What powder and how much do I use to load the 8 Gauge starter cannon shells? I have installed new primers but whereas these were black powder shells, what currently available powder can I use? What type of wad or seal to top it off. I have a powder scale I used for 9mm and 38s. How many grains would be used?

Thanks Wooster

You want to load blanks, right? If so, black powder is the powder of choice for that. Are these brass shells? For wadding, you want something that isn't going to be a fire hazard! Ballistic Products company doesn't have any wads for 8 gauge unfortunately.

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Thanks, I had not thought about a non flamable wad. I have one unfired shell looks like wax in it. The shells are brass and measure 2 5/16" long and 1" outside diameter. The end is stamped Phoenix Ordinance 85. Is wax acceptable and wouldn't you need something between the wax and the powder?

The 10ga. blanks I got a couple of decades ago for my Winchester
Cannon, have a cork wad. They could be coated in wax. They are
definitely dangerous and I am careful when letting it off.

There are several "black powder substitutes". I would contact
their manufacturers for possible loading data for shot blanks.

The smoke is a big part of firing these cannons. If you can, use
real black powder.

Black powder is usually loaded by filling the case up to the bottom
of the bullet. The same should be true of blanks. You are not going
to over pressure a cork (or plastic) wad.

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Nemo

Use black powder or one of the BP substitutes.
You'll need an 'over powder wad called a 'Nitro Card Wad' (hard dense cardboard).
1/8" thickness is a common size. Not always available in the large guages but 8ga is something they should have even in smaller quantitys.

On top of the Nitro card, generally is placed a filler wad of a less dense material.
Some were made from felt, cork,, today most are a semi dense fibre material (think dense ceiling tile material).
These are wax coated on the edges usually.

These wads need to fit firmly inside the case so the powder burns correctly and gives you the loud report instead of a blooper as they're called.
Sometimes wax is used to seal over the top of the fibre wad to water proof the rounds for storage.

Go to Circle Fly Wads:
Products

Look around on their web sight. Lots of info including dimensions of case and bore sizes for the different gauges/calibers.
Loading info, and other general information. You can email them with any questions you have and from my experience in the past they've been very helpful.

Blanks can be made with nothing more than densely packed newsprint on top of the BP charge. The tighter packed the better.
One problem with these (and they do work OK) is the fire hazzard they pose.
Another is the litter of shreds of unwinding newsprint out in front of your cannon. Particulary untidy over the water!

*** Be as careful with blank rounds as bulleted & shot rounds. The wads used are as much of a lethal projectile out to certain ranges as bullets and shot. ***

*** Be as careful with blank rounds as bulleted & shot rounds.
The wads used are as much of a lethal projectile out to certain
ranges as bullets and shot. ***

Yep. Remember Jon-Eric Hexum:

Jon-Erik Hexum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Seems like brass shot shells are not really crimped and use the
shot to retard and enhance the burn. The wads are sealed with
glue of choice. I see many kinds being used online.
The main crimp for brass, when used, is the star crimp. I can see
how this could wear out your brass in short order. Search the net.

These folks specialize in brass shells and the simple loading tools
for same:

products

Click on the loading instructions link to see how this works.
These folks are not cheap but the information is free

Finding an 8 ga. star crimp die is going to be a challenge.
There have not been many, if any, made since the web was invented.

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Nemo