496 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Deo. 9, 1893. 



Walsrode smokeless powder in grains, 29grs., IJ^oz. shot No. 7, fur- 

 nished by O. Hesse, in Bischwell shells; 



Bursting Strain. Velocity. 

 8,19a 2 lbs. equal 556 atm. 832.3 ft. equal 252 meters. 



^ 8,305.5 " •' 565 " 842.2 " " 255 



^ 8,305 5 " " 565 " 878.5 " " 266 



7,3T9 4 " " 503 " 885.1 " " 268 



8,217 3 " " 5&9 " 885.1 " " 268 



Sl\Iean bursting strain, 8,076 lbs. Mean velocity. 864 ft. 



Variation, 926 lbs. ' Variation, 53 ft. 



Walsrode smokeless powder in grains, 31grs., l^oz. shot No. 7 (win- 

 ter load), furnished by H. C. Squires, in Bischwell shells: 

 Bursting Strain. Velocity. 

 9,055 2 lbs. equal 616 atm. 842.2 ft. equal 255 meters. 



10,432.3 " •' 709 " 957 8 " " 290 



11,745 3 " " 799 " 9181 " " 278 



8,790.6 " " 598 " 918.1 " " 278 



9,819 0 " " 670 " 845.5 " " 258 " 



Mean bursting strain, 9,972 lbs. Mean velocity, 896 ft. 



Variation, 2,955 lbs. Variation, 115 ft. 



Walsrode powder in grains, 29grs., IJ^oz shot No. 7, brought to this 

 country from Germany in the year 1892, and since stored in Chi- 



cago: 



Bursting Strain. 

 7,581,9 lbs. equal .517 atm. 

 8,305.5 " " 565 " 

 8,878 8 ■' " 604 " 

 8,349 0 " " 568 " 

 Mean bursting strain, 8,273 lbs. 

 Variation, 139 lbs. 



Velocity. 

 832 3 ft. equal 253 meters. 

 875.2 " " 265 " 

 871.10 " 264 

 878.5 " " 266 " 



Mean velocity, 864 ft. 



Variation, 46 ft. 



Walsrode in grains, 29grs., IJ^oz. shot iJo. 7, furnished by O. Hesse in 

 Climax shells, primed with black powder: 



Bursting Strain Velocity. 

 7,026.6 lbs. equal 478 atm. 795.9 ft. equal 241 meters. 



8.437.8 " " 574 " 823.2 " " 249 " 



9,055.2 " " 616 " 805.8 " " 244 " 



8,746.5 " " 559 " 805.8 " " 244 " 



8,746.5 " " 559 •' 808.11 " 245 " 



Mean bursting strain, 8,402 lbs. Mean velocity, 807 ft. 



Variation, 2,029 lbs. Variation, 27 ft. 



The test for bursting strain and velocity was continued 

 and partly repeated on Sept. 22. On that day the ther- 

 mometer registered 66° F., equal to 16° 0., the barometer 

 29,8, the hygrometer 15%. 



Table B. 



American wood powder, SMdrs., I^ok. shot No. 7, equal to 366 pellets, 

 in Nitro Club shells, U.M. 0. wads: 



Bursting Strain. 



6.585.6 lbs. equal 448 atm. 

 6,056-4 " " 413 " 

 6,056.4 " " 413 " 

 5.8h0.0 " " 400 



7.070.7 " " 481 " 

 Mean bursting strain, 6,389 lbs. 

 Variation, 1,190 lbs. 



The same load in Smokeless shells: 

 Bursting Strain. 

 9,584.4 lbs. equal 652 atm. 

 7,SS8.1 " " 523 " 

 6,908 2 " " 466 " 

 6,717.9 " " 457 " 

 8,805.3 " " 559 " 

 Mean bursting strain, 8,845 lbs. 

 Variation, 2,867 lbs. 



Velocity. 



865.8 ft. equal 262 meters. 



848.9 » " 257 



888.4 " " 269 

 934 7 " " 283 

 825 5 " " 2.50 



Mean velocity, 872 ft. 

 Variation, 109 ft. 



Velocity. 

 865.8 ft. equal 262 meters. 

 85'!.2 '■ " 260 

 868 7 " " 263 " 



878.5 " " 266 " 

 937.11 " 284 " 



Mean velocity, 881 ft. 

 variation, 79 ft. 



E. C. powder, SJ^drs,, li^oz. shot No. 7, in Smokeless shells, U. M. C. 

 wads: 



Bursting Strain. 

 9,011.1 lbs. equal 613 atm. 

