How to make Dragon's Breath

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tecj9

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Hello, I am new to reloading ammo. Currently I only reload 12 gauge shells for personal use. In the future I want to also reload my 223/556 and 9mm ammo. But for now it seemed like the cheapest way to get into it was to start with the reloading shot gun shells. I’m not even sure if that is really considered reloading.

I started with the basics of course, birdshot, buckshot, and slugs. Then I got into the fun, specialty stuff. Bird, buck, and slug in one shell, Expanding slugs, long distance slugs, etc…

I recently started getting into the pyrotechnic type rounds. I purchased some Dragon’s Breath. Now before all the negative comments, I realize this is not a tactical load. It really is just for fun and you have to be careful. It also does do some damage to shotgun barrel. I get all that but it’s fun to shoot. And I shoot for fun. And if my barrel get too damaged I’ll buy another. Originally I wanted to make my own loads because they cost $6 a shell and up if you order them from the Internet.

I have tried to load some of my own Dragon’s Breath with little to no success. I have taken a Dragon’s Breath shell I purchased, opened it up to see what is in side, and have reloaded it into one of my hulls with my powder and it works fine. But for the life of me I cannot find out what they put in it. I have ready on many forums that they use Magnesium. The shell I opened had a darkish chips of some type of metal. But I have tried magnesium, magnesium powder, chips, and even shavings. All it does is make a quick bright flash at the end of the barrel. I have tried other stuff as well like Aluminum Powder and chips, Barium, etc.. I have spent about $100 different metals trying to make Dragon’s Breath. Let me tell you they either don’t use Magnesium, or they mix/coat it with something.

Does anyone have any idea how to make a Dragon’s Breath shell? What is used to make the sparks/flash? At this point I’m determined and want to just figure this out so I can move on to something else, like reloading some brass.

Thank you in advance for any help or ideas.
 
After watching videos of those rounds they remind me of roman candles. I would look more into firework formulas to find a solution that might work.
 
I believe they use zirconium...expensive stuff. Be careful combining fuels(Al powder) and oxidizers(certain barium salts). Do it yourself compositions in a shotgun barrel are not a good idea.
 
Experimenting with random explosive, flammable and incendiary materials is a recipe for losing ones eyebrows, eyesight or worse....

This has bad idea written all over it.
 
Experimenting with random explosive, flammable and incendiary materials is a recipe for losing ones eyebrows, eyesight or worse....

This has bad idea written all over it.
Click to expand...

As well as legalities. Some states ban the use of "novelty" shells. Illinois being one of them.
 
I was afraid this would happen as I seen it on other posts. The mentality of the slave population. Imagine if that was the mentality of everyone: "It is dangerous so don't do it." Just dealing combustible items, we wouldn’t have guns, fireworks, cars, trucks, motorcycles, natural gas, nuclear energy, electricity, and much more.

And I’m not sure what anyone else is doing out there, but I’m not “playing” with explosives. Just reloading regular shots with powder is dangerous. And I am aware of that.

I’m on the reloading forum and I have a reloading question. If you know the answer, or can point me in the right direction, that would be great otherwise you’re just wasting your time and mine.

I believe I have found out what is used, I will not disclose it now until after testing. Once I figure this out I’m going to make a YouTube Video to share this. There is virtually nothing on the internet, on how to make these rounds. I believe that is on purpose. Some sites are charging $10 a shell for this shot. I will update in a few weeks after testing.
 
Your only wasting our time by asking stupid crap like this! What your wanting to do is possibly illegal, will most likely hurt yourself and others. yes you are on a reloading forum but making homemade fireworks to shoot out of gun is not reloading it's dangerous and stupid!

10$ a shot huh? You planning on selling it? Cause that's illegal and now your animated mentality will get someone hurt that's dumb enough to buy this from you.
 
Tec, since you seen the mentality of the slave population at this forum wouldn't you have better luck at a non slave mentality fireworks forum?
 
I say go for it! Consenting adult and all that.

Actually that was the first firearm, good out to 20 or 30 feet, more or less a contained flame thrower. Sometimes just flame, sometimes a bit of stuff to go with it (bits of metal)

Good to know someone is braking back ancient lost arts!

You might try checking out a book on mineral at the library, good pictures might ID the material.

PM me and let me know how you did,
 
First it is not illegal in my state to buy, use, or even load your own Dragon's Breath shells. Second I don't sell ammo, I use ammo. I don't make enough to keep my self supplied, let alone other people. Also I know you have to have different licences to be an ammo manufacture and sell that ammo. I'm not interested in that.

I am interested in the challenge of making the Dragon's Breath round. And maybe save a little money while having fun. Yes making the shell is dangerous, just like reloading any shell or round is.

And also I will share this once I figure it out. I'm going to make a YouTube video. People should have the proper information on how to make this safely. If the proper instructions were out there, I wouldn't have to test half a dozen metals.

Thank you for everyone with constructive responses.
 
Flash powder?

Don't understand how the flash, or bang, could be ignited by the lifting charge downrange. Fourth of July Fireworks technology.

Used to be a factory loading called (grackle ?). Those charges propelled 'something' downrange that ignited. Think an aerial Cherry bomb firecracker. It, like the Carbide Cannon, was supposed to be used to convince Crows to gather/nest elsewhere.
 
"...burn your house and yard down..." You can do that by deep frying a turkey. snicker.
This is from a retailer of the ammo.
"This ammo is restricted in the following cities and/or states: All of Alaska; All of CA; All of FL; All of IA; All of HI; All of IL; All of MA; NYC , NY, Washington DC..."
Dragon's Breath ammo consists primarily of magnesium pellets/shards. Magnesium shards burn at approximately 3,000 °F (1,650 °C) that will produce about a 100′(30 yards) muzzle flash and launch the magnesium up to 75 yards.
Up here, 1/4" x 1/4" magnesium pellets cost $971.50Cdn(751.43USD) per POUND(That's 7,000 grains.) plus shipping, taxes and likely Hazmat fees.
You may find the MSDS interesting too.
"Catches fire spontaneously if exposed to air." and "Do not allow contact with water." You really should read the whole thing.
http://www.lesker.com/msds/pdfs/91b18ebac426c9fd8cb7187d8586ed4283848eba64113cd0e05d1a3626.pdf
This is an incendiary round. Burn any part of your neighbour's property, you will be arrested. Start a forest/grass fire, you will be arrested.
"...Just reloading regular shots with powder is dangerous..." Nope. Reloading is 100% safe as long as you follow your manual.
"...I am new to reloading ammo..." Perhaps you should read a book first.
 
Anyone want to hear about my neighbor? He liked making fireworks. One night as he worked in his basement while his family was away, and phone was on a table, one went off.

Tee hee!

He made it upstairs about six hours later, spent a week in a hospital bed (in cuffs under atf custody) HE HAS NO RIGHT HAND NOW, BUT OTHER THAN THAT EVERYTHING IS JUST PEACHY.

all of the "normals" here who have worked propellants for years know the hazards of pacing explosives into a big shell and setting it off in a right steel barrel. A shotgun barrel is about the same gauge steel as a fragment grenade. Please, for the love of God, get a degree in something and get off the internet. Jesus, you can't even bake a cake with internet advice.

Btw, I have read that tannerite and a big tube fire cracker makes a great show, but the guy who suggested it is probably sitting at home, snickering every time the page gets a hit, hoping that hell read about it in the newspapers.

What do the slaves think? Am I just being ridiculous?
 
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