474 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Jan. 1, 1891. 



COMPARATIVE POWDER TESTS. 



FIVE RIVAL EXPLOSIVES AT THE FOREST AND STREAM 

 GEN TRIAL. 



ON the day after Thanksgiving of last year (Nov. 28) a 

 trial of more than ordinary interest took place at the 

 Forest and Stream testing screen at Claremont, N, J. 

 The Lyman powder has recently been placed upon the 

 market for the use of shotgun men, and it was desired 

 that Forest and Stream should make a trial of and 

 report upon the new compressed and slow burning powder. 

 The cartridges as they are made, show a compact mass of 

 closely packed powder in the shell. Through the center 

 of the mass reaching down to the flash anvil of the fulmi- 

 nate cap, runs an open duct. The powder starts its igni- 

 tion up this small shaft or passage, and burning rapidly 

 outward toward the outer portion, gains constantly a 

 broader surface of ignition with a con?equent greater 

 supply of propulsive gas until the charge is sent on its 

 way from the gun muzzle. This is the new material 

 which Mr. Lyman has placed before the gunners of the 

 country. In comparison with it were tried charges of 

 black powder, Scbultze powder, and the new E. C. pow- 

 der so nearly akin to the Schultze product. These three 

 charges came from Von Lengerke & Detmold's loading 

 laboratory, and the evenness of these test cartridges is 

 something specially noteworthy. The wood powder 

 charged cartridge was purchased over a shop counter. 

 It was a U. M. C. ready loaded charge, No. 127 of their 

 numbering, and ran more even on analysis than it did 

 from the gun. 



The Lyman cartridges were of two lots; No. 1 came 

 from a box of twenty-five purchased by a lad at the shop 

 of Dannefelser, the Chamber street agent of the Lyman 

 Company. The Lyman No. 2 was of a lot offered for test 

 by the maker of the powder. Just what each variety did 

 on test and just how it was loaded so far as weight and 

 quantity of powder and shot may be concerned, the 

 analysis will show. The variation in the results, especi- 

 ally as to pattern, is so wide as to bring the two Lyman 

 powders at the bottom and top of the percentage tables 

 respectively. The gun used in this comparative powder 

 test was a Colt arm which E. A. Summers had just re- 

 ceived from the Dannefelser shop. The right barrel had 

 been modified so far as its choke was concerned, but the 

 left barrel was still at full choke and its results ought to 

 show the several explosives at their best. The day was 

 not a particularly pleasant one for a several hours' test on 

 a boggy, springy, salt-water bottom such as prevails at 

 Claremont, but the weather conditions were quite uni- 

 form from one end of the test to the other, and upon the 

 whole the day was a very fair one for a test of this sort, 

 and fully as good as those when other arms had been put 

 to test. Mr. Summers was the gunner of the day, firing 

 over a bag rest and doing careful justice to each set of 

 cartridges. Black powder was the first used at tbe 40yds. 

 range, then followed the Schultze, E. C. and wood, with 

 the Lyman No. 1 closing up the series; at 60yds, the same 

 order" was followed, Lyman No. 2 or that specially pre- 

 pared under a later manufacture, was tried last of all 

 at 60yds., and then the ten trial shots fired at 40yds. 

 dosing up the day's work. 



In our tables of results the composition of the cartridge 

 is most fully given, and just how the several wads were 

 used in order and quality is noted at length. They were 

 in each case loaded by experts, and in four out of the six 

 cases loaded with special reference to their work as test 

 cartridges. The exceptions being the store-bought wood 

 and Lyman charges. The charges of shot, so far as size, 

 weight and count are regarded, ran very even, the num- 

 ber of pellets ranging from 328 to 333 in the averages. It 

 is, therefore, very easy to strike percentage of perform- 

 ance and note that at 40yds. , the standard testing distance 

 at the standard 30in. circle, for three best circles out of 

 five struck for greatest pattern from each barrel, the per- 

 centage stands as follows: 

 Powder. Bight Barrel. Left Barrel. 



Lyman No. 2.... 61 per cent. 67 per cent. 



E. O 60 per cent. 65 per cent. 



Black 60 per cent. 64 per cent. 



Schultze 57 per cent. 62 per cent. 



