I’m happy to share my load information with you below, but this is only a rough starting point, and you should do your own load development. As with any reloading experience, use care, common sense, and a conservative approach to develop a safe, effective load, to meet your needs.
For .223 blanks used in a can cannon style launcher for the AR-15, I use about 6-8 grains of fast-burning pistol/shotgun powder to send a tennis ball around 70-100 yards, and a golf ball about double the distance. Powders like 700x and Titegroup fit the bill.
I haven’t launched a full can of liquid from the can cannon, but if I did, I would start my testing at 8 grains of powder, and go up from there. I did launch a can about a quarter full with water, and the light powder charge sent it exactly 100 yards.
The same powders/type apply for preparing .308 and .30-06 rifle launcher blank hand loads, such as those used for the spigot style launcher for the M1 Garand. To launch rubber dummy grenades (about 12 oz) with .308 about 70-100 yards, I use about 12-15 grains of powder. For .30-06, I use about 13-16 grains of powder.
You might be wondering if the cost of the blank crimp die/set is necessary. I tried firing blanks that were not crimped, and some that were lightly sealed with tissue paper glued to the rim. All that happened was the primer went off, but the powder didn’t ignite. It appears that some obstruction of the case mouth is required for the proper ignition of the powder. You might be able to use some sort of combustible plug, but I opted for crimping the metallic case. That variable made all the difference, and I am certain that the blanks send no large solids into the gas system or launcher on the rifle.
Setting up the Hornady Universal Blank Die Set.
