[MadMax]

I've managed to develop two functioning grenades which are very combat effective.

I am currently in the midst of patent filings so I am not releasing pics or design details. I hope to complete my applications this week so I can start wider field trials. If you've seen my grenade either on trial or at the ASC Armoury, please help me keep my design a secret.

The costs of tooling up for my pilot release run are quite significant as I will have to invest in injection moulds and have a large run of parts machined. Consequently it is very important for me to have an accurate idea of how my competitors products perform.

If you have direct experience with a widely manufactured airsoft hand grenade (throwable type, not bb shower) please share it with me so I can better assess the market I'll be entering. Please indicate the make and model of the grenade you're reporting on.

I am only considering reusable non pyro grenades. It seems to me that chemical grenades (vinegar and baking soda type) are limited in their power due to the low reactivity of their ingredients. I am not going to enter the pyro market because of the import/export complications and the issue of bulk storage of explosive charges not to mention safety issues.

So far I have had direct experience with three airsoft hand grenades some of which I currently own:

DEEPFIRE M26

pros:
-looks good
-holds a heap of bbs (180!)

cons:
-very inefficiently propels bbs (terrible eff', in trials most of the bbs ended up in a pile around the grenade)
-inconsistent timer (about +/- 2s on 7 deployments out of 10, the other three either failed to trigger or blew up in the hand)
-3 separate shell segments, and removable spoon to lose


PFI

pros:
-looks ok

cons:
-low bb capacity
-very low power
-very inaccurate timer (+/-3s)
-a bazillion loose parts which get scattered when it manages to go off
-shell broke at about 15th deployment


ESCORT MKII:

pros:
-looks good
-solid design seems robust
-no loose parts except the pin

cons:
-directional bb spread (only discharges in one direction)
-inconsistent timer (+/- 2s)


Please add your impressions of grenades you have actually deployed. A report about a really amazing incredible product that you haven't loaded or thrown yourself but heard good things about doesn't give me a very reliable sense of a product.


Thanks for your participation!