Jump to content

Safety First - WW2 .45 ACP Dummy vs. Blazer .45 ACP Ball


Recommended Posts

Of course, Blazer aluminum cased ammo has bee around for years. A couple

of days ago I was checking and test firing a gun which would feed but not fire.

We test guns with a variety of ammo. I was using WW2 dummy cartridges to

check the extractor and I looked over at the workbench by the bullet trap and

did a double-take when I realized that at-a-glance the WW2 dummies are pretty

much identical to the Blazer ball if you can't see the hole in the case.

 

I have been working with both these dummies and the Blazer ball for years,

but this is the first time they happened to be on my bench together at the

same time. We can only imagine the result if I was not paying close attention.

Probably a hole in the wall...

 

Bob

 

 

IMG_9914.JPG

IMG_9915.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the heads up.

 

I have reloaded (bullet but no powder or unfired primer) some aluminum cases as dummy rounds for test purposes for the very reason that the case is not Yellow to aid in quick identification. However in these days of high ammo costs, could be tempted to buy some cheap ammo and forget since my mind has been trained to think silver=safe

 

Bob, a question about dummy rounds. Im using them in an M1 with a M1 bolt. I have left the expended primers in the casing so that the firing pin has something soft to hit. Would you recommend this or would you fill the primer pocket with silicone or a different Solution?

Edited by imageaudio
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Most of the time I use the dummy cartridges, I am checking a gun (usually a new

gun on a Class2 build) for correct function of the extractor. The test is to put a dummy

in the chamber and with no trigger frame and no recoil spring, buffer, etc. to sharply close

the bolt by sliding it with the cocking handle or actuator knob.

 

If the bolt gets stuck, or if it will not slide easily by hand, the extractor is binding against

the slot when the front of it hits the case and flexes the arm of the extractor away from

the bolt head before it snaps down over the rim. This tells you that the extractor slot is

not deep enough and needs to be re-machined.

 

Or, if, when you close the bolt it just seems to hit the cartridge and not grab it, the

extractor has lost its "flex" and needs to be replaced.

 

If the dummies had primers, it would take extra force for the firing pin to indent the

primer deep enough for the bolt to move far enough forward for the extractor to snap

over the rim of the cartridge.

 

When I think of dummy cartridges with spring loaded or plastic primers for the firing

pin to hit, I think of break-open single and double barrel shotguns where if the gun is

dry fired the firing pin can, over time, damage the firing pin holes in the breech face.

We do not have this problem with the Thompson.

 

An interesting side note - when I was out at Doug's I looked at his two dewatted

Colt M1921 Thompsons. They have barrels with steel plugs in the chamber welded

to the inside of the receiver. To prevent damage and so the guns could be snapped,

he put leather disks on the end of the plugs so that when you pulled the trigger the

bolt would hit the soft leather and not steel on steel. I thought this was very clever. In

all my travels and with all of the Dewats I have seen his were the only ones that had

this set-up to prevent damage.

 

OK, maybe too much info...

 

Bob

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...