Ammunition, blank

One definition of a blank cartridge is a percussion initiated cartridge that does not have a bullet or missile that is designed to be lethal. However, blank cartridges are dangerous if misused and serious injuries and a few fatalities have resulted from their misuse at close range. (A dummy round is not a blank as it is completely inert.) 

Blank cartridge cases have a wide range of applications  

Cartridge tools (stud guns/power-actuated fastening tools) 

Grenade launching Antenna erecting Engine starters 

Film and theater use Quick-draw contests Humane killers (captive bolt type) 

---

Blank Ammunition consists of a cartridge contg a small amt of an explosive, such as BkPdr to produce a loud report for saluting or training purposes. It has no projectile (Ref 40b, p 4)... 

When the powder is to be used in blank ammunition the wad from the round loaded with a specified weight of powder when fired in a 0.30 calibre rifle shall not penetrate a craft screen placed at a specified distance in front of the muzzle of the rifle. Only 1 % of variation is permitted. 

Blank Ammunition. See under Ammunition and Weapons or Arms,IIA(According to Service Use), Vol l,p A383-R... 

One of the most common smokeless blank proplnts. is EC Blank Fire Powder (qv). It has been used in cal. 30" blank ammunition BkPdr is still used in some types of blank ammo... 

Wax bullets are used for mock dueling and fast-draw contests, short-range practice (training), and in blank ammunition. Rubber and plastic bullets are also used for short-range practice. Such ammunition is usually powered by a pistol primer. 

Wood bullets are often used in blank ammunition where automatic weapon functioning is required. They can be lethal at short range if some form of bullet breakup device is not fitted to the muzzle of the firearm. Some wood bullets may be sabots for subcaliber projectiles. 

Practice ammunition can refer to blank ammunition, but is usually applied to fully operational large-calibre ammunition in which an otherwise extremely expensive payload has been substituted with less damaging or less complex payloads e.g., practice involving armour-piercing ammunition may include replicas. Small-arms practice ammunition may involve plastic bullets suitable for short-range target practice. 

---