Can you use blanks in normal (real) guns when making a movie?

Question by : Can you use blanks in normal (real) guns when making a movie?
So basically, I wrote a screenplay about an old Army vet. who’s assaulted one week by a gang of hooligans who want to kill him for disrespecting them in town. They start by killing his dog, then he kills one in self defense, then the other three return for revenge. I don’t much feel for giving up plot details, but I’ve got several shooting scenes with a civilian model AR-15 in the hands of the protagonist, and several ‘bad guy’ guns in the hands of the antagonists (Glock, Smith & Wesson M18, and a Mossberg 500.)

I’m looking into blanks though, and using after-effects for bloody scenes. I’m setting it up for a small budget feature. I just need to know: Can I use real guns with blanks?
Very good Conan! I got some of the plot idea out of the Gran Torino (The whole older veteran vs spoiled youth thing), and the rest from the case with Marcus Luttrell where four teenagers shot and killed his dog for the joy of it. Take it up with more motive, and it gave me a splended plot for a movie. An ex-marine with PTSD and a reason to worry.

Best answer:

Answer by Conan Of Cimmeria
Reminds me of Gran Torino

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