Wood 41 per cent. 65 per cent. 



Lyman No. 1 * 51 per cent. 51 per cent. 



Gun average 55 per cent. 63 per cent. 



This showing is not a very brilliant one for the gun, 

 but on comparison between the several charges tried it 

 is entirely fair. The factory -loaded wood powder's work 

 seems to justify all that is heard as to the uncertainty of 

 action of this explosive, and the variation in the two 

 Lyman charges also has a bearing on the growing ques- 

 tion of factory vs. special loads for effective work. 



When it came to work at the long range of 60yds., es- 

 pecially with the left barrel, where it is alone fair to 

 make the comparison, the black and the two English 

 * nitro powders show up in very good shape. This same 

 group of three also stands very closely together in the 

 matter of penetration, with the Lyman following and 

 that unlucky wood powder practically nowhere in a 

 comparative sense. When it comes to hitting at 60yds. , 

 there is practically a uniformity all along the line, 

 which simply goes to show that where any work is to be 

 done at these long distances it is a waste of ammunition 

 to try doing it with the smaller sizes of shot. 



In the tables and diagrams following the result of each 

 shot fired is noted as to pattern and penetration. In 

 each shot a circle is struck about the bufiseye as a center. 

 The sheet of paper is 4ft. square and the scribing circle 

 is then pushed over to include the best possible pattern 

 shown on the sheet. The three best of these selected 

 circles at each distance is taken in making up the aver- 

 age for the gun. With the results taken from the aimed 

 circle there is always a chance of irregularity or slip on 

 the part of the sbooter;but with a selected circle struck 

 on a 4ft. square sheet the gun is enabled to show its very 

 best work. If the charge does not manage to get upon 

 such a sheet as this it is time to try another gun or charge 

 or both. In the diagrams A is the point aimed at or the 

 center of the aimed circle, while C is the center of the 

 struck or selected circle. In some few instances the 

 points C ^and A are identical, but generally it is found 

 possible to improve the pattern somewhat by moving the 

 center of the 30in. circle. The penetration in all the 

 other tests was taken on Dennison's pads, specially pre- 

 pared for this purpose. 



The diagrams of targets will be given next week, 



Claremont, N. J.. Nov. 28, 1890. 



TEST MADE AT FOREST AND STREAM GRIN-TESTING SCREEN, 



Gun— Colt Harnmerless. Cost, S60. No. of gun, 1,337. 



Weight, 73^lbs. Length of barrels, 30m. Gauge, 12. 



Right barrel, modified choke. Left barrel, full choke. 

 Weather— Clear. Direction of wind, 4 o'clock. Force of 



wind, 10 miles per hour. Thermometer, dry, 28°. Do., 



wet, 23° . Humidity, 70° . Barometer, 30.13in. 

 Charge, as given by holder of gun: 



BOTH BARRELS. 



Shell— TJ. M. C, Ton L. & D. 

 Powder, Brand— Bead Shot FFG. 

 Powder, Quantity— 8% drs. 



( Make 



Shot-: Quantity— iy s oz. 



( Size— No. 7 Chilled. 



CARTRIDGE ANALYSIS. 



Three Cartridges Taken at Random. 



BOTH BARRELS. 

 Loading, Potvder. Slwt. 



Card over shot; light ( 1. . . 101 grs. 517 grs. 333 pellets, 



card, P. E. wad and- 2. . . 101 grs. 517 grs. 333 pellets, 



heavy card over pow- 1 3. .. 101 grs. 518 grs. 333 pellets. 



Average 101 grs. 517 grs. 333 pellets. 



TEST AT 40 YARDS. 



Five Shots per Barrel from reft at fixed 80-inch Circle. 



RIGHT BARBEL. " LEFT BARREL. 



1'attenx. Penetration, s -pellets. Pattern. Penetration, s pellets. 



1. 144 pellets. 17 sheets. 1. 157 pellets. 16 sheets. 



2. 162 pellets. 18 sheets. 2. 155 pellets. 17 sheets. 



3. 189 pellets. 16 sheets. 3. 184 pellets. 15 sheets. 



4. 188 pellets. 17 sheets. 4. 161 pellets. 15 sheets. 



5. 189 pellets. 14 sheets. 5. 211 pellets. 20 sheets. 



