After launching a bunch of Orion 12 guage flares and some Orion hand
helds a few years ago, I have never felt good about them. However,
the seriously expired Pains-Wessex flares worked very well. So, I
found that Pains-Wessex is available again in the USA and I bought
some online.
The hand held Orions barely will light even when lit from another
flare whereas soaking wet Pains Wessex flares lit easily. Almost all
of the expired 12 guage Orions were fizzles often launching but rarely
lighting up whereas the 10 yr expired Pains Wessex rocket flare was
seriously impressive. So, I now have a LOT of flares of both Pains-
Wessex and Orion brands. I keep them all in a tupperware style
container.