Going Out With a BANG - Part 1

Pyrotechnics (or Pyro's as they are affectionately known by "softers" everywhere) is an interesting facet of the hobby. Although not directly connected to the Airsoft weapons themselves, they are used to enhance game-play and the Airsofting experience.

In the real military world, explosives generally take the form of a measured explosive charge. Many explosives are pretty inert until they are matched with something like another chemical substance or a form of detonator.

In Airsoft we have a more basic range of non-lethal things that fizzle or go bang. Prior to Airsoft, I thought of the word pyrotechnics as being primarily related to fireworks, distress flares or the things that special effects guys use on movies or on stage.

The Airsoft industry has developed and adapted a range of pyro's to meet the growing need for realism.

These range from smoke grenades, through to thunderflashes that go bang and on to fragment grenades that spray BB's or dried peas around them when they explode.

The main conundrum with these is juggling the need for realism and effect with the requirement to be safe. Airsoft is about fun - there is no point having pyro's that are so powerful, they pepper you with BB wounds like buckshot or make your ears bleed with the percussion.

Here is a guide that I made for my own education which sifts and sorts the various types of Airsoft pyrotechnics available in the UK where I live and play Airsoft.

Part 1 covers pyrotechnic devices which are designed to be used only once.
Part 2 which will come at a later date, will cover devices which can be reloaded and reused.

PART 1

DISTRACTION

Flash Pyro's make a bang and sometimes a little light. Many sites count these as having the same effect as a grenade and will impose an imaginary kill radius. For example, you might consider yourself hit if one of these goes off 5m or less from you.

Examples:
Mk5 Thunderflash - loud bang (typical 120dB at 10m range) using a friction igniter
Flash Grenade - white flash and  loud bang (typical 120dB at 5m range) using a friction igniter

Typical cost £2-3 each

FRAG GRENADES

Sometimes also called a Ball Grenade, these explode and shower clay BB's or dried peas all around.
Some products are bio-degradable.  Grenades tend to use either a friction igniter where you have to strike the inside of the cap (striker plate) across the fuse on the top of the main body or a ring pull igniter.
Typical range of 4-5m. Most sites will impose a kill radius of 5m, irrespective of whether you get "fragged".

Typical cost £3-4 each

THERMOBARIC

By definition, "real steel" Thermobaric devices typically use the surrounding Oxygen to "stoke" the chemical reaction. Thermo = Heat; Baric = Pressure. In Airsoft these low power versions are typically used indoors in a CQB environment as they produce more of a thud, but they have the benefit of a bright flash.
Apparently, they're ideal for room clearing. The igniter is also of the friction type.
Some manufacturers also produce a multi-bang version which provides the initial thud and flash followed by some thunderflash bangs which are similar to a Mk5 response.

Typical cost £3.50 each or £5.50 for the multi-bang.

MULTI-BURST

These are more expensive than the Thermobaric devices mentioned above, but they have a realistic spoon pull, just like the real thing and provide smoke, flash and multiple bangs. Again these are primarily designed for room clearing in CQB. They are about £12 each, so more for the hard-core or wealthy Airsofter.
Just to confuse the issue, it is also possible to buy the standard Thermobaric in this cannister type (i.e. with the spoon) but the cost is still over £10 each.

Don't confuse multi-burst and multi-bang.

SMOKE GRENADE

Smoke Grenades are designed to provide cover and effectively smoke screen you from the other team. Some sites also use the coloured ones as poison gas and if you come into contact with the smoke as it drifts downwind, it can be regarded as a hit. Alternatively and to save confusion, some sites just use a kill radius to define a poison gas hit.

There are different colours, intensities and ignition types available on the market.

It is often crucial to make smoke quickly, especially in the heat of battle when an assault or escape is needed and different models have variable make smoke delays and different burn duration times.

Be aware that smokes can be single or twin sided. The single side ones vent smoke from just one end while the twin side devices vent smoke from both ends. Normally the twins start smoking quicker and are more intense in their smoke generation.

You can also buy burst smokes which erupt smoke very quickly and some high output ones which are designed to bridge the gap between a standard smoke and the real military ones (e.g Enola Gaye EG18).

As well as the standard friction cap igniters, It's also possible to get wire or ring pull igniters.

Typical cost £2-5



On July 4th 2013, CE marking came into force and now any new pyrotechnic product has to be CE marked before it can be sold in Europe

CE marking means that samples of the product have to be physically tested by an independent body who declare that it:

* Conforms with the declared design
* Contains only chemicals that have been declared in the design
* Is safe
* Functions correctly and safely even after being submitted to thermal and mechanical stresses.

Some manufacturers and importers have been obliged to modify their products to get them CE approved.

From a safety point of view, it could be a good idea to check for a CE mark before you buy, especially if the price seems cheaper than expected. Also, different skirmish sites have different rules for pyro's, so always check they will allow you to use your chosen device before you waste your money.

COMING UP in Part 2 - Reusable Grenades