 7,688.1 " " 583 " 

 7,644 0 " •' 520 " 

 7,776 3 " " 529 " 

 6,835.5 " " ,465 •' 

 Mean bursting strain, 7,791 lbs. 

 Variation, 2.166 lbs. 



Velocity. 

 914.9 ft. equal 377 meters. 

 759.5 " " 230 " 



974.3 " " 295 



855.4 " " 259 

 901.7 " " 278 " 



Mean velocity, 881 ft. 

 Variation, 215 ft. 



Schultze powder, 3i,4drs., IJ^oz. shot No. 7, Smokeless shells, U. M. C. 



Bursting Strain. 

 12,936 0 lbs. equal 880 atm. 

 9,9.«13 " " 679 " 

 11,107 2 " " 760 " 

 7,467 6 " 508 " 



11,657.1 " " 793 " 

 Mean bursting strain, 10,611 lbs. 

 Variation, 5,469 lbs. 

 S. S. powder, SJ^drs., IJ^oz. shot No, 

 wads: 



Bursting Strain. 



8.349.6 lbs. equal 568 atm. 

 7,42 1 5 " " 505 " 

 8,393 7 " " 571 " 

 6.629 7 " " 451 " 

 7,599 9 " " 517 " 



Mean bursting strain, 7,674 lbs. 

 Variation, 800 lbs. 

 DuPont's smokeless powder, 38grs., 

 shells, U. M.. C wads: 

 Bursting Strain. 



5.747.7 lus. equal 391 atm. 



7.555.8 " 514 " 



7.526.4 " " 612 " 

 5,880.0 " " 400 " 

 4,689.3 " " 339 " 



Mean bursting strain, 6,279 lbs. 

 Variation, 1,808 lbs. 

 The same load in Smokeless shells: 

 Bursting Strain. 

 8,173 2 lbs. equal 556 atm. 

 9,408.0 '• " 640 

 9,555 0 " " 655 " 

 8,526 0 " " 580 " 

 6,321.0 " " 430 " 

 Mean bursting stram, 8,396 lbs, 

 Variation, 3,234 lbs. 

 DuPont's smokeless powder 40grs., 

 shells, U. M, C- wads: 

 Bursting Strain. 



8.040.9 Jbs. equal 547 atm. 

 6,350 8 " " 364 " 



11,568.9 " " 787 " 



6.541.5 " " 445 " 



5.703.6 " " 388 " 

 Mean bursting strain, 7,440 lbs. 

 Variation, 6,218 lbs. 



The same load in Smokeless shells: 

 Bursting Strain. 

 9,849.0 lbs. equal 670 atm. 

 8,040.9 " " 647 " 

 11,965 8 " " 814 " 

 12,936.0 " " 880 " ' 

 6,541 5 " " 445 " 

 Mean bursting strain, 9,868 lbs. 

 Variation, 6,359 lbs. 

 Walsrode in grains, furnished by O. 

 Bursting Strain. 

 8,349 0 lbs. equal 568 atm. 

 8,173.2 " 556 " 



7,732.2 " " 526 " 

 7.780.8 " " 529 " 

 6,8(jti.l " " 463 

 Mean bursting strain, 7,770 lbs. 

 Variation, 1,548 lbs. 



Velocity. 



886.1 ft. equal 268 meters. 

 861.11 261 



881 9 " " 267 



842.2 " " 255 " 

 1,027.10 " 311 



Mean velocity, 899 ft. 

 Variation, 185 ft. 

 7, in Smokeless shells, U. M. C. 



Velocity. 

 941.2 ft. equal 285 meters. 



891.8 •' " 270 " 



848.9 " " 257 



908 2 " '• 275 " 



957.8 " " 290 " 

 Mean velocity, 909 ft. 

 Variation, 109 ft. 



IJ^oz. shot No. 7, in Nitro Club 



Velocity. 



762.9 ft. equal 231 meters. 

 852 0 " " 258 " 



841.2 " " 255 " 

 852.0 " " • 258 



785.10 " 238 

 Mean velocity, 618 ft. 

 Variation, 90 ft. 



Velocity. 

 855.4 ft. equal 259 meters. 



833.3 " "252 



862 0 " " 258 " 

 835 6 " " 253 " 

 83810 " 254 " 



Mean velocity, 843 ft. 



Variation, 23 ft. 

 IJ^oz. shot No. 7, in Nitro Club 



Velocity. 



855.4 ft. equal 359 metfers. 



