5-in-1 blank cartridge

{{Short description|Simulation ammunition for the film industry}}

{{Infobox firearm cartridge

| name = Five-in-One Blank

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| origin = USA

| type = Blank

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| is_SI_specs = yes

| parent = .38-40 Winchester
.44-40 Winchester{{cite news |last1=Petersen |first1=Kyle |title=Hollywood's Favorite Blank: 5-in-1 |url=https://westernstageprops.com/blogs/blank-ammunition/hollywoods-favorite-blank-5-in-1?srsltid=AfmBOooIECVjwrlVG6DCSPuKXYgQJyOZU223piOFeKD2WN0NFOjR4Irv |access-date=28 March 2025 |work=Western Stage Props |date=25 April 2024}}
.45 Colt
.44 Magnum
.44 Special
.410 bore{{cite web |title=5-in-1 Plastic Blank Ammunition |url=https://blankammo.com/products/5-in-1-plastic-blank-ammunition-50?_pos=1&_sid=e1171d11c&_ss=r |website=Blankammo.com |publisher=Blank Ammo |access-date=28 March 2025}}

| case_type = Rimmed, bottleneck or Rimmed, straight

| bullet =

| neck =

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| base =

| rim_dia = 13.1

| rim_thick =

| case_length = 33

| length = 33

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}}

5-in-1 blanks (commonly called "five-in-ones" in the film industry) are blank cartridges that can be used in a variety of firearms. They are specifically made for theatrical use and are commonly used in real firearms for dramatic effect. Since the loud report and flash of ignition, and not the projection of a bullet, is the goal of the cartridge, it can be used in firearms with different bore sizes. These cartridges can be loaded with different charges, ranging from quarter-load charges for indoor scenes and scenes around animals, up to full-load charges for outdoor firing.{{Cite web | url=https://truewestmagazine.com/article/hollywoods-5-in-1-movie-blank/ | title=Hollywood's "5-in-1" Movie Blank | publisher=True West Magazine | date=2005-07-01 | access-date=2024-11-28}}

5-in-1 blanks can be used in firearms chambered for the .38-40 Winchester, .44-40 Winchester, .45 Colt, .44 Magnum, and .44 Special because, although the bores differ in diameter, the chambers are of similar shape. They were called a 5-in-1 blanks, because, when they were originally introduced, they could be fired in the five different firearms commonly used in Hollywood Westerns, namely .38-40 and .44-40 Winchester lever-action rifles and .38-40 Winchester, .44-40 Winchester, and .45 Colt single-action revolvers. 5-in-1 blanks are also called a 3-in-1 blanks for the three weapon calibers in which they are fired, namely .38-40 Winchester, .44-40 Winchester, and .45 Colt.{{cite news |title=Cowboys Rejoice! .44 Magnum and .44-40 Blank Ammunition now available! |url=https://westernstageprops.wordpress.com/2017/06/17/cowboys-rejoice-44-magnum-and-44-40-blank-ammunition-now-available/ |access-date=28 March 2025 |work=Western Stage Props |publisher=Word Press |date=17 June 2017}}

The 5-in-1 blanks in use today have been redesigned and are made with plastic cases that can be used not only in .38-40 Winchester, .44-40 Winchester, and .45 Colt calibers, but also in .44 Special, .44 Magnum, and .410 bore shotguns & revolvers.{{cite news |last1=Horman |first1=Gil |title=.45 Colt/.410 Bore Handguns Versus Non-NFA Shotguns |url=https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/45-colt-410-bore-handguns-versus-non-nfa-shotguns/ |access-date=28 March 2025 |work=American Rifleman |issue=News - Handguns |publisher=National Rifle Association |date=13 July 2023}} They are available in crimped and open-ended (balloon) varieties and are made using both black powder and smokeless powder. The black powder blanks produce not only a loud report and flash, but also a cloud of white smoke.