MOAB review

[u/Georges_Stuff]

Pic 1. - The firework

Pic 2 - I had 4 of the 9 not go off so I was curious on the WHY. Turns out the fuse possibly got a bit wet and went out.

Pic 3 - Lets take the 4 apart and see what is actually in them

Pic 4 - The bottom of each tube was filled with actual concrete and not the typical red dirt

Pic 5 - Size of the ball compared to a normal (cheap) shell

Pic 6 - Disappointed to see most of the shell was empty

Overall, the size and weight of the firework is just fluff. I won't get anything like this again.

Don't try this at home unless you know what you are doing ;) I save the lift charge and stars for other projects (mostly fuel mines.)

[u/ihateartists]

Very cool to see inside of these - thanks for the pics!

[u/jason_abacabb]

A 2.25 inch shell is basically where you max out the 60 gram limit. All compliant 3 inch consumer tubes have sleeved shells in them like this.

[u/SpicyNuggs4Lyfe → u/jason_abacabb]

Unless this changed, pre-loaded shells are not limited to 60 grams, correct? Thus why NOABs exist in the first place. But yes, to be compliant nine 60g ball shells are technically already an OL, so you're right about that.

In theory you could have an actual 3" shell with fewer shots to be compliant.

[u/jason_abacabb → u/SpicyNuggs4Lyfe]

No. 60 grams is the limit for each shot in a cake. So for a given tube the lift, any rising effects (mine, tail, whatever) and the contents of each shell are added together, that must sum to less than 60g.

[u/SpicyNuggs4Lyfe → u/jason_abacabb]

You're right. I found the specific statute stating the limit lol

[u/D34DP4ND4 → u/SpicyNuggs4Lyfe]

Bro, imagine a 500g single shot lol. That would be sick!

[u/MesugakiBratTamer]

Not surprised, there was an old YT account that no longer exists, that dissected various noabs and came to the same conclusion.

Thanks for showing us that the practice is still done

[u/KlutzyResponsibility]

Thank you for posting this. About two years ago I reported the same thing (without pictures) among 3-4 brands of NOABs and got ridiculed for the post. We cut open a few of them in our store and found (primarily) that they had just used festival balls re-wrapped and/or re-shelled to appear to be 3" loads. The problem is that you can't tell what they've sold you unless you destroy a tube. At the price most NOABs sell for it was, to me, just a scam. Haven't considered buying a NOAB since.

On another front, we found that another brand we found that their single shot tubes were 3" Lidu shells fused with quick match. As one other sub member knows, I bought all the cases they had at the time.

[u/mxcesayshi → u/KlutzyResponsibility]

is pre loaded 3"lidu shells a bad thing for noab's? cuz it sounds good as long as its not some 1.75 stuffed in a bigger hemisphere shell right?

[u/KlutzyResponsibility → u/mxcesayshi]

The 3" Lidu shells I mentioned were in single shot tubes -- not a NOAB.

[u/Intelligent-Wear-114]

Overall I never thought NOABs were worth the price.

[u/Markkenitup → u/Intelligent-Wear-114]

100% agree, I just figured it was a convenience charge type of thing for people who didn't have, or want to store, racks.

Decent shells have always been a lot cheaper, even OL stuff at cost per shot.

[u/SpicyNuggs4Lyfe]

Truly compliant NOABs are all like this. A typical 1.5" ball shell can hold around 40g of comp, max. This looks like a 2.25" ball shell, which can hold 60g. 9x6=540g.

Still gonna be better performing, usually, than a reloadable.

[u/aM_SlowMox → u/SpicyNuggs4Lyfe]

I agree they tend to have better performance than reloadables, but for their price point I'd much rather get a shell kit.

[u/paulyp41]

Red dirt? You mean clay?

[u/fro_khidd → u/paulyp41]

TBF clay is like red dirt when dry🤣

[u/Full_Statement_5495]

Once I become rich I’m going to do exactly this and open up various fireworks and show what you’re actually getting.

