Blank ammunition

In this category you'll find expansion ammunition intended for so-called expansion firearms. In this case, the term “expansion ammunition” isn't a legal term, just a colloquial one. Other common synonyms include alarm cartridges, blank ammunition, and acoustic or noise ammunition.
Slovak law on firearms and ammunition uses the term blank cartridge for this type of ammunition. A blank cartridge is a type of ammunition for expansion firearms that, regardless of caliber, contains no projectile.

Expansion ammunition generally includes:

• a cartridge with a so-called expanding bullet – for example fitted with a hollow tip – designed to deform more on impact than standard full metal jacket (FMJ) ammunition,
• a so-called blank cartridge, i.e. a round with no projectile intended primarily for expansion firearms, which are most often created by converting original firearms.

What is this kind of expansion ammunition used for?

Because firing expansion ammunition from expansion firearms produces a loud acoustic effect, it's used for:

• film and theatre productions,
• historical battle reenactments,
• training of armed forces and security units,
• public demonstrations by the armed forces.

Overview of the most common calibers and types of expansion ammunition:

• 7.62 x 51 / .308 Winchester (e.g. the American M14 rifle)
• 7.62 x 54 R (e.g. the Soviet Mosin-Nagant rifle)
• 9 x 19 / 9 mm Luger (e.g. the German MP 40 submachine gun)
• .30-06 Springfield (e.g. the American M1 Garand rifle)
• 7.62 x 25 Tokarev (e.g. the Soviet PPSh-41 submachine gun)
• 7.62 x 39 (e.g. the Czechoslovak SA vz. 58 submachine gun)
• 8 x 57 JS (e.g. the German Mauser K98 rifle)

There aren't many manufacturers of expansion ammunition; among the larger ones are Sellier & Bellot, Prvi Partizan (PPU), and Barnaul. Some types and calibers of expansion ammunition are custom-made in small gunsmith workshops.

What should you watch out for when choosing expansion ammunition?

• choosing the correct caliber, matching that of your firearm,
• choosing the correct type – for example, with the 8 x 57 JS caliber you may come across a shorter and a longer version of expansion ammunition, depending on the chamber length of your expansion firearm,
• good-value packs (the ratio of price to the number of rounds per pack).

How can you acquire expansion ammunition?

Under Slovak Act No. 190/2003 Coll. on Firearms and Ammunition, this type of expansion ammunition may be purchased by anyone over 18, without any special permit or other documentation. If you're ordering from a country other than Slovakia, we recommend checking the rules and conditions for acquiring and possessing this type of ammunition in your own country.