOW a 2-3/4 shell to be fired, but it will not be able to OPEN UP fully. I sure would not want to be HOLDING the thing; the pressure spike would be a bit TOO impressive, I fear.

Still, a very handy (and mandatory) thing to have in your boat and they look SO cool in that trench you have dug in the backyard, getting ready for the 100th anniversary of the Great War.
 
smellie said:
If you are very friendly with a Wildlife Officer, you might be able to score a box of Gummint-purchased "Schreckpatronen" (as it says on the box here): "fright cartridges".

They are also known as "bear bangers". Good for keeping bears away from your kittens and beehives and garbage and other bearish things. Noisy as hell. Also corrosive on your nice gun.

They are commonly used at Airports to scare birds out of the flight-path so that aircraft can take off or land safely.

Half a dozen big Crows in the turbine can do nasty things.....
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I get my 12guage bear bangers from Canadian Tire. There's a couple of places online that you can also order them from. Good fun, but a tad pricey.

For the bear bangers and flares, if you do run them through a shotgun, just make sure it's cylinder bore. There's a couple different types of bangers, the ones that og off at distance (roughly 150 feet from the muzzle) - which are more effective for practical use. You can also get the ones that are effectivley really, really, loud blanks, and go off straight out of the muzzle. Fantastic for inducing pants change moments with your skeet shooting partner.
 
I would think 80 or 100 grains of FFFg with a card wad in front and a bit of wax to waterproof should make an awfully-nice bang, a mort of smoke and even a lovely burst of orange flame.

Run about 35 cents to load, plus a range-pickup hull and a couple of minutes to shorten the beast with a jackknife.

Need 21 of them for the Queen's Birthday.

Drive the neighbours NUTS!
 
I know a fellow who, in his younger days, fired a 12 gauge flare out of a 12 gauge side by side shotgun. The flare got stuck in the full choke, then proceeded to screw up the muzzles and melt out the solder in the ribs between the barrels. He ended up having the gun shortened up and getting the rib soldered back in place properly. An expensive lesson he won't ever forget.
 
I got the two aluminum adaptors that allow me to fire Tru Flare centrefire flares through my 26.5mm flare gun. One adaptor is for flares, the other is for the longer crack flares. Both work well.

DSCN1386_zps0e75411d.jpg
 
What are you planning on reloading a flare with? It's not like you can buy 'em. Magnesium mixed with phosphorus etc, isn't something you want to play with anyway.
A 12 gauge adapter is only good if it fits the original chamber. As mentioned, ask TradeEx.
Flares are only useful if there's somebody close enough to see 'em and who will react. The three shot distress signal doesn't always work either.
 
sunray said:
What are you planning on reloading a flare with? It's not like you can buy 'em. Magnesium mixed with phosphorus etc, isn't something you want to play with anyway.
A 12 gauge adapter is only good if it fits the original chamber. As mentioned, ask TradeEx.
Flares are only useful if there's somebody close enough to see 'em and who will react. The three shot distress signal doesn't always work either.
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Sentence #1.. No.. I would never consider trying to reload or fire reloaded flares.
Sentence #2.. Tradex has an adaptor to fire 12 gauge from this flare gun.. so If I want that option open to me, it's there.
Sentence # 3 True.. Flares are only good if someone can see them…. anyone with common sense would know that.

Some people just like to buy old Milsurp stuff cause they like it… I happen to be one of those people.
 
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