[badgerrr]

I bought a good sized box of Israeli wooden bullet blank ammo about 10 years ago. Have been pulling the bullets and using it as my source for primed .308 brass. Just pulled the last of it down today. But now I have about a pound of this blank powder.

This stuff is real silvery color and is a flake type. Anyone familiar with this stuff? Sure would be nice if I could run it in my revolvers.

Maybe I should just sling it? :confused:

[Jim Watson]

I don't know what the Israelis use, but the old US .30-06 blanks were loaded with EC blank powder that was so fast that it could not be used with any projectile in any caliber at all. It looked a lot like what you describe. Current US 5.56 blanks are loaded with 700X, which is a standard shotgun and good pistol powder.

I would not want to bet a gun to find out which this stuff was more like. Chuck it. Flush it or burn it in the open.

[Johnny Guest]

- - -of what Jim Watson said, with additional.

As near an absolute rule as any: NEVER use ANY smokeless blank powder to load ANY projectile! It has an entirely different formulation and pressure curve from powders meant to launch bullets. It is just flat DANGEROUS and extremely false economy to try to use blank powder for any purpose, once it is removed from the ammo.

Once upon a time, in the days of black powder, it was possible to load good blanks with standard black powder. It is conceivable that some blank rounds so loaded might have been pulled down and the powder used in percussion guns - - Or, I guess, in cartridge guns. This might be the historical basis for the idea of disassembly of blank cartridges and using the powder for live ammo. THAT was Long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far away . . .

Best,
Johnny

[Mike Irwin]

Just to chime in as reinforcement...

NEVER USE POWDER LOADED IN BLANK SHELLS FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE!

It's likely that this Isralie powder is slower burning than the old EC Flash Powder Jim Watson mentioned, but there's simply no way to tell without doing extensive testing.

Sprinkle the powder liberally over your lawn, where it will decompose and help fertilize it.

[Ross]

Blank powder is a little hard to find when you need it. I don't know what your ball type blank is, but not all "blank" is. Some is grenade launching, line gun, harpoon propellant, or various tool actuators. Your wooden bullet blanks probably are ceremonial saluting or training rounds.
There is a nifty site in Finland where you will find information on "cat sneeze" loads using the fastest powder available in small quantities. Gunwriters on the Web.fi is a large site, but section 6 or a search for "arcane" or "supu" or "catsneeze" . The Finns had a need during several wars to guerrila with some discreet sniping, and the technology makes fascinating reading.
Forgive, but I haven't the skill to post links.
Blankfire is useful for fireforming without a projectile, and will save the cost of bullets and $20.00 a pound cannister powders.
Regards from Grayest California,
Ross

[badgerrr]

Thanks for the input , Folks! :)

I was wondering if there might be some common knowlage out there about using such stuff for real projectiles. But it sounds like the situation is much as I feared....highly varible and frought with danger. :eek:

Dunno know for sure what I will do with it at this point; but I'm tossing the idea of loading it, for real ammo, out the window.

Thanx again! :D

[P95Carry]

I think the overall advice and your decision badg is the best .... however ..

IF I were to try ... anything at all ...... and this ain't a recommendation ....

MODERATOR EDIT: This way lies madness, friends. Suggestion removed. JPG

But .... overall .... yep, best to consign it fertilizer maybe!:)

[Ross]

Blankfire is very energetic, much more than Bullseye. Ditto the above - - JPG Do you have a Ruger #1 or #3 in a pistol caliber? Do not be tempted to use a jacketed bullet without some experience with lead first.
Try here (I'll try this.) I do not sem to be linking this, but it is worth the search.
guns.connect.fi/gow/QA6
Down a way is "How to Find the Minimum Load?"
There are 18 chapters so far, much of it about topics rarely addressed in the States. There is some technical information on using unknown powders. I commend the site to all, but you may get hooked, as I have.
Cheers from Gray's California,
Ross

[Edit by Mal H]
The link is: http://www.guns.connect.fi/gow/QA6.html

[Johnny Guest]

- - -And I'm very uneasy about us sharing load data that is widely acknowledged to be downright HAZARDOUS! I'll allow links and references to other works, but not specific suggestions which point the way to dusty death and wrecked firearms.

badgerrr, your question was a good one, and one which probably ought to be mentioned from time to time on this forum.
So, please don't take my action as anything against you . . . .

I'm gonna get high-handed here, and simply close this topic before we begin discussing assembly of loads with C-4 or liquid nitroglycerine. :D

Best,
Johnny