[animilius]

I heard from someone who served in the armed forces that a blank M16 rifle round fired at a tree at point blank range can strip it's bark off. [shocked]

Is this true or exaggerated?

[MilenaJaf]

I heard from someone who served in the armed forces that a blank M16 rifle round fired at a tree at point blank range can strip it's bark off. [shocked]

Is this true or exaggerated?

There is still a fair bit of explosive force exiting the barrel from a blank... many blanks have the same amount of powder as an actual round; they are just crimped, rather than having a bullet in the neck of the casing.

You have to think... Blanks are how both Bruce and Brandon Lee were killed onset. If they're loaded improperly, they can be fatal even at a distance.

[cajonnmu]

There is still a fair bit of explosive force exiting the barrel from a blank... many blanks have the same amount of powder as an actual round; they are just crimped, rather than having a bullet in the neck of the casing.

You have to think... Blanks are how both Bruce and Brandon Lee were killed onset. If they're loaded improperly, they can be fatal even at a distance.

Bruce didn't die that way - but there was another actor who accidentally killed himself goofing around on set - he fired a blank at his head and wadding (?) penetrated his brain!

AQs LM said, there's still a lot of gas produced, even on a half charge, and it has to go somewhere

[yasalaioqe]

You have to think... Blanks are how both Bruce and Brandon Lee were killed onset. If they're loaded improperly, they can be fatal even at a distance.

Wrong and then technically wrong...

Bruce Lee died in his sleep after complaining of headaches.

Brandon died from a blank, but it wasn't that simple. The team that was sorting out the cartridges put live bullets in there, but removed the primer, its said that one of the bullet ends got stuck for one scene, later on in another scene, the same gun was used but this time with correct blanks. The blanks acted as the primer for the lodged bullet and the explosion was enough to propel a bullet at Brandon.

[ananciguinter]

I've never tried firing a blank point blank at a tree, but they do have some power behind them. The thing with M16s though is that you have to have a blank adapter on the end of the barrel which keeps most of the gas from coming out the barrel, because the expanding gas by itself isn't enough to push the bolt all the way back to load a new round. Without the bullet coming out of the barrel there's not enough pressure buildup to do so.

In the Army, we were told that even with the blank adapter on the end, you still shouldn't aim it directly at someone and fire closer than a certain distance because little bits of the gunpowder can come out with enough force to go into someone's skin.

[Pinkman]

I've never tried firing a blank point blank at a tree, but they do have some power behind them. The thing with M16s though is that you have to have a blank adapter on the end of the barrel which keeps most of the gas from coming out the barrel, because the expanding gas by itself isn't enough to push the bolt all the way back to load a new round. Without the bullet coming out of the barrel there's not enough pressure buildup to do so.

In the Army, we were told that even with the blank adapter on the end, you still shouldn't aim it directly at someone and fire closer than a certain distance because little bits of the gunpowder can come out with enough force to go into someone's skin.

you dont HAVE to have one, but like you said, without it it wont function like it would with real ammo, you would have to cycle the bolt manually after each round.

they have a golf ball launcher that goes on AR's to be used with blanks

[zatronanec]

Bruce didn't die that way - but there was another actor who accidentally killed himself goofing around on set - he fired a blank at his head and wadding (?) penetrated his brain!

Yeah here is the story of his death...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon-Erik_Hexum#Death

[MilenaJaf]

you dont HAVE to have one, but like you said, without it it wont function like it would with real ammo, you would have to cycle the bolt manually after each round.

they have a golf ball launcher that goes on AR's to be used with blanks

For the gas impengent systems, yes. Blank adapters aren't needed to properly cycle a piston system.

Now the golf ball launcher... I'm intrigued! Linkage?

Wrong and then technically wrong...

Bruce Lee died in his sleep after complaining of headaches.

Brandon died from a blank, but it wasn't that simple. The team that was sorting out the cartridges put live bullets in there, but removed the primer, its said that one of the bullet ends got stuck for one scene, later on in another scene, the same gun was used but this time with correct blanks. The blanks acted as the primer for the lodged bullet and the explosion was enough to propel a bullet at Brandon.

Erg... never looked into it, nor cared enough to research. But now I know! [surrender]

[zatronanec]

Now the golf ball launcher... I'm intrigued! Linkage?

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ARR225-7.html

The reviews make it sound like a LOT of fun.

[vipbunter]

They're powerfull enough to blow a hole in a pop can, I know this for sure.

[tearidrusydet]

Allot of stunt guys have had to have surgery due to blanks!

[viepedorlella]

I would imagine air moving at more than 2000 mph can cause bark to be stripped yes.

[PZXjoe]

Some info I recall off the top of my head about blanks and the movie the Expendables....

• Some 40,000 rounds of blank ammo was used through out the production of the movie.
• All weapons used were real, live firing guns that were converted through special modifications to fire blanks.
• The gun barrels were plug welded so that when the gas was released from the blank it would cause the action of the firearm to function.

[CDCL7WKJ]

Wrong and then technically wrong...

Bruce Lee died in his sleep after complaining of headaches.

Brandon died from a blank, but it wasn't that simple. The team that was sorting out the cartridges put live bullets in there, but removed the primer, its said that one of the bullet ends got stuck for one scene, later on in another scene, the same gun was used but this time with correct blanks. The blanks acted as the primer for the lodged bullet and the explosion was enough to propel a bullet at Brandon.

Technically wrong... Bruce died after complaining of headaches and taking a painkiller with a muscle relaxant he was hypersensitive to. At least that is the generally accepted story.

[animilius]

I used to think a blank round was filled with only the bullet tip, casing and air. Learnt from this thread that blanks contain powder and something in place of the bullet tip (plastic or paper).

So a fired blank round just expels hot, high speed gasses and burnt gunpowder from the gun barrel right? Correct me if I'm wrong.

Blanks do have a little power at close range!

[yasalaioqe]

Technically wrong... Bruce died after complaining of headaches and taking a painkiller with a muscle relaxant he was hypersensitive to. At least that is the generally accepted story.

Actually, I knew that, just I left it all out and kept it simples because it had nothing to do with the topic.

[inhitoemits]

I used to think a blank round was filled with only the bullet tip, casing and air. Learnt from this thread that blanks contain powder and something in place of the bullet tip (plastic or paper).

So a fired blank round just expels hot, high speed gasses and burnt gunpowder from the gun barrel right? Correct me if I'm wrong.

Blanks do have a little power at close range!

Almost correct. Usually blanks are just crimped over on the end of the casing, they do not contain anything in place of the bullet.

The gases and other potential debris expelled from the muzzle can be rather dangerous at closer ranges.

When operating with a BFA (blank fire attachment) on the end of the barrel care must be taken to ensure the BFA is securely attached. I've seen one instance of it flying off when a blank round was fired. Good job no-one was infront of it at the time.....