Flare gun with rubber band ?

Published on March 22, 2018
Duration: 12:04

This guide details an experimental modification to a 12-gauge plastic flare gun, attempting to increase hammer force with rubber bands to ignite a .50 BMG primer. The process involves securing the flare gun, adding rubber bands, testing tension, and remote firing. It highlights the challenges of off-center strikes and insufficient force, ultimately concluding the modification was unsuccessful in igniting the primer. The video emphasizes extreme safety precautions due to the inherent dangers of such experiments.

Quick Summary

A high-authority firearms entertainer attempted to modify a 12-gauge plastic flare gun with rubber bands to increase hammer force for igniting a .50 BMG primer. Despite modifications, the experiment failed due to insufficient impact force and off-center primer strikes, highlighting the significant difference in primer ignition requirements between flare cartridges and high-power rifle rounds. Safety precautions included remote firing setup.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Experiment Introduction
  2. 00:42Safety Setup
  3. 01:35Hammer Modification
  4. 03:35Initial Testing and Failure
  5. 05:25Troubleshooting Off-Center Strikes
  6. 11:16Final Analysis and Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the goal of modifying the flare gun in the video?

The goal was to increase the hammer's striking force using rubber bands, hoping to ignite the tough primer of a .50 BMG cartridge, which standard flare guns cannot do.

Why did the initial attempts to fire the .50 BMG round fail?

The initial attempts failed because the flare gun's hammer, even with rubber band modifications, did not strike the .50 BMG primer with enough force, resulting in light strikes or clicks instead of ignition.

What safety measures were taken during the experiment?

For safety, the flare gun was duct-taped to a sawhorse, and a long string was used to pull the trigger from a distance, acknowledging the high danger involved in this experimental procedure.

What technical issue prevented the flare gun from firing the .50 BMG round?

Besides insufficient force, the experiment revealed that over-tensioning the rubber bands altered the hammer's geometry, causing the firing pin to strike the .50 BMG primer off-center, further hindering ignition.

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