Av. 174 pellets. 16 sheets. Av. 173 pellets. 17 sheets. 



Three Shots at 4-foot square; 80-inch Circle selected from 

 best pattern. 



RIGHT BARREL. LEFT BARREL. 



1 196 pellets. 1 220 pellets. 



2 197 pellets. 2 215 pellets. 



3 207 pellets. 3 212 pellets. 



Average 200 pellets. Average 215 pellets. 



TEST AT 60 YARDS. 

 Fivc',Shots per Barrel from rest at fixed SO-ineh Circle. 



RIGHT BARREL. LEFT BARREL. 



Pattern. Penetration, s pellets. Pattern. Penetration, -.pellet*. 



1. 91 pellets. 9 sheets. 1. 96 pellets. 3 sheets. 



2. 93 pellets. 9 sheets. 2. 74 pellets. 5 sheets. 



3. 52 pellets. 6 sheets. 3. 68 pellets. 9 sheets. 



4. 93 pellets. 9 sheets. 4. 100 pellets. 12 sheets. 



5. 95 pellets. 7 sheets. 5. 115 pellets. 9 sheets. 



Av. 85 pellets. 8 sheets. Av. 90 pellets. 7 sheets. 



Three Shots at 4-foot square; 30-inch Circle detected from 

 best pattern: 



RIGHT BARREL. LEFT BARREL. 



1 97 pellets. 1 101 pellets. 



2 96 pellets. 2 100 pellets. 



3 101 pellets. 3 115 pellets. 



Average 98 pellets. 



Average 105 pellets. 



Claremont, N. J., Nov. 2S, 1890. 



TEST MADE AT FOREST AND STREAM GUN-TESTING SCREEN. 



Gun— Colt Harnmerless. Cost, §60. No. of Gun, 1,337. 



Weight, 7Klbs. Length of barrels, 30in. Gauge, 12. 



Right barrel, modified choke. Left barrel, full choke. 

 Weather — Clear. Direction of wind, 4 o'clock. Force of 



wind, 10 miles per hour. Thermometer, dry. 28° . Do., 



wet, 23°. Humidity, 80° . Barometer, 30.12in. 

 Charge, as given by holder of gun: 



BOTH BARRELS. 



Shell— U. M. C., Von L. & D. 

 POWder, B ran d— Schultze. 

 Potvder, Quantity— 3 drs. 



t Make 



Shrjt-l Quantity— -1% oz. 



( Size— No. 7 Chilled. 



CARTRIDGE ANALYSIS. 

 Three Cartridges Taken at Random. 

 BOTH BARRELS. 

 Loading. Powder. 

 Card over shot; light f 1. . . 40 grs. 

 card, P. E. wad and- 2... 41 grs. 

 heavy card over pow- ' 3. . . 42 grs. 



der. 



Average 41 grs. 



Shot. 



522 grs. 334 pellets. 



333 pellets. 

 332 pellets. 



518 grs. 

 514 grs. 



518 grs. 333 pellets. 

 TEST AT 400 YARDS. 



Fire Shots per Barrel f rom rest at fixed 80-inch circle. 



RIGHT BARREL. LEFT BARREL. 

 Pattern. Penetration, a pellets. Pattern. Penetration, s pellets. 



1. 172 pellets. 14 sheets. 1. 164 pellets. 18 sheets. 



2. 156 pellets. 13 sheets. 2. 165 pellets. 15 sheets. 



3. 123 pellets. 19 sheets. 3, 114 pellets. 19 sheets. 



4. 141 pellets. 15 sheets. 4. 199 pellets. 19 sheets. 



5. 144 pellets. 16 sheets. 5. 196 pellets. 19 sheets. 



Av. 147 pellets. 15 sheets. Av. 167 pellets. 18 sheets. 



Three nhots at 4-foot square; 30-inch Circle selected- from 

 best pattern . 



RIGHT BARREL. LEFT BARREL. 



1 195 pellets. 1 210 pellets. 



2 192 pellets. 2 206 pellets. 



3 193 pellets 3 211 pellets. 



Average 193 pellets. 



Average 209 pellets. 



TEST AT 60 YARDS. 



