Training Flashbang Grenades

[gbu-36]

Ok so heres the deal,Ive heard of people offering "Training Flashbang Grenades" they only have about 120 db of noise and a bright flash, but arent considered destructive devices by us laws. What Im wondering is if anyone has ever had some experiance with these, they are a bit pricy
(think 60$ for the reusable body and 30$ a fuse assembly)

are they worth it at all ? If not Ill probably buy one for my collection, but I just dont want to sink a buncha monies into one of these things for no reason.

I was thinking they would be super awesome for paintball or something if they do work ok.

any imput/info on em would be greatly appreciated

[KjeXz]

If you decide to buy one, I insist that you post pictures of it from every angle. If it can be disassembled, then take pictures of the stages of disassembly as well. (:
I'd love to find out just what explosive they contain, how the triggering mechanism works and if they are using any shaped-charge techniques to make it blow out through holes in the body.. Or whatever. Got a website to purchase them from?

[gbu-36]

The fellow Im getting em from has this model http://www.securityandsafetysupply.com/product-firearms/Diversionary1.html

otherwise the only one Ive seen for sale is these
http://www.21stcenturyairsoft.com/details/SAFETBANG

From what my contact said the ones he is offering use pyrodex and a flash composition that is included with the fuse, as for more public sales of the one Im planning on purchasing Im not sure, But Ill check with him, I may be purchasing some for a friend who runs a gunshop, if that happens Im sure he'll sell em on gunbroker

(speaking of which heres another thing I need to pick up hehe, but not at that price http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=45689103 )

[THErAPIST]

well... flashbangs are used as diversionary devices... being able to legally own a powered down one would be cool. even if they dont pack the punch of the real thing, they'd still work as a diversionary device. i dunno about you, but a 120 db bang and a flash of light right next to me is going to get my attention lol

[KjeXz]

Flashbangs have truly captured my interest lately, and I've done my research on the subject.
The real things consist of a cardboard tube filled with 4.5g of a flash powder mixture made of Mg + KClO4. This is encased in a hexagonal metal cylinder with holes in it, which will not fragment on deflagration. The casing stays intact for reuse. The ignition mechanism is the same as for any grenade. I've made my own schematics in photoshop just to give you the basic idea of how to construct such a device on your own.
You will probably need a bit of mechanical tinkering to get the lever and spring the right dimentions and so forth, as well as some mathematical thinking.
Since rorta doesn't support images bigger than 39K (those cheap bastards), I'll upload the image on images hack .us:
http://img426.imageshack.us/img426/4229/flashbang9ya.jpg

[THErAPIST]

flashbangs arent always metal cylinders and such. now they've gone to different flashbangs for different situations. they have one that has a cardboard tube filled with flash, there is a cardboard tube around the first that is packed full of aluminum powder that is so fine that it catches on fire once it contacts air. (the correct term for such a type of metal is pyrophoric powder). the flashbang has a string connected to it that's also connected to the throwers hand. there is only a 1 second delay after it is thrown because that's all thats needed. it's already on it's way there when it is triggered.

when the flashbang goes off it's loud as hell, but it also throws all the aluminum into the air. it ignites and makes a bright longer lasting flash to better disorient people who are in the open.

[KjeXz]

Wouldn't that burn anyone hit by the aluminum?

[THErAPIST]

no, the particles are so small, and their flame envelope is so small that in an unconfined area the ambient temperature in the area isn't going to rise much at all really. the particles just burn extremely brightly. imagine this.. the aluminum powder is more fine than even baking flour. couple the particle size with the fact that theres only about enough aluminum powder to fill up a plastic film canister and you realize that there really isnt much to get burned by. i mean sure... if theyre standing 5 feet from it then they may be burned a little, but the point of a flashbang is to stun/ disorient/ get the attention of people. out in the open where that design of flash bang is ment to be used, you wouldnt hurl it at the intended target heh heh. plus it's their fault anyway right if they werent being dumb then they wouldnt have it thrown at them anyway. it's either that or they get shot .. it's about as less lethal as it can get i guess.