Firing blanks from a flintlock rifle

What is a good load to fire blanks from a .50 flintlock rifle for demonstration purposes? How many grains, what to use on top of the powder to hold it in place, etc.? Thanks

50 grains, stuff tissue or toilet paper on top of the powder...

I trust that the demonstration will be outside. There will be a big cloud of smoke and shreds of paper wad if used.

You want a decent bang, so 50 to 80 grains of 3Fg powder. It's not really necessary to ram a wad to hold the powder in place. Do hold the muzzle up. If you use powder only, more powder is necessary for a loud discharge. A wad of paper, @nchawkeye's suggestion of toilet paper is good. But then using a ramrod is dependent on where you are shooting and at what. When we load with a paper wad over our powder charge it is as a unit with our sergeant calling the orders and verifying that ramrods are replaced in the stock before making the "make ready, present, fire" commands.

One story of such a demonstration entailed the use of pink colored paper. The resulting blast sent a pink cloud of shredded paper over the viewing audience. Try a practice firing to see what the blast will look like.

Probably best if you put nothing on top of the powder, that eliminates the chance of someone shooting their ramrod. Just use 30 or 40 grains of powder and keep your muzzle pointed up.

I reenacted as a rifleman for years and it took 100 grains of 3f in my .45 to give a realistic bang without ramming down or using a wad or something over the powder.

I also forgot to mention that it is possible for the paper wad to catch on fire.

We made wax balls from the round ball mold. 50r powder and push the ball down very gently.
They disintegrate for the most part when fired.

Grenadier1758 said:

I also forgot to mention that it is possible for the paper wad to catch on fire.

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Yeah, that seems like it might be important.

I have done blank firing demos with my 50 cal Scout rifle. I used 2f 90 grains and a regular spit patch. It worked well enough.

ronaldrothb49 said:

Probably best if you put nothing on top of the powder, that eliminates the chance of someone shooting their ramrod. Just use 30 or 40 grains of powder and keep your muzzle pointed up.

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Depends on the event something require you to ram rod your load and others don't want you to ramrod your load.

Panama Red said:

Yeah, that seems like it might be important.

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RED - Not wanting to start a forest fire and then be chased by Smokey the Bear.

Onojutta said:

What is a good load to fire blanks from a .50 flintlock rifle for demonstration purposes? How many grains, what to use on top of the powder to hold it in place, etc.? Thanks

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Wax paper makes a superior wadding and is less likely to catch on fire.
Also gets a little better bang because it seals the bore better, increasing combustion.
Works well for putting over the powder when shooting loads with shot.

Thin card wads work well also. Cleaning after firing without any backpressure is a mess.

I’ve used cotton balls over the charge. Just make sure they are made from 100% cotton and not some kind of poly if you use this option. The poly would likely leave melted residue in your bore.

When setting off multiple charges quickly I use my 90g spout on my flask and keep the barrel up. If not firing immediately I will use a patch on top. Also when trying for more impressive booms I will use up to 150g and yes you do get recoil with a large blank load.

Because there is no back pressure with blank charges fouling builds up very quickly with the likelihood of a remaining ember in the barrel. I do not recommend loading blank charges using a charging spout with a large container of black powder behind it to preclude the possibility of a spark setting the flask off. Yes, I do know that the ember in the barrel is unlikely, but I would rather not chance it. Such a discharge has not happened to me or in my presence, but there are instances where burning embers have set off a freshly loaded charge. Do a search for embers and discharge here on the forum.

I went as a militia man to an 1812 event. I took my .45 SMR. We had to shoot from a block house. We could not Ram anything down.
I got lots of flash in the pans. And the shot when it went off was more of a woof then a bang

hawkeye2 said:

I reenacted as a rifleman for years and it took 100 grains of 3f in my .45 to give a realistic bang without ramming down or using a wad or something over the powder.

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Good fer you. Me also. A big part of my life until age and health ended it. BTW, the blank load you recommend is what I used also.

I stuffed a cotton ball on top of a charge when I test fired one of my build in the back yard. I think I used about 60 grains. Just wanted to make sure everything worked. Wasn't real concerned about the report, but it was loud enough.

With no back pressure a blank charge can sou d pretty whimpy or give you a WHOOOOF !!! Instead of a BOOM ! esp. with small changes like 40-60 gr. If you get a chance before hand experiment to find a decent charge . In my trade gun I usually used 80-100 gr. for a nice BOOM ... Dont use any wadding and dont point your muzzle down , obviously . Even in engagements we'd keep our barrels at slight angle up to keep the powder to the breech .... Stay safe ....