Reloading Blanks

[Nickster60]

Does anyone reload blanks for western reanactments. Any info would be info would be helpful

 

[Nickster60]

Does anyone reload blanks for western reanactments. Any info would be info would be helpful

 

[Otterbein]

I experimented with some for a buddy of mine. Basically filled a 45Colt cartridge almost full (30 gr.?) with FFFg black powder substitute and sealed it with a .460" overshot card. The powder needs to be compressed, I just used a wooden dowel to push it down by hand. They do make "Blank" brass which has a larger flash hole, but I just used regular 45 brass with standard primers... Worked great - lots of smoke and could break balloons at 10'-15'.

 

[john traveler]

Otterbein has it correct.

Full case load of FFG black powder, moderately compressed, with a tight card wad on top. Tight, rolled crimp.

If you can get hold of military blanks and salvage the powder, you can make your own blanks. HOWEVER, it can get real dicey (dangerous) as military blank powder is extremely fast burning, and ANY sort of projectile loaded by mistake is guaranteed to blow up your gun. Don't even think about trying make a semiautomatic cycle using blanks. Even the military blank firing devices that are designed for this will occasionally blowup guns.