808.11 " 245 



878 5 " " 266 " 

 802 4 " " 243 " 

 818.10 " 248 " 



Mean velocity, 838 ft. 



Variation, 76 ft. 



Velocity. 

 852.0 ft. equal 258 meters. 

 828.0 " " 251 

 885.0 " "268 

 952,8 " " 290 " 

 887.5 " " 266 " 

 Mean velocity, 881 ft. 

 Variation, 124 ft. 

 Hesse, 29grs., IJ^oz. shot No. 7: 

 Velocity. 

 832.8 ft. equal 252 meters. 

 838.10 " 254 " 

 884.4 " " 269 " 

 858.8 " " 260 " 

 865:3 " " 262 

 Mean velocity, 865 ft. 

 Variation, 53 ft. 



Before commenting on the results shown in the forego- 

 ing tables, it appears advisable to single out for the gunner 

 some of the points which ought to govern a comparison. 



It has been said before that one of the most desirable 

 features of a propelling agent is that it should retain its 

 talli.-'lic properties under all conditions. There should 

 never be any extraordinary variatious in bursting strains 

 and velocities. The latter should never drop below 77olt., 

 because all figures below cease to represent the desirable 

 killing force, and they should not exceed 900ft. , for the 

 r^eason that liigher velocities generally give cause for a 

 less satisfactory pattern, as this has been clearly demon- 



strated whenever the charges of E. 0., Schultze, S. S., 

 Wood and DuPont powder were increased to Sidrs. 



It has been stated previously that a bursting strain of 

 13,0001bs._to the square inch still maybe considered as 

 comparatively safe, but such a pressure is certainly too 

 high to be endured by the average gun for any length of 

 time. A gas pressure of 10,0001bs. may be considered to 

 have reached the highest point of safety for a continuous 

 service. 



As will be seen, the gas pressure of a service charge of 

 DuPont's black powder is about 7,2031bs., the correspond- 

 ing velocity 890ft. 



The black powder known as "Dead Shot" developed a 

 lower gas pressure, but the velocities were, in some 

 instances, likewise eomewhat low, and the same rule 

 applies to the "Orange Extra." American wood powder 

 dropped in two instances below the desired average 

 velocity and reached only in the Smokeless shell the 

 required figures, and this both in regard to bursting strain 

 and velocities, E. C. powder likewise makes the best 

 shovving in the Smokeless shells, whereas it fell a little 

 short in the two other instances, although it should be 

 borne in mind that 38grs. in a common shell and without 

 black powder priming hardly represent a sufficiently 

 strong charge of this powder. S. S. powder did well in 

 point of velocity in two instances, but in one case these 

 figures reached a point higher than desirable for a good 

 pattern; it dropped below the average values in the 

 Climax shells. 



Schultze Powder gave the best results in point of 

 velocity in the Smokeless shell and as regard gas pre s- 

 sure in the Nitro Club shell. In the Climax shell the 

 velocity figures approach very closely the lower normal 

 limit. 



Schultze powder (Pompton), which differs from the 

 regular Schultze powder by a much harder grain, 

 developed high and also uniform velocities, but the burst- 

 ing strain, especially that of the increased— S^drs. — 

 charges, appears somewhat high, which may to some 

 extent be due to the fact that this powder was tested for 

 bursting strain and velocity separately from the others 

 and in a comparatively dry atmosphere. The quoted 

 figures, however, demonstrate that the maximum load of 

 this powder, when used in warm and dry weather, should 

 not exceed 3drs. The increased charges of Walsrode 

 grain powder naturally developed a corresponding high 

 gas pressure and higher velocities than the standard 

 charge, but the figures of bursting strain still move in 

 the permissible limits. 



The velocities of the standard charges, those in Climax 

 shells primed with black powder included, are quite 

 uniform and of sufficient height, and the gas pressures 

 likewise move in the normal limits and show only slight 

 variations. 



American wood powder, as Table B shows, did not 

 appear very sensitive to increased charges, which may 

 partly be due to the fact that cool and cloudy weather pre- 

 vailed at the time; a condition more beneficial to this 

 powder than to any other, inasmuch, and as will be de- 

 monstrated hereafter, the wood powder is more hygro- 

 scopic than the several other powders tested. 



E. C. powder unexpectedly showed great variations 

 with the increased load, which are of less consequence as 

 far as the bursting strain is concerned than in regard to 

 the velocities. 



The gas pressure figures prove that this powder, like all 

 nitro powders, will occasionally re-act heavily to increased 

 charges. 



