Not inert. Blanks have primers and powder in them to make them go 'BANG!'
... and listen for the distinct sound of B.B.s rattling inside.
BBs? BBs would be projectiles. You could hear the powder rattling around inside.
Whoever this is saying that blanks are inert and have BBs inside doesn't know what they're talking about.
I think I see the distinction this guy is trying to make now. “Dummies” are non-firing cartridges that are made to look real. They are not blanks in any sense. I don’t think he made that clear. “Dummies” would be inert “blanks” would not. Perhaps “dummies” do have BBs in them for the purpose of making them identifiable.
Still, why would there ever be any live rounds on any movie set? They would have no legitimate purpose.
Fox News writers used the word inert.
The expert armorer said you have to listen for the SOUND of B.Bs rattling, not to say that there were actual B.Bs inside.
I am not an expert on this so correct where it is wrong.
They are not talking about blanks, they are talking about dummy rounds. Those are two different things.
I read it that they replace the powder with BBs (probably not actual BBs - they might be too large). Perhaps to give the dummy round some weight? But not sure why they would need weight. Unless when they are being shown emptied from the gun and falling to the ground or something.
No, they make blanks and dummies. Blanks don’t look like live rounds. Dummies do. but instead of gunpowder under the slug, there are some BBs. Those rattle around between the dead primer and the bullet so you can shake a dummy and it rattles like a child’s toy.