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Dragon's Breath Shotgun Shells
Fairlane66
Member Posts: 336 ✭✭
I was at a gun show over the weekend and stumbled upon a guy selling Dragon's Breath shotgun shells. Never heard of em before. Although they look like a standard high brass shotgun round, he claims they shoot a flame out to about 200 feet. According to the seller, these rounds were developed during the Vietnam or Korean Wars for use in base perimeter defense and other close in fighting. Can anyone tell me more about these rounds, specifically what they were designed for and what they're loaded with. I was tempted to buy a couple just for grins, but then decided against it because I was afraid of what harm they might do to a shotgun. Are these rounds harmful to a modern shotgun? Are they corrosive? Thanks.
Comments
These were not used in Korea or Vietnam. I did firebase perimeter duty in Vietnam and these were never used there. They are a fairly recent invention. They have not done any damage to the guns I have used them in.
A Dragon's Breath usually refers to a zirconium-based pyrotechnic shotgun round. When the round is fired, sparks shoot out to about 5 m (20 feet).[1]
While it has few tactical uses, the visual effect it produces is impressive, similar to that of a short-ranged flamethrower. The pyrotechnic shell is expensive compared to other shells, costing around 5 US dollars per shell.
Because it is a very low-power round, it cannot be used in an automatic shotgun; it does not produce enough recoil energy to cycle the next shot, causing the firearm to jam. An additional reason for use only in a manually-operated firearm is the fact that the round shoots at least a little flame for 3-5 seconds. This would cause a hazard if a shell still emitting flame were to be ejected from an automatic shotgun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgjfGVu8Q80&NR=1
http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=45722
I was less than impressed with those little do-dads. These loads consist of packets of magnesium and phosphorus are very hard on your shotgun barrel so if you do use them at all (if they are in fact legal in your area) don't shoot them out of your prized Browning Superposed! Decades ago there was a company that put out a whole bunch of these gimmick shotgun shells with all sorts of bizarre loadings. Anyone out there remember the Gaucho Load, which was two 12 gauge round balls with a thin chain attached to them and when fired was supposed to whirl around through the air like a spinning buzz saw slicing up anything and everything in it's path? Most of their customers would have been better off buying that big bridge in New York City [;)]
Never shot any, but got LOTS of laughs from the ads.
He claims they shoot a flame out to about 200 feet.
The ad copy claims 100 yards (300 feet), though I bet you don't get nearly that distance in real life.
quote:
According to the seller, these rounds were developed during the Vietnam or Korean Wars for use in base perimeter defense and other close in fighting.
I highly doubt that its true.
quote:
Can anyone tell me more about these rounds, specifically what they were designed for and what they're loaded with. I was tempted to buy a couple just for grins, but then decided against it because I was afraid of what harm they might do to a shotgun. Are these rounds harmful to a modern shotgun? Are they corrosive? Thanks.
They're one of many "gimmick" shotgun rounds, in this case a pyrotechnic one. The WIKI article says they're zirconium based, though I think you could get the same effect with magnesium chips or dust, and possibly other agents.
These types of rounds are sold by various makers (at least one or two others) under different names, and its possible that the exact formula for the pyrotechnic component varies between the makers.
They're probably lit with a small phosphorus charge, same as conventional "tracer" rounds.
See here for some sense of what they look like when fired. There are a bunch more videoes on you tube you could look at too:
See here for a variety of the "exotic" (ie mostly BS) shotgun rounds:
http://aa-ok.com/ammo-hi-vel-ammo-pyro-flares-misc/unique-shotgun-ammo.html
Even more here. . .best part is the pictures. . .not the rounds:
http://www.deltaforce.com/catalog/12gaugeammo.html
quote: I was tempted to buy a couple just for grins,
That's probably the only good reason to buy them, thoughat $7 each, you might be better off with conventional fireworks!
quote: but then decided against it because I was afraid of what harm they might do to a shotgun. Are these rounds harmful to a modern shotgun? Are they corrosive? Thanks.
I don't think they're corrosive, but apparently they really do dirty up the gun with soot when fired. I'd definitely clean the gun thoroughly after firing any of these, and I wouldn't fire them from a "nice" gun, that's for sure!
Here's something you might find more useful. 12ga reloads with a sabot and 50 Cal AP bullet. Uses a rolled crimp. Dealer's sign at the gun show said they're for shooting through cars and into the engine block at close range. Bullet sticks out further than hull so they could only be used in a single or double barrel.
I suppose this could be useful. . .if you needed to disable a car with your shotgun. I'm guessing that doesn't come up too often for most individuals!
Also, if you did really need some engine block busting shotgun slugs, those are commercially available; you wouldn't necessarily have to reload them yourself.