I have a WWII flare gun. Good shape, uses 10 gauge flair shells. I can find empty 10 gauge shells, but have no idea as to a safe, black powder, load. Really don't need the flares themselves, just want something to make some noise with.
Thanks
David

Make a 3 dram (about 95 grains) Black Powder blank. Are you sure it is 10 gauge? I didn't think anybody used anything that small in WWII.

Ivan

You can run afoul of NFA with projectile ammo in flare pistols...jus' sayin'.

I knew a guy that had a US Navy Mark ??? flare pistol. I think it
was designated in mms. Anyway he had a bushing made to use
12g shells. He was always making wierd mixtures of powdered
metals and chemicals propelled by BP. He was obsessed with
making firework type flares. He had some success, but his flare
making career came to abrupt end when some of the stuff came
down on his mothers garage roof and started a fire.

Years ago I came across a Korean War era made flare gun that also chambered 12 shotshells. I had no need for it and a customer spotted it in my shop. He was intrigued by it and ask if I would sell it to him. I just gave it to him. About a year later he and I ran across each other at the out door range. He told me that he tried all sorts of 12 ga. flares and none were too effective. One day he tried 12 ga. bird shot while standing at the range among strangers. After he shot a couple of more shots one of the guys walked over to him and showed him an BATF badge. The agent told him, "You can give me that short barreled shotgun now, or I can come and get it. You really won't like that." My acquaintance and customer told me he gave the agent the flare gun and never heard any more about it. .......

Winchester made a flare gun out of plastic back in the mid-70's that used a twelve gauge flare. They changed the specs after BATF pointed out that it was a cut off shotgun.

I understand a few "gangsta" types also got nicknamed "Lefty" after trying to shoot shotshells in them.

I used flare pistols in the Navy almost everyday. I loved shooting those red and green magnesium balls to signal a gear up landing attempt. If those AOC pilots didn't get the message the first time they got Balls-O-Fire coming straight at their prop. That will get your attention when one goes into a prop.

I dissected the cartridge which looked much bigger than 10 ga. There wasn't much powder in it and I believe it was smokeless. Looking at some stuff online I believe they were MK8 pistols.

Try 4 grains of bullseye with a floral clay cap. YMMV.

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That's just somebody talkin.

I've never heard of or seen a small gage flare gun from the WWII era. I have a couple including a well marked German one. The gage is huge as are the few shells I have for it. I can only guess, but it has to be around 4 gage.

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Dr. B

The gun was made by R.F. Sedgley Co. in 1943 and is marked MK 5, Navy. It is for 10 gauge flares. And yes, I do understand the issues with firing shot shells with this gun. Thanks for the loading data.
David.

Better check that gauge. Use your calipers and measure the bore. If it truly is a 10 gauge it will measure .775". That's not a common flare size for WW2 flare guns. Your gun is listed as having a bore of (.873") which makes it a 7 ga.

Not saying it is, just saying to check it.

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That's just somebody talkin.

I think the bbl bores on the 10ga Sedgley Flare pistols (probably others as well) are noticably larger in diameter than what it would be if it was a sporting firearm

The newer guns for civilian boaters are 12 ga. Most of the WW2 guns and post war are priority bores. MK 8's were 37 mm. Used for many years in the USN. Probably still in use. I fired a few hundred rounds from one of those working on the LSO platform.

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That's just somebody talkin.

The MkV was a 10ga,,paper case, brass head shotshell appearing rounds roll crimped. Marked 'No 10' on the case head and the color/type of signal on the top wad. Made before and during WW2.

Good information.

I had a lot of fun with a MK8. It was easy to dismantle the cartridge and remove the magnesium packs. They had a short fast fuse that was ignited by the powder charge. The powder card could be replaced and you had yourself a pistol that made a lot of noise and shot an impressive flame from the muzzle. We initiated our new crew members with those blanks.

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That's just somebody talkin.

I shoot quite a few 26.5mm flares but always out over water. ALL of them are still burning when they come down and land in the water. I would be afraid they would start fires if they came down on land.

We started a few fires too, but it was generally an emergency situation to save an aircraft and pilot. We were equipped to put them out pronto.

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That's just somebody talkin.

I'm just firing mine for fun, no ones life in the balance with me. Don't want to p*** off the neighbors by setting their house on fire!

old thread but they look like this.

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Paul
S&WCA #2726