Soda/Golf Launcher Flares

Tim

Tim

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My google-fu is failing. I picked up a soda can/golf ball launcher a while back. I’d like to launch flares with it. I’ve found flares that are several dollars apiece.

but I want to add a flare launch to a Night Match I’m planning. So I’d need 100ish rounds.

So, I need a cheap as hell solution. Any ideas?
 
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Out of curiosity I just tried searching, and everything was in the $10/ea range including 12ga flares. Never though they’d be so pricey!
 
Parachuting flare or just a brief, lofty streak? As in, is the goal to illuminate an area for a time, or fire a short-lived signal?

I'm thinking smoke bombs or some other brightish yet short lived substance. Liability of homemade concoctions might make that a non-starter.

AA battery & a cheapo LED light glued to a golf ball?
 
I’m thinking more of a signal flare rather than illumination.

How about a 16oz water bottler (2.75” diameter, tennis balls are 2.7”) with a mini chem light inside?
 
They have led or glow in the dark golf balls but best i saw them on amazon was just under $4 a piece not sure if you could find a cheaper source or any better than what you had.
 
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Check out glow in the dark bouncey balls and see if you can find the correct size looks like they can be had sub $1.00 a piece on amazon. Might be picking them up in the next county over depending how they shoot.
 
These are $3 each but I’m not sure what they do?

redbacksport.com.au

12x Sonic Flare Golf Balls

Colour your world with the latest Matte finish Sonic Flare! These 2 piece quality balls have a soft elastic surlyn blended cover for a great feel with an extra large energy charged inner core.The cover has a stylish aerodynamic dual-radius multi-dimple design.Available in four hi-visibility...
redbacksport.com.au redbacksport.com.au
 
yes
hp468 said:
Golf balls, gallon zip lock bag, break/cut/pour a bunch of glow sticks into the bag. Dunk golf balls and launch.

Never done it with a launcher but they look like green tracers when hit at night,
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toxic?

This may be a winner!
 
Tim said:
yes

toxic?
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Not far as I know, don’t drink it.

A pourus ball would be even better as the fluid would absorb, might work with tennis balls also.

I like the bouncy ball idea up thread also, fix a cooler or box with a bright light inside to store them in to keep charged in the dark. Certainly less messy than my idea.
 
Tim said:
yes

toxic?

This may be a winner!
Click to expand...
I don't know about toxic, but that stuff is nasty. I've had some weep out of old Chem lights. Keep it away from anything plastic.

Hmmm... collect fireflies?

Wait, will flash-bangs fit?
 
A standard Chem light fits perfectly in a cut open 12ga shell. Fits so well, it’s like they intended for you do this…..They will load easily into the open chamber of a 870 (or any other shotgun id imagine)
 
Let's see if I can do this again....

I'm planning a stage for a night match.
Run n Gun style, so 1 competitor on the stage at any given time (not a squad of folks standing around).
I ALREADY HAVE AND PLAN TO USE an AR mounted golf/tennis/soda launcher as a stage prop.
I'm looking for a cheap-ish way to launch a signal flare as part of the course of fire from the already in-hand launcher

So, I'm looking for DIY hacks to use the already on hand and going to be used ball/can launcher to send up a signal flare. It doesn't need to be overly bright, I'm not landing choppas or marking danger close.
 
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Tim said:
Blackett Mini Compact Emergency Glow Light Sticks, 1.5 inch https://a.co/d/ii8fYXi
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Can you use a foam filler in the bottom of the launcher. Cut a small slit and put one end of the glow stick in.
They should separate and the glow stick having less resistance travel further.

You will need to test it out.

If not, the squirrel idea still has some merit.
 
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Fill an empty soda can about 1/4 with plaster of paris.
insert a couple sparklers (Shorten from the bottom to control burn time)
when dry, load, light, and fire.

You could also look into making sparkler compound, this would allow you to shape a wire into a spiral or cone rather than having it stick out.

I do have a bunch of 26.5mm flares and a carbine to shoot them, but as I’m sure you’re noticed they aren’t as cheap as they once were.
 
