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26.5 mm Flare Gun Adapter sleeve

BootlegBootleg Member Posts: 21 ✭✭
edited July 2002 in Ask the Experts
Has anyone tried making a sleeve out of Fortal - Steel or Titanium to adapt a surplus 26.5 mm flare gun to shoot other calibers?
Is this legal as I see on company selling .410 shotgun caliber sleeve adapters for $125 - $150 , mostly by marine outlets?
Seems like an easy lathe job and I'm wondering if anyone can post their results if they tried?
Thanks
Mike
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Comments

  • AdamsQuailHunterAdamsQuailHunter Member Posts: 2,022 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    At one time they were easy to purchase. They were for the old Webley's and others, since the large flare is not easy to find and expensive when you do.

    The inserts allowed you to use a 12 gauge flare, but the flare was shorter than any standard 2&3/4 inch shell. When the short versions of the the 12 gauge shell came out --- the "mini-slugs" and "mini-buckshot", they suddenly disappeared. I suspect that it is because that these specialty shells will fit the adapter which will create big problems with the BATF. You now would have what would amount to a short-barreled shotgun.

    Best Regards
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  • BootlegBootleg Member Posts: 21 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    A conversion sleeve shouldn't qualify for any BATF regulations as far as I've seen. Otherwise that other company selling .410 sleeves would
    have been busted long ago. Any thoughts on this? Anyone with any experience with sleeves for 26.5 mm flare guns would be appreciated?
    Mike
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  • lrarmsxlrarmsx Member Posts: 791 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've used the 12ga size down adapter sleeve in the 26.5mm flareguns. It kind of takes the fun out of shooting the flaregun. There isn't nearly the recoil and of course the elevation and magnitude of the flare is weak as well. As for the adapters themselves, it has been a few years since I've seen them offered. The other thing is that while the 12ga flares are more readily available than the 26.5mm, they are not cheap. Then again, neither are the 26.5mm flares anymore. At least with the 26.5mm ones, you got something for your money. The other option is the marine 25mm or 1" ones. I have fired the 25mm ones in the 26.5mm guns before. They are actually tighter than the 26.5mm flares are in the gun. You'd think that they'd be looser.

    The adapter sleeves that took the 12ga flares that I've handled before were made from all one piece aluminum. They were chambered to hold only the shorter flare shells, but I suspect that the previous post from AdamsQuailhunter may be correct that the availability of the new shorter 12ga shotgun shells may be to blame for the disappearance of the adapters. As for comparing them to the .410 adapters, there you were taking a 12ga serial numbered (or at least specific centerfire) firearm and converting it from one caliber to another or one gauge to another in this case. An individual had to have bought the gun as a firearm to own it. As where here you could (with the use of these shorter 12ga shells), be taking a "flare gun" that you could order through the mail, (as they aren't considered a firearm) and convert it to fire live, centerfire ammunition. Hence, making it a firearm. Additionally these flareguns are made with thinner steel or aluminum construction, they were meant for the pressures of a flare, not live 12ga rounds. The adapters are also aluminum, also not meant for the pressures of live ammo. Put all that together and you have a serious problem waiting to happen from a legal as well as safety stand point. LRARMSX@MCHSI.COM
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  • BootlegBootleg Member Posts: 21 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    First of all look at this url to see the .410 adapter being sold all over WITHOUT any BATF regulations. http://www.ahoycaptain.com/shop/product791.html
    I'm wondering if anyone has tried using materials like Fortal Aluminum or Stainless or Titanium to make sleeves for these surplus
    26.5mm Flare guns?
    Also, anyone have a good wholesale source to buy surplus flare guns cheap?
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  • lrarmsxlrarmsx Member Posts: 791 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Just because someone sells it, doesn't make it legal. No where in that info do they state that it is legal, just that they "declared what they HAD to declare". Also take into consideration that ports world wide have different regulations than here in the US. Many countries wouldn't really be to concerned about a single shot flare gun with a 410 adapter when half of the locals are carrying AK47's or other such hardware. When you check into port they may want to know how many guided missles you have aboard or your total stash of drugs, but an adapter to shoot 410 out of you flare gun one at a time, doubtful. Besides that, at over $120, it isn't exactly cheap. Plus .410 shells are a lot more than 12ga ammo and you won't find .410 in to many places around the world.
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  • azgunnut2@yahoo.comazgunnut2@yahoo.com Member Posts: 305 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hey :
    Any "gunsmith or machinist" worth their there weight can make you an "adaptor" , we have made many !!!!! in variuos configurations ....
    and they are not "illegal"..........Good Luck !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    azgunnut2@yahoo.com

    Join / Support the NRA
    Guns are my friends !!!
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