Attn. Rack builders

[doesitinthedark]

I know there is a big difference between 1.3 and 1.4......but I thought I would post some pictures of what happens when a 4" Chinese tigertail shell detonates in its tube. I put up about 9 pictures a couple of minutes ago. This detonation actually threw debris 400' away. Damaged racks to the sides and a row away! Allan

[pipebomb]

DAY-UM!!! thats what I call a catastrophic failure. I'm hoping those other tubes in the rack w/ the one that blew out, where empty at the time. thats a perfect case of what "gone horribly wrong" looks like.

[unipyro]

Where did you put the pictures?
more information please.

[pipebomb]

in his gallery. and this is why people harp on "distance is your friend"

http://www.pyrouniverse.com/gallery2...hp/photo/23189

[unipyro]

WOW

Saving 1.3 for the future...

[doesitinthedark]

I thought this would be a good example for for those reading this section. When others critique there rack pictures and suggest they beef up this section or thicken up that section...there only trying to help. This was on a hand fired show......Blast put out mine and my fellow shooters flares. Allan

[pipebomb]

like regular road flares?? damn, you can toss some of those in bucket off water and they won't go out. usually you gotta grind them to snuff them out. everyone ok?? that adds just little more impetus to my thinking of buying an e-fire system in the spring.

[eagle1]

hope everyone is ok .

[doesitinthedark]

This was several years ago....2003. My shooting partner got the worst of it. He got a bruised ankle, and a cantolope sized bruise on both of his legs, between his knees and waist. I got some small cuts, and bruises. We were really lucky, someone was watching over us that night. Allan

[Georgie-Tiger]

holy pah-jeepers! serious carnage.

why handlighting will bring on the instant flow of adrenaline.

[fireworkfan504]

Man That shows the true power of those shells glad to hear you guys were spared any real serious injuries

[BobinNC]

Nice photos. That makes me even more glad that I did well when a 5" shell went off in the tube a year or so ago, handfiring. It had a longer than normal time delay fuse, so I had lit it and headed over to the next shell to light, which was 10 feet away. Suddenly I head an odd sound, ducked, and the shell went off in the tube, sending stars flying by my head. The rack was broken, but fortunately, the shells next to it had already been fired, so those tubes were empty. I had strapped the racks together, top and bottom with nylon straps-a common practice here in NC-and the straps held well, the bottom one ripped, but the top one held, so the rack assembly did well. The straps also helped to hold the wood parts together, so there was little shrapnel.

The other shooter was at the other end of the show, and barely noticed it, and I had no injuries, mostly due to being 10 feet away and ducking (with my back to the tube) when I heard it not shoot right. I have seen 3 shells go off in the tube (as opposed to flowerpotting out of it.) in 5 years, I presume that most were loaded upside down, but not sure. All were 5" shells, and they are heavy enough to break the string holding the fuse to the top, if you are not careful, or if the string is done poorly. I have caught several other shells where the string was broke, or loose and repaired before using. But hand firing is dangerous, and some people will stand near the shell as it goes off. I wouldn't suggest it myself.