Five Shots per Barrel f rom rest at fixed 80-inch Circle. 



RIGHT BARREL. 

 Pattern. Penetration, s pellets. 



1. 50 pellets. 



2. 49 pellets. 



3. 69 pellets. 



4. 95 pellets. 



5. 51 pellets. 



Av. 



sheets, 

 sheets. 

 6 sheets. 

 13 sheets. 

 6 sheets. 



LEET BARREL. 

 Pattern-. Pe netration, 3 pellets. 



1. 85 pellets. 



2. 95 pellets. 



3. 70 pellets. 



4. 86 pellets. 



5. 89 pellets. 



10 sheets. 

 9 sheets. 

 9 sheets. 

 8 sheets. 

 5 sheets. 



63 pellets. 8 sheets. Av. 85 pellets. 5 sheets. 



Three shots at 4-foot square; 30-inch Circle selected from 

 best pattern. 



RIGHT BARREL. LEFT BARREL. 



1 79 pellets. 1 94 pellets. 



2 96 pellets. 2 121 pellets. 



3 55 pellets. 3 91 pellets. 



Average 77 pellets. 



Average 102 pellets, 



Claremont, N. J., Nov. 28, 1890. 



TEST MADE AT FOREST AND STREAM GUN-TESTING- SCREEN. 

 Gun— Colt Harnmerless. Cost, $60. No. of gun, 1,337. 



Weight, 7^1bs. Length of barrels, 30in. Gauge, 12. 



Right barrel, modified choke. Left barrel, full choke. 

 Weather— Clear. Direction of wind, 4 o'clock. Force of 



wind, 10 miles per hour. Thermometer, dry, 28°. Do., 



wet, 23 °. Humidity, 70° . Barometer, 30.12in. 

 Charge, as given by holder of gun: 



BOTH BARRELS. 



Shell— TJ. M. C, Von L & D. 

 Potvder, Brand — "E. C." English. 

 Powder, Quantity— Mrs. 



( Make 



Shot-i. Quantity— l}£oz. 



I Size— No. 7 Chilled. 



CARTRIDGE ANALYSIS. 

 Three Cartridges Taken at Random. 



BOTH BARRELS. 

 Loading. Powder. Slwt. 



Card over shot; light ( 1. . . 43 grs. 521 grs. 333 pellets, 



card felt wad, heavy 1. 2... 43 grs. 520 grs. 333 pellets, 



card over powder. (3... 44 grs. 522 grs. 333 pellets. 



Average 43 grs. 521 grs. 333 pellets. 



TEST AT 40 YARDS. 



Five Shots per Barrel f rom rest at fixed 80-inch Circle. 



RIGHT BARREL. LEFT BARREL. 



Pattern. Penetration, x pellet*. Pattern. Penetration., s pellets. 



1. 161 pellets. 20 sheets. 1. 186 pellets. .18 sheets. 



2. 150 pellets. 17 sheets. 2. 223 pellets. 19 sheets. 



3. 165 pellets. 17 sheets. 3. 161 pellets. 16 sheets. 



4. 74 pellets. 18 sheets. 4. 207 pellets. 17 sheets. 



5. 206 pellets, 17 sheets. 5. 183 pellets. 17 sheets. 



Av. 151 pellets. 18 sheets. Av. 192 pellets. 17 sheets. 



Three shots at 4-foot square; 80-inch Circle selected from 

 best 'pattern. 



EIGHT BARREL. LEFT BARREL. 



1 191 pellets. 1 233 pellets. 



2 189 pellets. 2 227 pellets. 



3 222 pellets. 3 198 pellets. 



Average 201 pellets. 



Average 219 pellets. 



TEST AT 60 YARDS. 



Five Shots per Barrel from rest at fi,xed, 80 inch Circle. 



RIGHT BARREL. LEFT BARREL. 



Pattern.. Penetration, s pellets. Pattern. Penetration, 3 pellets. 



1. 48 pellets. 4 sheets. 1. 89 pellets. 9 sheets. 



2. 78 pellets. 8 sheets. 2. 49 pellets. 9 sheets. 



3. 64 pellets. 7 sheets. 3. 99 pellets. 12 sheets. 



4. 24 pellets. . . sheets. 4. 86 pellets. 7 sheets. 