If chemlight, I think maybe cut the top off a can, drill a hole in the bottom of the can, use a line to secure the light and run it through the hole in the can then secure. Add weight to can (plaster of paris, epoxy, etc) .Load with the open end of the can down and the chemlight inside. The chemlight should exit the can as it leaves the barrel and trail the weighted can for a good distance.
 
GymB said:
If chemlight, I think maybe cut the top off a can, drill a hole in the bottom of the can, use a line to secure the light and run it through the hole in the can then secure. Add weight to can (plaster of paris, epoxy, etc) .Load with the open end of the can down and the chemlight inside. The chemlight should exit the can as it leaves the barrel and trail the weighted can for a good distance.
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that sounds excellent
 
What's the bore of your launcher? they make rubber glow in the dark bouncy balls that fit paintball guns. maybe they make them large enough for your bore?
 
Get Off My Lawn said:
I wonder if @Les White has any ideas
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Oh. I have ideas! Great ideas! And almost every one of them would burn the county down to the ground.

I can't think of anything that's not overly complicated or expensive. Even garden variety aerial flares are pretty expensive.

Flares expire 42 months after manufacture date and must be disposed of and replaced. Maybe make friends with someone who is in charge of "disposal" for an unlimited supply. Many years ago I was gifted a few expired compact aerial emergency flares with a pen type launcher. I think it was called a "penjector", googling it shows lots of results none looked like the one I had. Even those are spendy. But the point is some surplus place was selling some that were expired.

These are cheapish, but you'd still need a 26.5mm flare gun. https://www.koshersurplus.com/produ...d-rain-red-flare-orange-smoke-and-blue-smoke/
Or a 4ga shotgun.
 
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Les White said:
Oh. I have ideas! Great ideas! And almost every one of them would burn the county down to the ground.

I can't think of anything that's not overly complicated or expensive. Even garden variety aerial flares are pretty expensive.

Flares expire 42 months after manufacture date and must be disposed of and replaced. Maybe make friends with someone who is in charge of "disposal" for an unlimited supply. Many years ago I was gifted a few expired compact aerial emergency flares with a pen type launcher. I think it was called a "penjector", googling it shows lots of results none looked like the one I had. Even those are spendy. But the point is some surplus place was selling some that were expired.

These are cheapish, but you'd still need a 26.5mm flare gun. https://www.koshersurplus.com/produ...d-rain-red-flare-orange-smoke-and-blue-smoke/
Or a 4ga shotgun.
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As Les Nessman mentioned, for 12ga flares, check with a marina. I’ve had friends that would have a ball disposing off 100 at a time.
 
Les White said:
Flares expire 42 months
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those surplus ones might be expired at 42 years. I’ve shot a few dozen of them, get a dud every 15 or 20. The parachute flares are quite nice, but I haven’t seen them for sale in a long time.

@Tim, if you decide to go this route I have an RV85 you could borrow, don’t even need to clean it before returning.
 
GymB said:
those surplus ones might be expired at 42 years. I’ve shot a few dozen of them, get a dud every 15 or 20. The parachute flares are quite nice, but I haven’t seen them for sale in a long time.

@Tim, if you decide to go this route I have an RV85 you could borrow, don’t even need to clean it before returning.
Click to expand...

I’ve never seen one of these, that looks like a ton of fun!

I’m looking at probably 100+ shooters over 2 nights. So, the cost and potential damage rules that out for me. Thank you for the offer though.

If I can get it down to ~$1.50/shooter I’ll do it. If not, I’ll scrap the idea. And I’m already at ~$0.75 for the 5.56 blank.
 
Would it be possible to add an upcharge to the registration fee to cover each shooter's flare(s)? Add $5-$10 to the regular fee and explain to the participants "Due to the cost of materials provided for you, this particular match has a $10 surcharge." You wouldn't necessarily need to say what the charge is specifically for.

Of course, some might balk at that and turnout could be less than hoped.
 
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