Flare gun with rubber band ?

Published on March 22, 2018
Duration: 12:04

This video details an experiment to fire a .50 BMG round from a modified 12 Gauge flare gun using rubber bands to increase hammer force. Despite multiple attempts and modifications, the experiment failed due to insufficient primer strike force and off-center impacts. The flare gun's hammer modification could not overcome the .50 BMG primer's resistance.

Quick Summary

Modifying a 12 Gauge flare gun with rubber bands to fire a .50 BMG round failed due to insufficient hammer force and off-center strikes. The .50 BMG primer requires more energy than the modified flare gun could deliver.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Experiment Introduction: Flare Gun vs .50 BMG
  2. 00:42Safety Setup: Remote Trigger and Sawhorse
  3. 01:35Hammer Modification: Adding Rubber Bands
  4. 03:35Initial Testing and Failure: Light Primer Strike
  5. 05:25Troubleshooting: Off-Center Strikes
  6. 11:16Final Analysis: Flare Gun Cannot Fire .50 BMG

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a flare gun be modified to fire a .50 BMG round?

This experiment attempted to modify a 12 Gauge flare gun with rubber bands to increase hammer force for firing a .50 BMG round. However, the experiment failed, indicating a flare gun lacks the necessary force and structural integrity for such a powerful cartridge.

Why did the rubber band modification fail to fire the .50 BMG?

The rubber band modification failed because the increased hammer force was still insufficient to reliably ignite the .50 BMG primer. Additionally, over-tensioning the bands caused the firing pin to strike the primer off-center, further reducing the chance of ignition.

What safety precautions were taken during the flare gun experiment?

Safety measures included duct taping the flare gun to a sawhorse and using a long string to pull the trigger remotely. This allowed the experimenter to maintain a safe distance from the potentially dangerous setup.

How does a flare gun's primer strike compare to a rifle's?

A comparison showed that the modified flare gun produced very light primer strikes. In contrast, a standard rifle delivered a deep, forceful strike, demonstrating the significant difference in impact energy required for reliable ignition.

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