How to make Grenade Launching cartridges?

[rayg]

Thought we would have a little fun. I went to the range and tried out some home made grenade launching cartridges and shot tennis balls out of a Lee Enfield with the grenade launching cup. I wasn't sure how much and what type of powder would be best to use so I only made a couple cartridges with a light load of 3 & 5 grs of Uniquie powder and pinched the neck of the case closed. With the 5grs the ball only made to about the 35 yrds on the fly, fired from the shoulder. I will up the powder next time but really would like to know before I do, if someone who has already made and fired these cartridges if they could provide me with their experience and what powder and loads used? And any methods used to pinch the neck of the case closed as I just used a needle nosed pliers. Ray

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[Badger]

Did I hear the words tennis balls and grenade launchers?

Here's a "fun" video in The Screening Room (click here).

WW1 Enfield Wire Wrapped Grenade Rifles (Tennis Ball Challenge) ... click here

Make sure you turn ON your speakers and turn the volume up to hear the sound effects !

Regards,
Badger

[rayg]

Thanks Badger, I watched that before and it helped motivate me to try it.
I didn't mention but I tried a case with a straight neck, not pinched, with a bit of wax sealing the mouth of the case and 5 grs of Unique. It didn't even move the ball, (the wax was plastered on the back of the ball), Probably because lack of built up pressure. I hope someone offers their recipe for the cartridges.
The Unique powder is quite fast burning, I wonder if I should use a slower burning powder so it can build up pressure? Ray

[browningautorifle]

Cartridges of the world states IMR 4809 and black powder for 21 gr. I don't know what 4809 is but I'm sure someone here has some. The black powder makes sense to build pressure. The crimp I can't help with but I would do it the same way.

[rayg]

I've been advised that just a standard non GL cartridge blank load with the laquered disk seal in the straight neck would work fine. Posted on another forum I had also asked what powders could be used for blanks. These are the powders mentioned, 17.5 grains SR4759; 14.5 grains HPC-2; or 14.5 grains of WC818.
The powders I have on hand are, I-3031, I-4895, I-4198, Unique, 2400, I-4227, I-4064. Also black powder. Can anyone tell me if any of my powders close to the ones mentioned?
Ray

[RobD]

As used in anger, what sort of chamber pressures were generated? Did it lead to any damage to the action? And what on earth does the wire wrapping protect against?

[browningautorifle]

Chamber pressures are different between GL and blank cartridges. Not remotely the same load. The wire wrap was to strengthen the area of expansion or over pressure. Different system. Remember the damages caused to stocks by grenade launching as compared to no damage done by blank ammo. On the other hand, I guess you aren't launching frag grenades so what's the danger? I couldn't say which loads of the standard powder could be used. They're not the same.

[Beerhunter]

We used to use blanks with No.4 Energa Grenade launchers when there was no ballestite to be had. They just didn't carry as well. We used blanks in the Mk.2 (Jumping) Mine as well. Same result - didn't jump as high.

[browningautorifle]

And what's the harm? No explosive charge anyway?

[villiers]

We used standard blanks with the grenade launcher on unwrapped No 4 Mk 1s. But don´t know what the size of the charge was. Think milsurp blanks are still sometimes available. I´d also like to know how to crimp blanks.