I've got a friend who has a few (hundred) 7.62 blanks in links. Is there anything that can be made from these? Is there a market for empty links or spent blanks. Since there is a primer shortage, can the brass be used to reload with real bullets (with an appropriate powder of course)? If so, I might trim to length, resize without a depriming pin and reload with 147gr FMJ. What say you????

you might need to turn the necks too.
i would check your local d.a.v. they would probably love to have them for funerals and such.

Hadn't considered donating them to VFW, American Legion, etc for ceremonial use. Good suggestion Lamar.

With a little BreakFree on the cases they will feed, fire and extract through many M1903s stillin use by VFW/DAVs for cerimonial use. If they give problems chambering simply remove the decaping stem from an '06 FL die, lube the 7.62 cases and size them. They will then work perfectly.

Larry Gibson

quote:

Hadn't considered donating them to VFW, American Legion, etc for ceremonial use. Good suggestion Lamar.

Duckie,

Oustanding suggestion IMO.

IMO do not attempt to "experiment" with military blank cartridges - the powder is not canister grade and specificaly designed to do what they're supposed to - go Bang, nothing else!

Attempting to use "00" shot or other projectile on top of them will get you into the "Danger Zone" quickly.

How is it that I can share such an experience.....?

quote:

Originally posted by Gerry:
How is it that I can share such an experience.....?

Yes, we share that curiosity and would like to learn about first hand experiences...

DUKie,

I'm slow on the Up-Take but not completely daft. No, I don't think I'll be sharing any first hand expereince(s) but like the Guy who smashes his Thumb twice in a row with a Hammer - they've been real learning curves.

quote:

decaping stem from an '06 FL die, lube the 7.62 cases and size them. They will then work perfectly.

Does that mean one could actually fire a 7.62 in a 30-06 chamber? (I know about the 308 in a 270 chamber - that one is dangerous!)

Years ago when 6mm Rem was hard to find and I didn't have the money to spend on brass, I trimmed a few of these blanks to 6mm Rem. length, resized in a 6mm sizing die and loaded some "Low powered loads". I never trusted the brass to stay together so I never reloaded with full charges. I finally got enough correct brass and began making enough money to buy what I needed so I didn't do many of these. They were funny looking cartridges with the double shoulder and military headstamp. They fireformed well too. I never considered using the powder, I suspected it to be too fast to push a bullet without some unsavory side effects.

I've checked some of the local American Legion Posts in my area; none have a use for the blanks. Anyone know of an organization that can use them. Central Mississippi location preferred since shipping is a problem. However, arrangements might be made ....

You mught try to fime someone with a belt fed MG/class3. All of the ones I have met just shot real ammo. Another option wouold be WWII re-inactors, tthey always shot blanks.


Keith

For blanks the shoulder location isn't important. For live rounds I would not reccomend a .308 in a .30-06. The bullet will probably line up and exit the bore but no guarantee. I've seen the result on the shell and even considered a .45 wildcat on the .308 or .30-06 shell. I don't think it would be much better than the .45-70.

I am thinking a 7.62x51 will not fit in a 30-06 due to the taper that the 'o6 has and the 08 doesn't. It would take a loose chamber for it to lock the bolt imo.

quote:

Originally posted by britz:
I am thinking a 7.62x51 will not fit in a 30-06 due to the taper that the 'o6 has and the 08 doesn't. It would take a loose chamber for it to lock the bolt imo.

I saw a guy at the range one time firing .308 in a Garand. It went bang, and the bullets left the barrel.

Did you keep your distance?!

a 308 is just a cut down 30-06 ;-)
so the taper is the same but the 308win/7.62 nato is 51mm case length and the 06 is 64mm length.

I bet that m1 craigster saw was re-barreled for 308's

A 7.62 NATO will chamber and fire in a 30-06 Garand. Don't ask me how I know; it's a long story (had to do w/zeroing two Garands, one 308, the other 30-06; shooting the gong when through zeroing rifles and putting loose rounds in pocket of shooting jacket....you get the picture). Suffice it to say that nothing was hurt except my self esteem .

The round fired & sounded normal but POI was about 10-12" lower than expected w/30-06 zero. The case ejected normally, no gas escaped, but case looked like a straight wall brass case with a very slight roll at the mouth (similar to the roll crimp used on brass shotgun shells).

I feel very fortunate that the round did not slam fire when loaded as the 308 does not easily chamber in an '06 but the op-rod spring obviously slams bolt home w/sufficient force to
swedge front end of the 308 case down and go into battery.

This occured a number of years ago and I still have the case sitting on my loading bench as a reminder to pay attention to details.

Regards,
hm

i remember a friend years ago who put a bottle cap ontop of the muzzle, point straight up, in his room in the house. the bottlecap went right up through the ceiling and continued its journey through the roof. Needless to say mom and dad weere not to happy about that

quote:

Originally posted by James Kain:
a 308 is just a cut down 30-06 ;-)
so the taper is the same but the 308win/7.62 nato is 51mm case length and the 06 is 64mm length.

I bet that m1 craigster saw was re-barreled for 308's

No, it was an original '06 Garand. The fired cases looked like a short 45-70 without the rim. IIRC, the guy was shooting both 308 and 30-06 that day and got them mixed up on the bench, you know, a classic example of head A up butt B.

quote:

Originally posted by craigster:

quote:

Originally posted by James Kain:
a 308 is just a cut down 30-06 ;-)
so the taper is the same but the 308win/7.62 nato is 51mm case length and the 06 is 64mm length.

I bet that m1 craigster saw was re-barreled for 308's

No, it was an original '06 Garand. The fired cases looked like a short 45-70 without the rim. IIRC, the guy was shooting both 308 and 30-06 that day and got them mixed up on the bench, you know, a classic example of head A up butt B.

LOL Nice! I was reading something in one of my mag subscriptions about that. I almost made that mistake, glad it didnt chamber!

Now as for the blanks. When I was serving in the army, some of my co-workers(I was small arms maintenance) would pull out some blanks from god knows where. Then when all the NCO's and Officers were gone would grab some of the weapons from the volt that were fixed and fire cleaning rods accost the room at different things. They found out not to shoot at a cinder block wall real quick!
Things you do when your board and no supervision.

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
i remember a friend years ago who put a bottle cap ontop of the muzzle, point straight up, in his room in the house. the bottlecap went right up through the ceiling and continued its journey through the roof. Needless to say mom and dad weere not to happy about that

LOL, even though it might have killed someone...