Mounted Cowboy (balloon) shooting reload

[BigMacMI]

My father in law is really interested (and already partcipates) in mounted (horse) balloon shooting. I am looking for a recipe for a load for this. I did get hold of one of his blanks that he purchases (fairly expensive). It is 45 colt blank brass case (larger flash hole). Black powder with a cardboard wad on top, followed by corn cob media and finally another wad with a light roll crimp or similar at the top. It is not the star point.

Now, I imagine the pressures are not a huge concern like normal reloading, so some experimentation would be fairly safe. Curious if anyone has worked up a load for this? would be shot from both 6 shooter and Henry rifle (45 colt).

I found some Buffalo Blanks. They use the 6 point star crimp and don't appear to use any of the media in there. Is it just unburned black powder that bursts the balloon (must burst from 15-25 feet from what i read).

thanks

 

[243winxb]

Do you use live ammunition (lead bullets) or bird shot?
No. The cartridges fired are called .45 caliber Long Colts. The brass cartridge is loaded with black powder (like that used in the 1800's). This load will break a balloon up to about 15 feet. Live rounds are strictly prohibited at competitions. At each event we have a person to load the rider's guns as he or she enters the arena, and a person to unload the guns after the rider is finished. Riders do not carry loaded guns outside of the arena or when not competing.

https://www.cmsaevents.com/info/#panel-guns
The corn cob media must be a filler for the black to build pressure and at the same time produce a reduced load.

Interesting.

 

[BigMacMI]

I had seen that bit of info on the website. I am un-determined if it is the unburned or 'burning' embers of the black that burst the balloon or the media. If it isn't the actual cob media, i would imagine playing with the black powder load and elders glue or hot glue/wax as i have seen around. There seems to be some discrepancy between blanks for show sake and these balloon blanks.

I am also curious if just a cartridge shaped blank will feed in a .45 henry lever action, or if it has to be the star point crimped type.

 

[BigMacMI]

error... was trying to add a photo of the blank i stole from him to take apart... wouldn't work on my phone

 

[Curator]

20 grains of FFFg with 25 grains (measure) compressed Cream of Wheat (COW) cereal is what our Cowboy Mounted Shooters have used to bust balloons from horseback. It is important to compress the COW and the powder charge so it solidifies. No wads are required. The COW acts like #12 rat-shot out to about 12 feet and has a spread of about 3 feet at this distance, Noise and smoke looks realistic. Pops balloons with authority. No danger past about 25 feet as the COW dissipates rapidly. Wads can carry some distance.

 

[clearcut]

When I was doing it we used .45 colt cases and black powder and walnut media locked in to with latex paint. Riding and shooting is realy fun stuff .

CC

 

[Dog Soldier]

I used oil field lost circulation filler. It is ground up pecan and walnut hulls. There is a grade about the size of number 9 shot. It will pattern well at 5 yards and burst the balloons. You can not use any metal shot that can harm man or beast.