Make your own Blanks

BBq_Woa!

BBq_Woa!

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Is it possible to make your own blanks?

Blanks as far as I know are simply a case, primer, powder, and the neck is crimped closed..

is this a correct ascertainment?

Is there simply a method/tool to crimp a case closed, thereby making a blank?

I ask because I'll be making a short WWII themed movie, and require several shots to be fired.
I'd rather use actual blanks instead of visual effects, (especially where semi auto cycling is concerned) and I'd rather make my own blanks, instead of ordering blank ammunition, considering how few shots will be filmed.


Thanks for any info!

-Derek
 
Blanks also require a VERY fast-burning powder, fast enough that the powder isn't good for anything else; if you try to make them using regular powder, you need some sort of top-wad that's strong enough to hold back enough pressure to allow the entire charge to burn, otherwise you just get a "poof!", that sprays unburnt powder out the muzzle.
 
If firing blanks in an automatic or self loading firearm, the gun must be specially modified in order to do so. This usually involves some sort of barrel insert to trap enough gas to cycle the action. (Usually called a "BFD" or Blank Firing Device.) You do NOT use wads in these guns.

Handgun rounds out of revolvers are fairly straight forward and usually involves nothing more than a small charge of powder and a star crimp, and a small wad of Dacron usually helps with burning all the powder. Black powder is by far the best to use, as it easily ignites and burns without much pressure. (I made many a blank 12 gauge load with nothing more than a charge of black powder and a thin paper wad over top.)

Blank powder is specially formulated and faster burning than even the fastest commercially available powders. However, powders such as Red Dot and Bullseye are about as close as you can get. (Commercial 12 Gauge Winchester blanks use Red Dot powder and wad full of of plastic buffer.)

Movie blanks are specially formulated for their intended use - 1/4 flash, 1/2 flash and full flash. It depends on the scene being shot and what the director wants for effect. For example, a close range shot would use only a 1/4 flash load for safety reasons(you can barely hear them, the sound is put in after anyhow) while an M-16 in full auto looks cool with a humongous flash.

(BTW- you also have to take into account the speed of the film; the muzzle flash generally has to last at least 1/100th of a second in order to be recorded. Any faster and it will be sporadic. You can usually see this in home made videos firing live ammo rapid fire-on some shots you see the flash and not in others.)

Special dies are needed to make metallic cartridge blanks. Depending on the caliber, you may only have to star crimp them, or you may have to resize them first in a separate operation and then crimp.

In a nutshell, not as easy as you may think!!:onCrack:

(If you need any specifics, PM me and I will be happy to steer you in the right direction. I made blanks for movies a few years back, so I'm talking from experience in the subject.):popCorn:
 
"...considering how few shots will be filmed..." Buy them. Look around at a gun show. It'd take you less time and money.
Like scout3006 says, semi's will not cycle without the BFA(Attachment). Even with a light spring.
What blank you use will depend on what firearm you're playing with. Not all blanks(AKA training ammo) have a 'star' crimp. .30-06 blanks, for example, don't.
 
a few proven examples:

.22 blank 1.9 grains of WC Blank powder

.32 cal 4 grains smokeless powder ???

5.56mm/.223 6 grains of unique 20

9mm 4.5 grains of double base Hercules


Hopefully this gives you some idea of where to start, NOTE these are max recomended loads!! Although they seems small as with any loads start small and work up..

As noted above not all blanks are crimped, military blanks are crimped for strength and to allow waterproofing. It is not a requirement of function.
 
Blanks

If you are looking for blanks ask for some on the ammunition forum.
You should be able to find 38, 9mm, 303, 30-06, 7.62, and 5.56.

I have supplied firearms for a couple of movies and supplied blanks for them as well. The first movie I just fired 7.62 blanks for the sound guys to put in the track.

The second one I supplied 5.56 blanks and made sure the camera was out of range of the muzzle. I found out what was a safe distance to fire them and had the crew clear the forward area.

The third one I supplied a few muzzleloaders for the History Channel, Civil War Documentary, on a woman from New Brunswick that fought as a man in the war.
 
Good info, scout3006.

I have being intending to make blanks for my PTRD. I have a piece of steel turned on a lathe to the correct dimensions for the 14.5x114mm case. It is drilled internally to accept a 28 gauge SG shell. Now I just have to work up a load.
Naturally , I want a LOUD load! What would be a good starting point? Black powder, of what size? Would the finest size, FFFg, be right? Should it be sort of loose, or packed tight? And how much?
TIA
 
You guys are going to get hurt if you start messing around trying to modify semi autos for this.Be forewarned.Notice what it says on the ch4d site.

"WE CAN NOT OFFER LOADING DATA
FOR BLANK MANUFACTURING"


There is a reason for this.
Blank firing semi auto weapons take tons of research and development BEFORE they can be fired safely.Somebodies miscellaneous backyard recipe is a recipe for disaster.
Black powder has a crapload of smoke and #### that comes out of the barrel and are probably the LEAST safe.
Shooting in digital eliminates the missed flash factor.
NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES POINT THE GUN DIRECTLY AT THE PERSON BEING SHOT.
There is no "safe distance".If something goes wrong you will have a dead person on your hands.
I too have done a few movies.Here's my resume.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2059781/
 
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