What to do with expired flares...

[kyjelly44]

Well i had a buddy give me some old flares that he had when he used to have a boat. knowing i have a boat he thought I would know how to dispose of them. They are the 12 gauge style with the little orange pistol kind. I have a resources to dispose of them with my old position I had at work, but had an idea that i may keep them for. We all see every week people getting lost in the back country. So i think ill get them and add it to my day pack when i go out.

 

[Tugcapitan]

As someone who has messed around with expired flares, I can tell you from experience that they expire for a reason.
My advice would be to drop them off at a fire station or wherever they take them. If you want some for the back country I'd get new ones. They don't cost that much do they?
I've had fun with expired flares, but also saw one miss fire and come very close to hurting someone... we got so lucky it didn't land on a roof nearby or on kids that weren't far away either. Won't do that again, suggest you don't either.

 

[kyjelly44]

new flares will do the same thing. we use them all the time at work (military). i have seen all kinds of goofy things with current up to date flares. para flares usually have the most "defects".

 

[Tugcapitan]

new flares will do the same thing. we use them all the time at work (military). i have seen all kinds of goofy things with current up to date flares. para flares usually have the most "defects".

For sure, incident I referenced was a para flare like you say. Still, the "what if" close call was very sobering. Maybe it would have happened the same way when it was brand new, but I'm done with expired flares!