Enfield-Rifles.com Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > Reloading > Reloading .303 British
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - .303 Blanks
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

.303 Blanks

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
Smith357 View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie
Avatar

Joined: December 10 2011
Location: Ohio
Status: Offline
Points: 3
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Smith357 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: .303 Blanks
    Posted: December 10 2011 at 9:43pm
I'm looking for starting load data for .303 blanks to used for tennis balls fired from an Enfield rifle Grenade launcher. I have some modern commercial blanks that are working well launching the ball 100+ yards but they cost 75 cents each. I opened up one of the blanks and it had about 12 grains of a fast burning flake powder. (square greyish green flakes to be exact) I'm guessing a pistol powder was used due to the lack of pressure in a blank case to completely burn a slower rifle powder.

Also what is the best way to seal a blank, the crimped ends on the commercial blanks is blown out and will need to get trimmed off. I'm thinking about some cotton or cardboard wadding and some wax.
Back to Top
Smokey View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 11 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 806
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Smokey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 11 2011 at 4:52am
I set up blanks strictly as noisemakers, so I cannot talk to launching tennis balls.
 
I use about ten to fifteen grains of UNIQUE (it's the fastest propellant I have) and stuff (pack) a cotton ball in the case after it.
 
Get a fast pistol powder (such as Bullseye) and start low at about three grains or less. Increase the charge gradually until you start to get the effect you want. Watch out for any signs pressure as usual, and check the bore to make certain it's clear after each shot.
Back to Top
Smith357 View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie
Avatar

Joined: December 10 2011
Location: Ohio
Status: Offline
Points: 3
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Smith357 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 11 2011 at 9:54am
Thanks,
I do have plenty of Bullseye, and I like the idea of the cotton ball stuffing. Do you seal the ends?


Here are some pictures of what I'm working with. The crimped ends of the cases split badly so I have trimmed them off. I've never worked with .303 brass before. This stuff is very thick and heavy, I wounder if all .303 brass is this stout or could it be made heavy just for the blanks. I've also noticed this brass poorly stamped.


Back to Top
Shamu View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar
Logo Designer / Donating Member

Joined: April 25 2007
Location: MD, USA.
Status: Offline
Points: 17603
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 11 2011 at 9:34pm
Blank brass is very different from regular brass as you've discovered.

With regular brass I use Unique same as Smokey does, but i seal differently. What I do is push the case mouth into a bar of household soap, give it a 1/2 turn to snap off the plug & pull out. One bar of soap makes a lot of blanks, but be aware even soap is a projectile so I don't know how well your tennis ball will fare being shot at point blank range with 15 Gr of Unique!Pinchfor even more of a dramatic effect use 25 Gr of black powder!
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
Back to Top
Smokey View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 11 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 806
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Smokey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 12 2011 at 7:28am
Shamu, do you rinse out the soap after shooting your blanks?
You could also try using a bar of canning wax (paraffin) in the same manner as soap.
Back to Top
Shamu View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar
Logo Designer / Donating Member

Joined: April 25 2007
Location: MD, USA.
Status: Offline
Points: 17603
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 12 2011 at 9:37pm
Yep, the bore comes pre-soaped for B/P cleaning I just add hot water.Clap
Good tip about the canning wax, but ( contrary to rumor) I usually have soap handy.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.04
Copyright ©2001-2021 Web Wiz Ltd.