Loading Blanks for Cowboy Action Shooting - 45 Colt

[jjohnson]

Hi, Gents!

I need some ideas - for loading blanks for Cowboy Action Shooting.

I don't want to use black powder - - but I'm a handloader with plenty of .45 Colt brass and powder. My real question is - after dropping a powder charge into the casing, what then? I don't have a cutting die to create .45 caliber cardboard stock to crimp the powder in with. Also, since the Colt cartridge is way large, I guess I need some sort of filler - so what do I use? I can't use cotton balls or anything else likely to start a fire. I guess I could use Cream of Wheat or dried rice - that would be fine. I know that regular smokeless powders don't usually go BANG! quite as much as black powder, but "more noise" isn't my goal - my goal is reloading inexpensive blanks that burn cleanly (sort of) using powders on hand.

So... what to use for filler? And what do you guys use to hold it all in? I do NOT want to "star crimp" my brass.

I appreciate any help. - Thanks!

 

[RandyP]

I have read online of folks using florists foam or cork sheet to seal the case using blackpowder? No idea about the smokeless.

 

[Walkalong]

Use a fast powder. 700X, Solo 1000, Clays, etc. Cut cardboard "wads" to sit over the powder. Use the filler of your choice. Cut plastic discs that will fit in the case mouth snug. Roll crimp over them. I used sharpened cases to cut the discs. I was making shotshell loads, but this should work, using filler instead of shot.

 

[jjohnson]

Biodegradable

Thanks, Gents!

I do have a "restriction" on my loads - they need to be more or less biodegradable. That's not my decision, by the way . That rules out florist's foam - which would have been a great idea. I'm thinking maybe using cork sheets (flooring/paneling/ceiling noise abatement) as the wad. If I had thick enough sheet - like half inch or greater - I could just push the cork down with a dowel and put a bit of crimp on there just in case I'm not using the all that space underneath it. I have some fast pistol powder that I won't otherwise use. I've noted that cartridge cases sold by folks like Starline (a favorite of mine) have primer flash holes of 9/64", which would be fine by me to just do with a drill press.

I'm thinking of using a .45 Auto Rim case as a punch - I have a few of them lying around - with maybe a 1/4" hole centered on the primer flash hole so I can poke the cork out with a pencil or something.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Just remember that anything you use as a filler becomes a projectile when the round is fired. Even cornmeal can cause serious injury at close range. The powder gasses themselves are also pretty strong at close range. I used to do a demonstration with blanks by shooting them at about 2' from a brown paper grocery bag, which they will shred at that distance.

With that said, you can make a good punch by drilling a hole through the primer pocket of one of your .45 AR cases and put a small bolt through it for a mandrel. Sharpen the case mouth and then chuck it in either a drill press or hand drill and it will go right through cardboard, such as shoe boxes or cereal boxes. Just use a flat piece of wood as a backer for the cardboard. You can drill a small hole on one side of the case, just ahead of the web, to push the wads out of the case.

A fast powder such as Bullseye will work, but you won't get the same effect as black powder.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Randy1911]

Why not buy them?

Why not just buy them? They sell them here: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AMM011-1.html
and I am sure they sell them other places. The local Cowboy Renactors use them all the time. They are loud and make a lot of smoke. Even MidwayUSA sells them. http://midwayusa.com/Search/#blanks__653__-_
Cheaper than Dirt also sells other types of Blanks.