Which Blanks?

[usmc69]

Which of these are the proper blanks for firing details? I believe the crimped ones are for grenades. The red topped ones are for firing details. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=516546884

[Griff Murphey]

The red cardboard tops are good old M1909 blanks. You can't go wrong with those. If old enough they msy he corrosive, but many arsenal second cases dated corrosive are loaded with non corrosive primers, because the seconds were stored.

Grenade launching blanks are crimped. My understanding is that new production blanks the army is supplying to Veterans groups are also a crimped top. Supposedly the new blanks work ok with blank firing attachments, but there are all kinds of stories about veterans groups having trouble keeping M-1s running with BFAs - prob why no one has answered. There are stories about BFAs being launched at funerals as well

All of them would work safely in bolt guns or M-1s operated manually. The difficulty comes with the BFA.
Given a choice I would try to buy the red card wad 1909s.

[PhillipM]

Part of the problem is there is no such thing as a grenade launching blank, they are properly named grenade launching cartridge. I really don't know why they didn't just keep 1903's and 1917's on hand for ceremonial duties.

Current M1909 blanks have a 6 petal crimp, shown on the left. On the right is Grenade launching cartridge, M3 with 5 petal crimp.

http://www.jouster.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=32903&stc=1

[mbgarand]

They are Not checking and tightening the Gas Cyl Screw prior to funerals ( after many funerals) thus the Gas Cyl, BFA and screws are sometimes being shot off. Some have landed on roofs.

The sometime problems of the rifle not working is because of poor quality control of the ammo. If you look at several each have different levels of powder.

If you don't clean often the gas port can get clogged up just like the internal parts. The powder on Op Rod Tubes eats holes in the metal tubes etc etc etc. Just keep the rifles clean and greased!!!! Many try and shoot with Dry Rifles. Deb

[Sunray]

Kind of odd the guy didn't just count the number of clips and multiply by 8 for the count vs weighing.
You want training blanks. Issue M1909's might be hard to find, but Prvi and Atlantic Wall sell new made blanks. http://www.atlanticwallblanks.com/
Anyway, Atlantic Wall Blanks($49.95 per 90 for new made M1 Rifle Training blanks. Issue blanks are the M1909 with the red insert.) says the black tipped cartridges are more powerful than the red and are NOT for use in an M1 Rifle, period. Made for bolt actions and MG's only.
Grenade cartridges(blanks) are not always crimped. Training blanks will launch a grenade with no fuss. Just not as far. http://cartridgecollectors.org/?page=introduction-to-30-06-cartridges
"...why they didn't just keep 1903's and 1917's..." Not as much fun.

[2111]

Which of these are the proper blanks for firing details? I believe the crimped ones are for grenades. The red topped ones are for firing details. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=516546884

The Red cap blanks are the older ones and the crimped are the newest currently issued to Veterans organizations that have M1 Garands on loan from the U.S. Army. Veterans organizations such as The VFW, American Legion or Marine Corps League can get both rifles and enough blank ammo to last a lifetime, at no cost, from the U.S. Army. One thing to be aware of is that if the post or Detachment is currently using the red caped blanks the hole in the blank adapter may have to be drilled larger if you switch to the newer crimped blanks. Use a # 17 drill (.1730") for this purpose.

[2111]

Part of the problem is there is no such thing as a grenade launching blank, they are properly named grenade launching cartridge. I really don't know why they didn't just keep 1903's and 1917's on hand for ceremonial duties.

Current M1909 blanks have a 6 petal crimp, shown on the left. On the right is Grenade launching cartridge, M3 with 5 petal crimp.

http://www.jouster.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=32903&stc=1

I sure agree with you. Our MCL Det. had 03's which never gave us a problem. Turned them back in for M1's and we seem to always have problems with misfires & jambs. The 03's, just feed a round and pull the trigger, It always went BANG.