3006 Blanks

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fubar

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Hello all
I am trying to load 3006 blanks for the M1 Garand. I am using once fired brass and #34 primers. The powder is 10 grains of Unique. I seal the mouth with wax. The rifle is in good shape and has a BFA on it. The primer will go off,but not ignite the powder. Can anyone help me out, what am I doing wrong? If I can get them right we will use them for the honor guard at vets funerals.
Thanks
Fubar:
 
Have you drilled out the primer holes? On 45 Colt with the large pistol primer the holes are .140 diameter. This is done mainly to keep the primer from backing out, but has to help ignition.
 
Without any back pressure most smokeless powders will not ignite.
A few guys I know are making blanks with Black Powder and I think one of them is using BP substitute. Put some GOEX in there with the same primer and you will have a good blank...
 
Unique is WAY too slow to make blanks pop with no pressure from a projectile.

You need to use the fastest burning pistol powder you can find, like Bullseye, and even then, results may not be what you need with no star-crimp to get the pressure up.
Star crimpers are available from ch4d.com.

GI blanks are loaded with 12 grains very Fast burning WC Blank powder, or SR 4990 blank powder.
Neither one are available for reloading though.

I seal the mouth with wax.
Click to expand...
How much wax?
Try filling the whole case neck back to the shoulder and see if that helps.

I really think investing in the star-crimp blank die from CH4D would be the safest way to go for Honor Guard use.
There is no wax plug or other projectile necessary, so they would be much safer at a crowded funeral.

rc
 
Do a google search for 30/06 blanks. There available from Midway for one and not unreasonable price. Sure beats the legal issues with handloads at a funeral. Further your service org. should access to companies selling blanks for the purpose needed.
 
Thank all of you folks for the great information. The legal issue will be enough to stop me from going any further.
Thanks again
Fubar
 
i have ued both swanson and atlantic wall blanks before ...

swansons are known to be real hot, in some cases too hot for the average BFA, Robb at Atlantic Wall is a great guy and supplies many blanks for all kinds of calibers. Know him personally and he is good. I also make blanks. Contact me as well for your M1 garand blank needs. Yes, the Gov't supplies blanks to honor/color guards like the Amvets and VFW, contact them for furthur information.
 
Hi fubar. CRITICAL question: who OWNs your M-1 Garands?? If they were issued to your VFW (or other VSO) by the US Army, they insist that you use only their provided blanks!! Good news: they're free! Bad news: they are CRAP! My honor guard is running LESS that 50% firing reliability with the Army stuff. That is why I'm here trying to learn to load my own for my own guard. BTW -- what kind of wax do you use and how do you get it to stay in the case? Several years ago, we had some Army ammo that had wax plugs and it was great. The current, and last two batches of Army stuff has the crimped-to-a-star-point crimp in it. It has all been absolute TRASH!! We've been "asked" by the Army National Guard Honor Guard unit here (Sacramento) to stand down until we get better ammo!!

Cheaper-Than-Dirt usually has .30-06 blanks, but you are looking at currently back-ordered and about a dollar a shot!

For jcwit: WHAT "legal issues"?? The only word I got from the Army about using my own ammo instead of theirs, was the liability issue if anyone was injured while firing the guns. But that applied to ALL non-Army ammo. Have I missed something important? Please let me know. I have NO problem "begging forgiveness", but I do NOT want to hurt anyone!

For rcmodel: I found the star crimp die on CH4D.com, thanks! But once you use the star crimp, it looks like the brass is done for. I don't see any way to spread the crimp to reload that brass. Is there a way to re-use the brass? We've got a LOT the star crimped stuff.

For Jesse Heywood: The free ammo is supplied by the US Army, not the VA. At least that is my experience.

Thanks for all the good words, everyone! I obviously have the same problem fubar has: an honor guard with guns and interest, but lack usable ammo.
 
For jcwit: WHAT "legal issues"?? The only word I got from the Army about using my own ammo instead of theirs, was the liability issue if anyone was injured while firing the guns. But that applied to ALL non-Army ammo. Have I missed something important? Please let me know. I have NO problem "begging forgiveness", but I do NOT want to hurt anyone!
Click to expand...

Fred, check with the rules put down by whatever Veterans Org. you're connected with. And with the Insurance reg's in the Org's policy.

We own our own firearms and are still required to get our blanks from the armory. You may have gotten a bad lot of blanks, look into that first. You are correct that the blank ammo is supplied by the military, but your Veterans Org. has rules as does your insurance carrier. The local gov. might also enter into this as the firing will be done in public, ect., ect.

Hope this helps
Wishing You a Happy New Year
jcwit
 
HAHAHAHA!!! Hi jcwit! Yep, we are exactly opposite! The red wax plugged stuff worked perfectly, and the star-crimped is running 30-40% firing reliability! If you are near Sacramento, maybe we should trade! :)

Our post commander has gotten us well squared away with the VFW and our insurance carrier. So we are good to go there. Thanks for the heads up, anyway.

We follow the Army Natl Guard protocols here so that we look just like them (except for uniforms) when we do our services. So we want to make absolutely certain that we have good ammo!!

Have a GREAT new year, all y'all!!!
 
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