Blank (cartridge)

A blank is a type of Cartridge for a Gun that contains Gunpowder but no Bullet or Shot . Blanks are commonly used for Safety reasons in Military training maneuvers, in Movies that require gun fights, and in Starter 's Pistol s to signal the beginning of Race s.

However, it should be noted that given the explosiveness of a blank cartridge they are by no means safe. While blanks do not contain bullets, they often contain a Paper or Plastic plug that seals the powder in the case, called a ''wad'' (a term derived from Shotgun Shell s). This wad can cause bruising at medium ranges and severe penetrating wounds at close range. There is also a great deal of hot, expanding gas that comes out of the muzzle of the gun when a blank round is fired. Exposure to this gas can cause grievous injuries. In addition if there is any debris in the barrel (for example stones in the far end) it will be expelled at a similar velocity to a bullet, with similar capability for harm. Actors in particular are at serious risk of injury from blank cartridges used on movie sets. Actors Brandon Lee and Jon-Erik Hexum were both killed in accidents involving blank cartridges. Lee was killed by an old cartridge fragment lodged in the gun, while Hexum died when a wad penetrated his skull. The explosion alone can cause damage to the Eardrum , so hearing protection is recommended.

Special blank cartridges are also used for applications where the explosive power of a cartridge is needed, but a projectile is not. Blank cartridges were commonly used for launching Rifle Grenade s, though modern grenades are capable of trapping the bullet of a live round. Blank Rimfire cartriges are also used in some Nail Gun s, where the power is tapped to force a heavy Piston into the nail, with enough force to bury its full length in Concrete . Some forms of Fast Draw competitions use special blanks that are loaded with a layer of slow burning Rifle Powder on top of a thin layer of faster burning Pistol powder. The pistol powder ignites the slower burning rifle powder, and fires it out the barrel much like a Shotgun Shell . The burning powder only travels a few yards before it completely combusts, but that is far enough to burst the Balloon used as a target for those competitions. Wax Bullets are also commonly used for competitions and training where a non-lethal projectile is required.

A blank catridge may also issued to a randomly selected shooter in an Execution By Firing Squad . This is to allow each shooter the belief that they fired the blank.

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Blank (cartridge)