5. 68 pellets. 5 sheets, 5. 130 pellets. . . sheets. 



Av. 56 pellets. 6 sheets. Av. 90 pellets. 9 sheets. 



Three shots at 4-foot square; 30-inch Circle selected from 

 best pattern. 



EIGHT BARREL. LEFT BARREL, 



1 86 pellets. 1 97 pellets. 



2 64 pellets. 2 100 pellets. 



3 74 pellets. 3 133 pellets. 



Average 75 pellets. 



Average 1 10 pellets. 



Claremont, N. J., Nov. 28, 1889. 



TEST MADE AT FOREST AND STREAM GEN-TESTING SCREEN. 



Gun— Colt Harnmerless. Cost, $60. No. of gun, 1,337. 



Weight, 7>abs. Length of barrels, 30in. Gauge, 12. 



Right barrel, modified choke. Left barrel, full choke. 

 Weather — Clear. Direction of wind, 4 o'clock. Force of 



wind, 10 miles per hour. Thermometer, dry, 28°. Do., 



wet, 23 ° . Humidity, 70 ° . Barometer, 30.12in. 

 Charge, as given by holder of gun: 



BOTH BARRELS. 



Shell— TJ. M. C. Club. 

 Powder, Brand— Wood. 

 Powder, Quantity— 3% drs. 

 I Make— ■ 



Shot-, Quantity— 1U oz. 

 ( Size— No. 7 Chilled. 



CARTRIDGE ANALYSIS. 



Three Cartridges Taken at Random. 



BOTH BARRELS. 

 Loading. Potvder. Shot. 



U.M. C. loaded No. 127; i 1. . . 38 grs. 499 grs. 331 pellets, 



card over shot; two- 2... 37 grs. 502 grs. 329 pellets. 



B. E. wads and card ( 3. . . 37 grs. 511 grs. 336 pellets. 



over powder. 



Average 37 grs. 504 grs. 332 pellets. 



TEST AT 40 YARDS. 



Five Shots per Barrel from rest at fixed 80-inch Circle. 



RIGHT BARREL. LEFT BARREL. 



Pattern. Penetration, s pellets. Pattern. Penetration, 3 pellets. 



1. 39 pellets. . . sheets. 1. 183 pellets. 8 sheets. 



2. 132 pellets. 11 sheets. 2. 223 pellets. 10 sheets. 



3. 67 pellets. 3 sheets. 3. 158 pellets. 7 sheets. 



4. 163 pellets. 8 sheets. 4. 79 pellets. 3 sheets. 



5. 38 pellets. .. sheets. 5. 199 pellets. 3 sheets. 



Av. 88 pellets. 7 sheets. Av. 170 pellets. 6 sheets. 



Tliree Shots at 4-foot s'quar.e; 80-inch Circle selected from 

 best pattern. 



EIGHT BARREL. LEFT BARREL. 



1 162 pellets. 1 200 pellets. 



2 73 pellets. 2 229 pellets. 



3 183 pellets. 3 222 pellets. 



Average 139 pellets. 



Average 217 pellets. 



TEST AT 60 YARDS. 

 Five Shots per Barrel from rest at fixed 30-inch Circle. 



RIGHT BARREL. LEFT BARREL. 



Pattern. Penetration, s pellets. PaJtern. Penetration, spellets. 



1. 73 pellets. 5 sheets. 1. 69 pellets. 2 sheets. 



2. 24 pellets. . . sheets. 2. 29 pellets. 2 sheets. 



3. 27 pellets. . . sheets. 3. 63 pellets. 2 sheets. 



4. 63 pellets. . . sheets. 4. 69 pellets. 2 sheets. 



5. 90 pellets. 3 sheets. 5. 78 pellets. 6 sheets. 



Av. 55 pellets. 4 sheets. Av. 61 pellets. 3 sheets. 

 Three Shots at 4-foot se^uare; 80-inch Circle selected from 

 best pattern. 



RIGHT BARREL. LEFT BARREL. 



.1.' 76 pellets. 1 74 pellets. 



2 74 pellets. 2 77 pellets. 



3 94 pellets. 3 78 pellets. 



J Average 81 pellets, 



Average 76 pellets. 



