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Thread: Safely getting the powder out

  1. #1
    Boolit Master



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    Safely getting the powder out

    A friend long ago gave me a gallon ziplock bag full of 223 blanks. After seeing another thread about using blanks to form 300 Blackout I was thinking finally I'll be able to put these things to some use.

    Now for my problem, they are loaded, how do I get the powder out safely without having to shoot each of them off? I was thinking maybe a case trimmer and taking off the crimp end a bit and dumping them or ??? open to suggestions... Oh and would the powder be good for anything besides fertilizer?

  2. #2
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    Winger Ed.'s Avatar
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    Blank powder is usually REAL fast burning.
    Some recipes for home made blanks call for Unique.
    Not knowing just what it is, I wouldn't load it in anything else.

    No more than what you have- it should be less than 1/2 a pound.
    I hate throwing it out on the yard or flower beds, I like getting it away from everything and lighting it.

    There's mixed reviews on using blank brass for regular ammo.
    For the 300 and cast, it will probably be OK, especially if you anneal it.
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  3. #3
    Boolit Master



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    I cut open a case with a tubing cutter, small amount of powder, I was expecting more. Flake powder, gray with a mix of orange/brown powder like red dot.

    Don't think my case trimmer idea will work, have to take the pilot out and then the nose of the blank fits in there and binds things up. Starting to think about a wood block jig and running them through the band saw.

  4. #4
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    Winger Ed.'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by lancem View Post
    wood block jig and running them through the band saw.
    That should work. Then you'd be able to do the final bit with the case trimmer.
    You might want to keep plenty of room around the one you're cutting so you don't shoot your eye out kid.

    Sounds like you won't recover enough powder to do much with though.
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  5. #5
    Boolit Master wilecoyote's Avatar
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    ...band saw could produce heat, etc.: I would not do that_
    the tubing cutter is safer, imho
    Food is overrated. A nice rifle is way more important.
    Rob

  6. #6
    Boolit Master



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    Quote Originally Posted by wilecoyote View Post
    ...band saw could produce heat, etc.: I would not do that_
    the tubing cutter is safer, imho
    I have to cut the case too short with the tubing cutter. I would think heat would be at a minimum as the saw would be going through that brass like it was nothing.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master



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    Quote Originally Posted by Winger Ed. View Post
    Sounds like you won't recover enough powder to do much with though.
    Really don't care about the powder just want it out of the cases

  8. #8
    Boolit Grand Master GhostHawk's Avatar
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    I have one of the small harbor freight saws for trimming .223 to .300BO. Most of my blanks were just cut with that. Steel blade cutting brass equals no sparks.

    I did cut the first 5 or so with a tubing cutter. But when cutting those 5 with the saw I saw no sparks and not enough heat generated to cause a problem I just cut them.

    I did tap the base down on table once to set the powder towards the base. And I always set my jig to cut just a shade long. Then run them through the dies and then do final trim to length and chamfer.

    Never had one go off. Collected a decent sized baby food jar full of gray flake fast powder of some sort.
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  9. #9
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    I don't shoot the Blackout, but I make 222 out of 223 blanks by running them into a 222 file trim die and cutting the tip off with a jewelry saw. I just dump the powder in the yard.
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  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy
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    Try one of these:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    You can set a length gauge and clamp. I've used one for about a year for gross trimming of brass, including loaded blanks, in the process of making other formed brass. Just don't try to load the blade too heavily as the motor isn't high AMP. That being said it works well for me.

  11. #11
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    I just use a pair of side cutters and squeeze the crimp, moving the cutters around that area. Once it opens up, I just pour the powder out (usually small yellowish ball powder).
    Old enough to know better, young enough to do it anyway!

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  12. #12
    Boolit Master BNE's Avatar
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    Buy a can launcher upper for an AR and shoot the blanks to launch cans!! Too much fun to pass up.
    I'm a Happy Clinger.

  13. #13
    Boolit Master
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    a DREMEL, with a cut off wheel?

  14. #14
    Boolit Buddy
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    If there's an active American Legion post near you, and they use AR15's for graveside salutes, donate the blanks, and ask them to pick up and save the brass.

  15. #15
    Boolit Grand Master

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    In my low - tech mind ... the tubing cutter , with a nice sharp cutter , would be the easy way .
    No jig or mandrel to engineer and build
    Of course Bubba always likes his Dremel Tool and cut off wheels ... just watch your finger tips
    and I don't have a band saw and you still have to build a jig and watch your finger tips .

    I don't see a thing wrong with a sharp tubing cutter ... but I also like doing things the easy and simple way .

    I guess building a CNC Machine and writing a computer program to do it would be more fun the Technomaniac's out there .
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  16. #16
    Boolit Master



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    Well I took the jig I made a while back that holds 15 rounds, originally I was using this to cut down 223 on a table saw using a plywood blade, and it works well. Didn't want the table saw maybe throwing powder all over the place and used the band saw. Worked great, some powder came out of the cut cases as I progressed through the cuts but it simply made an easy to clean up pile along behind the blade. I did 50+ in no time and have run those through the rest of the steps and they are getting cleaned now.

    50 didn't make a dent in the bag so there must be 3-400 blanks in there. All I can keep thinking is free primers

  17. #17
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    As I understand, the OP wants to salvage the brass, so cutting it won’t work. The only value are the primers. If there are primers available, it makes the most sense to shoot them off. Then they can be modified without any risk.

  18. #18
    Boolit Grand Master


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    Quote Originally Posted by GregLaROCHE View Post
    As I understand, the OP wants to salvage the brass, so cutting it won’t work. The only value are the primers. If there are primers available, it makes the most sense to shoot them off. Then they can be modified without any risk.
    He wants the brass to form 300BO which is much shorter than 223 so cutting the front off is viable.
    Old enough to know better, young enough to do it anyway!

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  19. #19
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    A good pair of fencing or side cutter pliers should cut the cases easily at the base of the crimp. Distorting the .223 neck doesn’t matter since you will be cutting them off below the shoulder.
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  20. #20
    Boolit Master Castaway's Avatar
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    Shoot them. The powder isn’t practical to use for reloading.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
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LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check