OK, here's another non-laser-related thread...
I went to this fireworks store near Carowinds (in South Carolina) a few weeks ago. It was right near the off ramp for exit 90 on I-77. There were two stores; one was larger and painted white, and the other one was a little smaller and painted brown. (I think it was called "so-in-so's Fireworks Barn", or something like that - I forget the exact name.)
Anyway, they had a decent selection of stuff, but right up front they were selling these boxes of "USA powerballs" brand mortar shells. They looked like your standard 1 inch mortar shells. Came 12 to a box, with one launch tube, for $20. The shells were wrapped in aluminum foil. Honestly, they looked pretty cheezy compared to the double-break and triple-break magnum shells that were also for sale... (Which were *MUCH* larger)
Let me tell you, these things are most certainly NOT cheezy... They don't make pretty crysanthimums in the sky, or "shoot flaming balls", or do anything else like a normal mortar shell does. Nope - these suckers go up in the air and then they friggin' explode like a BOMB! I'm not kidding, these things are incredibly loud!
Remember M-80's? These are every bit as powerful... Maybe even more so!
Don't believe me? I didn't think you would. Which is why I've uploaded a video to the PhotonLexicon gallery of me shooting a few of these things in my yard. I didn't even use the launcher tube. I just set the shell on the ground and lit the fuse. The first time I did it, I covered the shell with a bread-loaf pan. You won't believe what the force of the explosion did to that pan! (I also had really good luck with a 2 qt saucepan that I pulled the handle off of....)
So check it out: http://photonlexicon.com/gallery/buf...s_small_window
And if you ever see these things for sale, BUY SOME! They are very cool...
Adam