Booming on the Fourth

Oquirrh · July 3, 2008, 08:31 AM

What's the best/safest way to make blank loads?

mykeal · July 3, 2008, 08:54 AM

Do what the reenactors do - loose powder, without even using a ramrod to compress it.

sundance44s · July 3, 2008, 09:11 AM

I use loose powder and seat a ball made of aluminum foil to give the charge a little compression ...no worries about the foil ball starting grass fires like a paper or cloth wadding would .
Reenactors are not allowed to use a ram rod these days ..they had some accidents where the ramrods were forgotten in the bore and shot out , of course if you are just wanting the boom for the 4th , you won`t be shooting in an unsafe direction eaither way .
Another tip if you own a smooth bore ..use it ..it will make the clean up alot easyer ..you wouldn`t beleive how dirty blanks can get a barrel .

Smokin_Gun · July 3, 2008, 01:43 PM

Just pour yur charges and lightly press a lube pill on top of them. With 3 or 4, 5-7 gr of BP you can shoot flies indoors with them lube pilss as boolits

How'd the other batch come out anyway?

SG

**4V50 Gary** · July 3, 2008, 11:54 PM

Loose powder. BTW, as a young adult, I'd stuff foil balls down atop for compression. That's what the chocolate bar foils are good for (or even used foil wrap).

zxcvbob · July 4, 2008, 12:33 AM

Double charge of powder, and a fiber shotgun wad. Preferrably from a very large bore singleshot pistol with maybe a 6" to 8" barrel. You would not believe how loud. Don't ask me how I know.

**4V50 Gary** · July 4, 2008, 12:42 AM

BTW, for anyone living in an area with a high fire hazard, don't use felt wads or anything else that can start a fire. Load only with black powder and point it in the air to make sure you don't start a grass fire. Let's be safe and sane this Fourth.

July 3, 2008, 08:31 AM	#1
Oquirrh Senior Member Join Date: May 5, 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 188	Booming on the Fourth What's the best/safest way to make blank loads?

July 3, 2008, 01:43 PM	#4
Smokin_Gun Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2005 Location: Mojave Desert, CA Posts: 1,195	Just pour yur charges and lightly press a lube pill on top of them. With 3 or 4, 5-7 gr of BP you can shoot flies indoors with them lube pilss as boolits How'd the other batch come out anyway? SG __________________ "I Smoke Black Powder" "Favor an 1858 Remington" SGT. Smokin' Gun, Mosby's Rangers 43rd Virginia Cavalry C.S.A. SASS# 19634, ... Admin:http://blackpowdersmoke.com/oldcoots/index.php Last edited by Smokin_Gun; July 4, 2008 at 01:55 AM.

July 3, 2008, 11:54 PM	#5
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 15,539	Loose powder. BTW, as a young adult, I'd stuff foil balls down atop for compression. That's what the chocolate bar foils are good for (or even used foil wrap). __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

July 4, 2008, 12:33 AM	#6
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 3,693	Double charge of powder, and a fiber shotgun wad. Preferrably from a very large bore singleshot pistol with maybe a 6" to 8" barrel. You would not believe how loud. Don't ask me how I know. __________________ "The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is with a good guy with a gun"

July 4, 2008, 12:42 AM	#7
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 15,539	BTW, for anyone living in an area with a high fire hazard, don't use felt wads or anything else that can start a fire. Load only with black powder and point it in the air to make sure you don't start a grass fire. Let's be safe and sane this Fourth. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

July 3, 2008, 08:54 AM	#2
mykeal Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 2,657	Do what the reenactors do - loose powder, without even using a ramrod to compress it.

July 3, 2008, 09:11 AM	#3
sundance44s Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2006 Location: Hernando , Ms. Posts: 579	I use loose powder and seat a ball made of aluminum foil to give the charge a little compression ...no worries about the foil ball starting grass fires like a paper or cloth wadding would . Reenactors are not allowed to use a ram rod these days ..they had some accidents where the ramrods were forgotten in the bore and shot out , of course if you are just wanting the boom for the 4th , you won`t be shooting in an unsafe direction eaither way . Another tip if you own a smooth bore ..use it ..it will make the clean up alot easyer ..you wouldn`t beleive how dirty blanks can get a barrel .