What to do with this powder

[GUTS]

I got a bunch of LC 70 30-06 blanks from a friend of mine and I pulled the little red plug out and emptied the powder out so I could resize the neck and use them. What kind of powder is this and can I reuse it for some 30-06 loads? I load for my 03, 03A3, 1917, and Garands. Each blank had around 11 grns of this in it but I had a lot of blanks and have a fair amount.

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[AKA Hugh Uno]

it would be EXTREMELY unwise to re-use this powder. I think it is probably Hercules "EC" blank powder. It is VERY high energy powder designed to make as much noise (or close) with a very light charge as a live round. Also used in ARTILLERY simulators IIRC. Toss it on your grass NOW.

[GUTS]

Thanks Hugh, I will dispose of it.

[JBS]

Hatcher’s book references these classes of powders on page 314. they are classified as a solid explosive. They are not capable of launching any type of projectile in a closed chamber arm. This material was also used as a filler in some grenades. It makes an excellent fertilizer in the garden.

[GUTS]

Do LC blanks have normal primers in them?

[JBS]

I know what you are thinking. Be aware that 99.9 percent of all blank case have a thicker neck. So to do what you are thinking will more than likely require turning the case necks.

[Bruce McAskill]

You really should not be using blank cases to load ammo in. Most blank cases were cases that had be rejected for one reason or another during the loading processes. While fine for low pressures such as blanks they were not considered to be safe otherwise. When rejected cases were low they used fired cases to make blanks from. The 06 blanks are getting harder and harder to find and many of the VFW posts are in need of them for their honor guards. Would be much better to donate them to a VFW post instead of pulling them apart and trying to use them.

[GUTS]

Our VFW Post won't use the red-plugged blanks. They shoot the crimped blanks now.

[bacarnal]

In my experience, the blank cases are a shade shorted to boot. Would be hard to get a proper crimp and if you did, the throw would be very long. R/S Bruce.

[colt100]

You really should not be using blank cases to load ammo in. Most blank cases were cases that had be rejected for one reason or another during the loading processes. While fine for low pressures such as blanks they were not considered to be safe otherwise. When rejected cases were low they used fired cases to make blanks from. The 06 blanks are getting harder and harder to find and many of the VFW posts are in need of them for their honor guards. Would be much better to donate them to a VFW post instead of pulling them apart and trying to use them.

Not sure why any of the posts are having a hard time getting blanks as LC (IIRC) was making them at least a few years ago. Have they spoken with the CMP? I know I got blanks for several posts for only the shipping about 2 years ago and had no problem getting the new blanks. The army asked how many blanks I wanted and had to order them in case quantities IIRC.

I sure wouldn't load blanks. If I had the brass left over from firing blanks, they get put in the scrap bucket and taken to the recycler.

Good once fired brass can be had for anywhere from .10-.20 cents a case. Cheaper if you buy ammo from the CMP and keep the cases to reload after firing.