recycling milsurp blank ammo

ISC · October 13, 2008, 01:03 AM

with the high price of ammo and components a friend and I are experimenting with recycling military blank ammo. It started off as just scrapping the unfired primers out of the blanks after cutting them open and pouring out the powder. Then my buddy got the idea of using his electric case trimmer to trim the case to the right length to seat a bullet in. It looks like it will work, but we haven't tried firing one yet.

I'm not worried about the 762x51, the cases look identical after trimming. The 5.56x45 blanks have some sort of marks on the case that makes it look different and I will definately be more cautious about firing them.

I wish there was something I could do with the powder, but my research seems to indicate that it's unsafe to reload any live ammo with that powder. I'll just dump it I guess.

I wish I could just find someone to trade the blanks to for live ammo. Recycling it is alot of work.

Doug Bowser · October 13, 2008, 09:06 AM

I would never use blank brass to reload full loads in any military caliber. Most of the time blank brass is not up to the standards of regular brass. I saw a fellow in New York lose an eye using .30-06 M1909 brass mfg in 1957. Hev loaded full loads and the case split at the head and took the wood off his rifle.

Doug

**Mike Irwin** · October 13, 2008, 10:45 AM

Do not use the brass.

kraigwy · October 13, 2008, 11:36 AM

Blank ammo brass is junk, not able to withstand normal presures. I've seen them split just being fired as blanks.

Besides holding the components together, brass works as a gasket to seal the chamber of the firearm. Blank brass wont do that. Therefor the gas is likey to go somewhere besides down the barrel, you wont like that.

What I have done, is put them in a trim die, cut them to link with a hack saw and used them for turn in brass when I was shooting for the guard. Thats all they are worth, junk.

If you have a bunch, sell them to a scrap dealer and take that money and buy quality brass.

ISC · October 13, 2008, 12:16 PM

everyone agrees that the primers are OK to use though, right?

**Mike Irwin** · October 13, 2008, 12:27 PM

They should be. As far as I know, primers in blank cartridges are the same as for standard ball cartridges.

flutedchamber · October 14, 2008, 09:50 PM

Wouldn't the military rounds have crimped in primers...which wouldn't exactly do good things to the primer when you try to force it past the crimp.

October 13, 2008, 01:03 AM	#1
ISC Junior member Join Date: August 5, 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,982	recycling milsurp blank ammo with the high price of ammo and components a friend and I are experimenting with recycling military blank ammo. It started off as just scrapping the unfired primers out of the blanks after cutting them open and pouring out the powder. Then my buddy got the idea of using his electric case trimmer to trim the case to the right length to seat a bullet in. It looks like it will work, but we haven't tried firing one yet. I'm not worried about the 762x51, the cases look identical after trimming. The 5.56x45 blanks have some sort of marks on the case that makes it look different and I will definately be more cautious about firing them. I wish there was something I could do with the powder, but my research seems to indicate that it's unsafe to reload any live ammo with that powder. I'll just dump it I guess. I wish I could just find someone to trade the blanks to for live ammo. Recycling it is alot of work.

October 13, 2008, 09:06 AM	#2
Doug Bowser Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2005 Posts: 163	Blank brass can be dangerous I would never use blank brass to reload full loads in any military caliber. Most of the time blank brass is not up to the standards of regular brass. I saw a fellow in New York lose an eye using .30-06 M1909 brass mfg in 1957. Hev loaded full loads and the case split at the head and took the wood off his rifle. Doug

October 13, 2008, 10:45 AM	#3
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,383	Do not use the brass. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

October 13, 2008, 11:36 AM	#4
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	Blank ammo brass is junk, not able to withstand normal presures. I've seen them split just being fired as blanks. Besides holding the components together, brass works as a gasket to seal the chamber of the firearm. Blank brass wont do that. Therefor the gas is likey to go somewhere besides down the barrel, you wont like that. What I have done, is put them in a trim die, cut them to link with a hack saw and used them for turn in brass when I was shooting for the guard. Thats all they are worth, junk. If you have a bunch, sell them to a scrap dealer and take that money and buy quality brass. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

October 13, 2008, 12:27 PM	#6
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,383	They should be. As far as I know, primers in blank cartridges are the same as for standard ball cartridges. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

October 13, 2008, 12:16 PM	#5
ISC Junior member Join Date: August 5, 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,982	everyone agrees that the primers are OK to use though, right?

October 14, 2008, 09:50 PM	#7
flutedchamber Member Join Date: July 14, 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 61	Wouldn't the military rounds have crimped in primers...which wouldn't exactly do good things to the primer when you try to force it past the crimp.