making black powder blanks

[illapah]

Need some advise on making blank black powder cartridges and shotgun shells for re-enactor use.

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Illapah (Ely, NV)
Mormon Posse #36

[Will Ketchum]

I use florist's foam for the wad.   (I understand the wet works better but I have used the dry)
First you need to drill the flash holes out with a #23 drill so the primers don't back out and file a notch in the rim so you won't load regular ammunition with those cases.  I usually color them with a magic marker to.
What I do is for a 45 blank I put about 20 grains of real black powder. in the case.  I have been told substitutes don't work well so I have never tried them.  I compress the powder with a piece of dowel as tight as I can.  then I cut the foam into about a half" piece and shove the case through it then I compress it below the case mouth.  I then run the case into my factory crimp die to help keep the wad in.  I have shot these into a paper bag at about 8 feet and they didn't even blow a hole in it.

For shot shells I cut the hull off by about an inch I then put the powder in.  I used 90 grains but that is way more than you need.  About 50 is the most you'll need.  I then compress with a dowel that fits in the case.  Then put the foam in.  For shotshells I cut the foam about 1" thick and then press it into the hull.  I then crimp in the first crimp stage of my MEC Jr. just enough to keep the wad in.  For shot shells don't need the primer holes drilled out.

Hope this helps if you have any questions e-mail me.

Will Ketchum

[Delmonico]

illapah, I'm hoping I am just being a worry wart here but even if you know this someone else might not.  "Blanks can kill, make sure you are 200% sure of what you are doing if ya do something like gunfights.  I am not an expert here, I have done a few but I do what one of the saftey folks tell me as to where to aim and when.  I only shoot folks who complain about the food.  Sometimes they feel sorry for me missing out on the shooting and set something up in the cook camp with a shotgun."

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[illapah]

Will K. (and others too) what do you do for C&B blank overwad?

[Delmonico]

My bunch uses vermiculite, that funny stuff that is sometimes added for drainage with potting soil for house plants.  Just pack it in on top with the rammer, it seems ta stay in place fine.

[illapah]

Seems as I recall that I read/heard somewhere that vermiculite was full of asbestos??

[Delmonico]

Maybe at one time but anything that would be sold ta just anyone in the quanities of vermiculite would not, or every house full of plants would require haz-mat status.  I don't know if any ordinary person can buy anything with asbestos in it today, I know they took it out of brake pads and clutch plates many years ago, also the heat dam stuff for welding changed may years ago, used ta use a can of it that was a playdough like stuff that was about 75% asbestoes, but they quit makin' that stuff 25 years ago or so.

[Micheal Fortune]

For more information check out

http://www.vermiculite.net/

or

http://www.vermiculite.org/

[Will Ketchum]

 illapah, I can't see any reason you couldn't use the same florist's foam that I use in cartridges'

Just press it down in the chamber mouth at have at it.

Will Ketchum