10 Gauge Blanks

[whytea]

I am putting together some 10 gauge blanks for a friends signal cannon. I noticed that the Winchester blanks are filled with powder and a fiber wad and roll crimped. Any idea what type of powder they use? Is it a black powder substitute or smokeless? Other than its 240+ grams of flake, I don't know the kind(or how to tell frankly) and I want these to be similar (aka LOUD).

Any thoughts?

[XDRoX]

If you want them loud you have to use BP as far as I know. Smokeless won't do it. But I've never loaded blanks before. I've heard 8 drams for a 10gauge shell.

[whytea]

Yea it's a lot of powder. I cut one open and it's a bit more than 8 drams, around 243 grains with a 3/8 fiber wad. Will a substitute like pyrodex work well, or do you think real BP is necessary? Is there a way know what type of powder I'm looking at by sight? Color, consistency, etc? I know the 38 blanks I did prior with pyrodex were nice and loud. Sounded liked like the real McCoy.