This afternoon I ran into guy with m-29 with ruined barrel. He bought a box of misc. gun stuff at a sale. In the box was some
emergency flares for 44 mg. When he shot one the flare didn't
clear the barrel,it stopped just ahead of cone. The flare ignited
and burnt in the barrel. Must be some thermite compound, it did
a job on barrel. I remember these flares from back in 70s or 80s.
If you run across any of these don't fire in your gun. I think they
had inert powder charge from age and drawing damp around
"Flare Bullet". I think I will be looking for a 29 barrel if deal
comes off.

Was it called a "Fire-fly"?

Back in the early 1980's I investigated a forest fire that was started by one of those things. It was suppose to be used as a emergency flare to signal for help, only the guy shot it off on a very dry and windy New Years Eve.

Good luck with your gun deal and hope you get the size barrel you want for the M-29.

__________________
"Life is short, hunt hard"

I once got a few rounds like that for 12ga.
They were called "12 ga. Fireball".
They were sold as supposedly being for breaching door locks and knobs.
Says it exceeds 3000° F. ! 200 foot flames! (caution: do not fire indoors!)
I am guessing these have powdered magnesium in them.
I have never had the cajones to fire one of them, let alone in a nice double.
I do have an old bolt action 12 if the mood ever strikes but the fear of a fire has also held me back.

===
Nemo

Attached Images

12gaFireball.jpg (91.0 KB, 58 views)

Just ahead of the cone? Did it build enough heat to ruin the frame?

44 melt down
No didn't do damage to frame. Actually that is the exact spot flare stopped.
I bought gun off guy, cheap. Had tried to polish out damage., but it ruined
riflings. Got barrel off with no trouble. Wish it had stuck about 5" up tube
and I could have cut off.

Smith & Wesson/AAI 44 Magnum Vietnam Tunnel Gun - Smith & Wesson Forum

__________________
Possum—The other white meat!