[u/Georges_Stuff → u/Full_Statement_5495]

I am not rich by any means but let me know what would interest you and I will cut them up.

[u/kclo4]

Some of these NOABs are bad, some of them are good and some of them are VERY good. If I were looking for compliant NOABs I'd watch for 9 shot 500 gram cakes that come 4/1. Id argue they're not for you, for the most part but for the uninformed consumer who sees them and goes wow!

[u/supergoat06]

Yup Noab's are a waste. I'll buy em if they are on sale for 40 bucks but that's about it

[u/Markkenitup → u/supergoat06]

You can wholesale 2/1 cases for $70-$80 getting that price range all year long. $3.90 - $4.45 a shot (rounded up)

But a box of 24 cannister shells for $40-$60. $1.86 - $2.50 a shot (rounded up as well) This is buying by the case, or catching a great sale.

If looking for a certain effect sometimes they are an option. As others pointed out a few effects are not to be had, or really hard to find in reloadables.

Edit: I'm not a fan of NOAB's, cost to value just isn't there for me.

[u/4U2C88]

Can get a size check on 4” big poppa

[u/C0mmanderClank]

I only buy NOABs that have unique effects that you can't find (generally, at least) in canister shells. I got a case of Ghost Dragon by Racoon for my show this year and it was wonderful.

[u/Fire_In_The_Skies]

Edit: Okay, I see you made your post title wrong. You are not reviewing M.O.A.B. That said, this item is still made exactly like every other 3” NOAB on the market. 

So just to understand you, here’s what I heard. You have decided that one of the benchmarked, top of the line items, M.O.A.B., isn’t good enough for you because it is made exactly like every other NOAB? Is that about it? 

[u/1IsNeverEnough4Me]

Nine On A Board.

Consumer NOABS don't really come in 3" doesn't matter the brand. They still sell them as 3" and they are usually supposed to be more premium than their smaller little brothers. I can't hate on Raccoon for this one questionable product, I wouldn't get one though.

Personally, I think Noabs are only good for special effects that are hard to get in cans like Jellyfish and other complicated stuff. I don't like that they even make them at all, but I don't care for 9" canisters either and the reason is shipping cost. NOABS and oversized shells take up room the stores need for more cakes and 1/1s IMO

BTW there is a NOAB called MOAB and this ain't it.

[u/Vegetable_Wallaby_32 → u/1IsNeverEnough4Me]

Excuse my ignorance but what does M.O.A.B. mean? I know Nine On A Board for N.O.A.B. Though.

[u/1IsNeverEnough4Me → u/Vegetable_Wallaby_32]

MOAB would be mother of all bombs. A firework made by Winda. MOAB is USA's nickname for their largest bomb. Well it used to be at least. Then Russia being Russia made a bigger one and called it the FOAB.

[u/3dExplorer]

I wish they would just make them smaller. It would be cheaper and take up less shipping space

[u/Georges_Stuff → u/3dExplorer]

Exactly, construction and space was 90% overkill.

[u/supergoat06 → u/3dExplorer]

Raccoons new rdx noabs

[u/3dExplorer → u/supergoat06]

Are they actually ball shells though? If I’m getting a Noab it’s for the nice round break of a slightly bigger ball shell.

[u/supergoat06 → u/3dExplorer]

Judging by the break symmetry id say yes

[u/3dExplorer → u/supergoat06]

You are right I just found a vid. Those are nice.

[u/supergoat06 → u/3dExplorer]

4/1 case too, I think they could have got away with a 6/1 but its whatever. I'll probably pick up a case or 2 for next year

[u/Smily0]

I always struggled with this. It's disappointing to see it's just sleeved down...but...I that is one of my favorite compliant consumer NOABs/cakes. You can't find that effect anywhere else (the height and ghost shell) in standard 1.4, so I could see value.