Smokeless powder blank ammo

jmf · May 24, 2009, 10:11 PM

I have some 45 Colt blank ammo loaded with smokeless powder for my Ruger Vaquero. I also have a 1860 Army Colt reproduction with a cartridge cylinder. The cartridge cylinder came with a warning to use black powder ammo only. That makes sense if you're firing real bullets, but how about blanks? Will that cartridge cylinder hold up with smokeless powder blanks?

mykeal · May 25, 2009, 08:32 AM

The cylinder manufacturer is the person you should ask. In the mean time, assume black powder ammo means all ammo, blanks included.

MacGille · May 26, 2009, 07:17 AM

Some blank ammo can have very high pressures. In the Army they had helmets with huge holes in them caused by blank 30-06 ammo. They also took a piece of 1/2" plywood and blew a huge hole in it with an M1 blank. They were trying to teach us not to kill each other in training with blanks. I was very impressed by the pressures of the blanks and would repeat Mykeal's advice. Don't shoot anything in a BP gun but BP. Ever!

Dingoboyx · May 26, 2009, 07:58 AM

Obey the warning on the cylinder. If you dont want the hassle of cleaning the Colt after using these blanks, use 777 or Pyrodex (or one of the other, cleaner than Black substitutes)

Don't just use smokeless coz thats all you have, do yourself a favor and get some Black or a Bp substitute.

CaptainCrossman · May 26, 2009, 01:06 PM

hmmm...I'd not fire the smokeless blanks in a "blackpowder only" cylinder. If you're squinting and turning your head away while pulling the trigger, hoping for the best- you probably shouldn't be trying it in the first place.

Dingoboyx · May 27, 2009, 06:06 AM

What do you want to shoot blanks for? it's much more fun shootin' lead

You gonna make a fancy starting pistol?

Gbro · May 27, 2009, 08:55 AM

At face value one would think there couldn't be a danger, However with smokeless powder to go "bang" it must be confined/under pressure. The wadding will hold the pressure and it will be basically a detonation charge.
Not to say you couldn't find the right recipe to load smokeless blanks that could be fired safely.

snuffy · May 27, 2009, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Obey the warning on the cylinder. If you don't want the hassle of cleaning the Colt after using these blanks, use 777 or Pyrodex(or one of the other, cleaner than Black substitutes)

Pyrodex is worse than black powder as far as corrosion goes. 777 may not be as bad as black, but I'd clean anyway.

I agree that the smokeless blanks would have to have some real high pressures to actually make a bang sound like a loaded round would.

arcticap · May 27, 2009, 02:43 PM

What company made the cylinder and are they factory .45 blanks or were they handloaded using an established recipe?
I'm also curious about how the case mouths are sealed?
Maybe the answer that is being sought is contingent on the details.

SamStafford · May 28, 2009, 07:06 PM

Do you have a R&D cylinder or the Kirst ones?

May 24, 2009, 10:11 PM	#1
jmf Junior Member Join Date: February 12, 2009 Posts: 5	Smokeless powder blank ammo I have some 45 Colt blank ammo loaded with smokeless powder for my Ruger Vaquero. I also have a 1860 Army Colt reproduction with a cartridge cylinder. The cartridge cylinder came with a warning to use black powder ammo only. That makes sense if you're firing real bullets, but how about blanks? Will that cartridge cylinder hold up with smokeless powder blanks?

May 26, 2009, 07:17 AM	#3
MacGille Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2006 Location: Planet Earth Posts: 976	Some blank ammo can have very high pressures. In the Army they had helmets with huge holes in them caused by blank 30-06 ammo. They also took a piece of 1/2" plywood and blew a huge hole in it with an M1 blank. They were trying to teach us not to kill each other in training with blanks. I was very impressed by the pressures of the blanks and would repeat Mykeal's advice. Don't shoot anything in a BP gun but BP. Ever! __________________ If ye love wealth better than Liberty, the tranquillity of servitude than the animated contest of Freedom, go from us in Peace. We ask not your counsel or Arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen. --Samuel Adams--<*ixoye><

May 26, 2009, 07:58 AM	#4
Dingoboyx Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2009 Location: South East Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,513	+1 ^ Obey the warning on the cylinder. If you dont want the hassle of cleaning the Colt after using these blanks, use 777 or Pyrodex (or one of the other, cleaner than Black substitutes) Don't just use smokeless coz thats all you have, do yourself a favor and get some Black or a Bp substitute. __________________ Muzza If you cant blind them with brilliance, Baffle them with BS Be alert...... there is a shortage of LERTs

May 27, 2009, 06:06 AM	#6
Dingoboyx Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2009 Location: South East Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,513	BTW, jmf What do you want to shoot blanks for? it's much more fun shootin' lead You gonna make a fancy starting pistol? __________________ Muzza If you cant blind them with brilliance, Baffle them with BS Be alert...... there is a shortage of LERTs

May 27, 2009, 08:55 AM	#7
Gbro Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,011	At face value one would think there couldn't be a danger, However with smokeless powder to go "bang" it must be confined/under pressure. The wadding will hold the pressure and it will be basically a detonation charge. Not to say you couldn't find the right recipe to load smokeless blanks that could be fired safely. __________________ Gbro CGVS For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, But to us who are being saved, It Is The Power Of God. 1Corinthians 1-18

May 25, 2009, 08:32 AM	#2
mykeal Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 2,635	The cylinder manufacturer is the person you should ask. In the mean time, assume black powder ammo means all ammo, blanks included.

May 26, 2009, 01:06 PM	#5
CaptainCrossman Junior member Join Date: April 2, 2009 Posts: 381	hmmm...I'd not fire the smokeless blanks in a "blackpowder only" cylinder. If you're squinting and turning your head away while pulling the trigger, hoping for the best- you probably shouldn't be trying it in the first place.

May 27, 2009, 02:43 PM	#9
arcticap Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2005 Location: Central Connecticut Posts: 2,961	What company made the cylinder and are they factory .45 blanks or were they handloaded using an established recipe? I'm also curious about how the case mouths are sealed? Maybe the answer that is being sought is contingent on the details. Last edited by arcticap; May 29, 2009 at 06:34 AM.

May 28, 2009, 07:06 PM	#10
SamStafford Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Portageville, MO. 63873 Posts: 162	Do you have a R&D cylinder or the Kirst ones?