Loading Blanks

[Keeperfaith]

My buddy asked if I could load .40 caliber blanks for his Glock.

I'm sure this is possible but do I need a longer .40 caliber brass case or can I use a normal used piece of brass?

Thanks guys

PS: if i could use a normal piece of brass, I'd greatly appreciate any load recipes for this blank in 40 caliber.

Thanks

Steve

 

[joneb]

There will not be enough pressure to cycle the action.

 

[Steve2md]

maybe a 10mm case? cards and roll crimps? fast powder? not really sure

 

[FROGO207]

They make special propellant for blanks and you would have to have a special die/brass. Also note as stated above they would not cycle the action. Additionally there is no data for safely loading blanks in 40 S&W around that I am aware of. They do make special blanks with a plastic push rod that will cycle the action for some calibers---I have seen them for 9MM before. For the average reloader the options are to make revolver blanks by experimentation would work but for the auto loaders not so easy.

 

[kingmt]

To function the gun as is no. Plug the barrel maybe.

 

[rodinal220]

You need longer brass than the standard .40 S&W case so you can star crimp it,it needs to mimic the OAL of "real" ammo(Blanks are lethal treat as such!!)

Companies like CH Tool & Die/4-D Die Co make special dies for making some of the more popular blank rounds.They will make you anything if you pay the $$$.

Some cartridges are easier to make than others.Some guns are easier than other to blank adapt.

No need for special propellants,standard reloading powders are used normally.We are not talking about Grenade launching blanks,those are a different ball of wax.Some blanks use special proprietary blends of "ingredients" for visual effects.

Making your own blanks is generally uncharted territory.Commercial blank makers for hollyweird and reenactors use their own loads and do not share that data.

Guns like a bolt action rifle or a revolver are easy to blank fire as the mechanism does not need the power of the round to make it work.Semi and full auto guns need blank ammo and some "tweaks" to their mechanisms to make them think they are firing real ammo(treat blanks as live ammo:LETHAL).

Every gun is different,there isn't a universal play book.The Glock would need the barrel restricted at the muzzle,probably different springs and possible redesign of the barrel to make it work.And,blanks tailored for that gun.

As an example;the Colt 1911 style guns need the barrel restricted and the upper lugs removed.A loose fitting barrel bushing and sometimes different hammer and recoil springs.each gun seems to have a "personality" of its own.You are making the 1911 change from recoil to blow back operation.Looser fitting used guns seem to work better and less hassles than newer tighter fitting guns.

Never did a Glock,only 1911,revolvers,bolt guns,M1 rifles/ carbines,1919s and M-2 brownings,Thompson and M3s,Sten and the like.

1911s are one of the harder but not impossible guns to get to work right,I would think your Glock would need "some" of the same treatment.Easier to do 9mm.


***Blanks are dangerous and potentially lethal:treat as if using live ammo.***

 

[kingmt]

You can't star crimp 40 brass it headspaces off the rim. You would have to use a wad & you would want it to burn so it doesn't plug the gun up.

Not that you have to use powder just for blanks but there is powder made for blanks. I have it. A gallon jug holds 3 pounds of powder & 3gn would take a 9mm gun apart.

 

[rodinal220]

Sure you can,why would it be different than 9x19 or 45acp and the like??
Why would you need a wad??? I dont know what type of powder you have but nothing special needed for blanks unless a visual effect is wanted and everybody has their own witches brew.
Back in the day EC powder was used for both 30-06 grenade launching blanks and MKII handgrenades.I hope you are not using that.
Blank makers all seem to have their own recipes,just like a handloader,there are different powders and combos that can be used.

 

[kingmt]

All of those case headspace off the rim. If you star crimp them the firing pin would not reach them. I also said you don't have to have blank powder but there is black powder.

My powder isn't for launches. It is much to fast for that. It must be weighed by volume because it it's to fast to weigh in gn. .1gn can be the difference between a working load & over pressured. It would be the best powder that I know of for this but out isn't easy to find. Red Dot would probably work tho. The wad it's to keep the powder in place. Something that will burn because there it's no where for it to go.

Now if you want to make special brass you may crimp it but what a pain.

 

[Swampman]

All of those case headspace off the rim

Actually the .40 S&W, 9mm Parabellum and .45 acp are all rimless cases, they headspace off of the case mouth.

It must be weighed by volume

How do you weigh something by volume?

Honestly, with all the unknowns involved, and keeping in mind that it's being loaded for another person, I'd probably pass on this one if I were in the OPs shoes. If your friend really needs blanks he can probably purchase them online somewhere.
You'd be taking on quite a bit of potential liability with this project.

 

[rcmodel]

Bottom line is, you cannot make .40 S&W blanks that will function any handgun, unless the gun is modified to function with blanks. Then it woun't be able to fire real ammo.

And no .40 S&W handgun will feed empty cases, so you would have to make longer cases, with a headspace step where the case mouth would normally be, them star crimp them where the bullet would normally be to get them to feed one at a time, manually.

Then you got the liability issue of loading for other people.

Even your best friend will sue your butt off if he blows his eyeball out with one of the blanks you made for him.

rc

 

[rodinal220]

Kingmt,you need to buy some quality reloading manuals and learn a bit more my friend.Been reloading and making blank ammo for a long time. 40 S&W,as does 9mm and 45acp head spaces on the case mouth,as Swampman/RC pointed out.The firing pin won't reach??How so??

http://www.saami.org/PubResources/CC_Drawings/Pistol/40 SandW.pdf

Why use a wad??Wads are dangerous and need a shredder device or need to be made out of something that does not produce fragments.Wads will produce more fouling and clog your restrictor in the barrel or compensator/flash-hider.

With proper equipment you can make proper star-crimped ammo that can function in many firearms.I wouldn't do a Glock 40 as it would be easier to blank fire a 9mm version.

If your just looking to hand cycle the action and load up some "jolly-roger error net stuff" don't do it.

Brandon Lee(son of Bruce Lee)was killed by a blank ammo incident(bullet lodged in barrel of prop(real) gun.Prop master and gun handler failed to check bore and the blank round did the same thing as live ammo,no difference really.

Actor Jon Eric Hexum accidentally killed himself on a tv series set with a blank round.At close range blanks can be dangerous and even lethal.



You may want to get rid of your special pixie dust blank powder,sounds like dangerous stuff.

 

[kingmt]

Hay guys. Thanks for the correction. Yes I meant the case mouth.

The blank powder can be dangerous. Not so much with blanks but with a bullet it is in small cases. Works great in my 30-06 with M19s tho.

 

[Swampman]

Me:
You'd be taking on quite a bit of potential liability with this project.

rc:
Even your best friend will sue your butt off if he blows his eyeball out with one of the blanks you made for him.

That's what I MEANT to say.
It's a LOT less open to misinterpretation...

rc, You are a Wordsmith of the first order.
I salute you Sir!