Blanks

[Goose Guy]

It's getting to be close to New Years now and time for that time honored tradition; making as much noise as possible at midnight to wake up the entire county. I used to use a .22 blank gun, but it doesn't work so well right now and I figured the .44 would give me a bigger bang plus a nice flame. So, how does MDS roll their noisemakers? A couple sources say to take about 30gr of powder and 20 gr of cream of wheat and pack it down. (in a .44 revolver) Others say some different things, but this seems like the easiest way to do it.

So, what are you guys using?

[WeaponsCollector]

When I was a kid I used firecrackers but now I usually use a civil war musket or a cannon.
I load the muskets/cannons with GOEX black powder packed down tight with newspaper for the loudest boom. My .58 caliber musket will handle 120 grain blank loads no problem, and I have a golf ball cannon than can handle 700+ grains and it almost sounds like dynamite when it goes off.:party29:
Here's a picture of some of my favorite noisemakers...
http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=39493
I also have .44 cap& ball revolvers that would work. For blank loads I just about fill each cylinder with black powder but leave enough room to stuff some newspaper wadding tightly on top of it. You do risk chain firing if you load more than one cylinder or if the wadding isn't tight enough, but the risk can be reduced by sealing the wadding with a layer of bore butter on top like you would when firing a projectile.
I've never tried mixing in any cream of wheat.

[willtill]

...so this is interesting. I assume that the local LEO's don't care about the firing of a blank from a weapon? That there's no state law against doing so?

[WeaponsCollector]

...so this is interesting. I assume that the local LEO's don't care about the firing of a blank from a weapon? That there's no state law against doing so?

New years and July 4 are the best times to make a lot of noise. I've fired blank blasts on other days too and I've never had problems with the police or neighbors.
I don't do it late at night unless it's midnight on new years. I don't know about the laws regarding this and frankly don't care. In any free country one should be able to fire some blank blasts from frontstuffers as much as one wants, especially for new years. I'm extremely careful and I'm not harming anyone.;)

[Maverick0313]

Why don't you buy that aerial parachute flare in our for sale section??? THAT will get some attention!

[PresentArms]

...so this is interesting. I assume that the local LEO's don't care about the firing of a blank from a weapon? That there's no state law against doing so?


I believe its still considered discharging a firearm. I choose not to do so

[Goose Guy]

I guess I can see where it would be a problem in the city or other crowded areas, but around me, they would have bigger things to worry about. Mostly they don't care about 4th/newyears, as long as you are safe and don't carry on too long.