S. S. did comparatively well with the increased charge. 



DuPont's smokeless powder was tested in two lighter 

 charges, both making a good showing in piunt of velocity, 

 but the variations in gas pressure appear to prove that the 

 combustion of this powder lacks somewhat in uniformity. 

 This powder is not yet in the market, and before it is in- 

 troduced there is little doubt but what it will, in this re- 

 spect, be sufficiently improved. The slight fault is prob- 

 ably due to an oversight in the process of manufacture. 

 It belongs to the gun cotton powder class, and its chemical 

 composition warrants a good prediction in regard to its 

 future. It still lacks somewhat in point of non-suscepti- 

 bility to moisture, but being a gun cotton powder, it will 

 only be a question of time when it will likewise in this 

 respect do as well as nther powders of this class. 



But the experiments teach that in its present condition 

 the DuPont smokeless powder should not be loaded, bulk 

 for bulk, with black powder; 2fdrs. constitute the maxi- 

 mum charge for warm and dry, 3drs. for wet and cold 

 weather. 



The bm-sting strains developed by the Schultze powder 

 likewise show that it is unwise to load more than 3drs. of 

 this powder for 12-gauge guns in summer. 



The Pattern Test. 



The pattern test commenced on Sept. 23. Inasmuch, 

 and as previously observed, one particular gun seldom 

 shoots all kinds of powders equally good, it was concluded 

 to use several guns for this occasion. The guns employed 

 were: A Francotte* gun, loaned by Von Lengerke & An- 

 toine; a Greener gun; a German gun, with the right bar- 

 rel of cylindrical bore, the h f t, as all the others, choke- 

 bore; and a Smith gun. Both barrels were used by the 

 German gun, thus making in reality five different guns. 



From all powders five rounds were fired, one shot from 

 each gun. All shots were fired at muzzle rest, and at a 

 distance of 40yds. 



The weight of the Greener gun was above 71bs, , those of 

 the others below 71bs. The figures quoted ia Table C con- 

 stitute the number of pellets counted in each case within 

 the 30-inch select circle. 



Table C. 



3i4drs. DuPont's black powder FFF, llgoz. shot No. 7: 



139 305 167 107 177 — 795 Average pellets 159; var. 98 

 3drs. DuPont's black powder FFF. li-goz. shot No. 7: 



249 279 268 159 270 — 1231 Average pellets 244; var. 116 

 3drs. American Powder Mills' Dead Shot, IJ^goz. shot No. 7: 



230 271 241 123 241 — 1106 Average pellets 221; var. 148 

 3drs. Laflin & Hand's Orange Extra, I'^'^oz. shot No. 7: 



240 268 224 147 111 — 990 Average pellets 198; var. 157 

 Sdrs. American E. C. powder in Nitro Club shells, IJ^oz. shot No. 7; 



256 245 123 161 240 — 1025 Average pellets 205; var. 133 

 Sdrs. American E. C. powder in Smokeless shells. IJ-goz. shot No. 7: 



220 344 149 93 187 — 893 Average pellets 178; var. 151 

 3dr8. American E. U. powder in Climax shells, IJ^oz. shot No. 7: 

 196 277 256 148 363 — 1140 Average pellets 228; var. 129 



* The best mean pattern was obtained with the Francotte gun. 



3drs. Schultze powder in Nitro Club shells, IJ^oz shot No. 7: 



284 258 108 149 283 - 1081 Average pellets 316; var. 174 

 The same load in Smokeless sheUs: 



196 173 219 98 214 — 900 Average pellets 180; var. 116 

 The same load in Climax shells: 



158 290 192 115 120 — 875 Average pellets 175; var. 175 

 Sdrs. American Wood powder in Nitro Club shells, l^oz. shot No. 7: 



134 152 231 176 150 — 843 Average pellets 168; var. 197 

 The same load in Smokeless shells: 



180 192 80 101 175 — 728 Average peUets 136; var. 112 

 3drs. American Wood powder, by Watson, in Smokeless shells. Ij^goz. 

 shot No. 7: 



246 218 254 117 223 — 1058 Average pellets 211; var. 137 

 Sdrs. American Wood powder in Climax shells, IJ^oz. shot No. 7: 

 139 207 132 133 194 — 794 Average pellets 158; var. 85 

 Sdrs. S. S. powder in Smokeless shells, IJ^oz. shot No. 7: 



155 249 155 98 195 — 803 Average pellets 1L«J; var. 151 

 The same load in Nitro Club shells: 



191 206 129 113 2.38 — 877 Average peUets 175; var. 125 

 The same load in Climax shells: 



242 188 278 163 283 — 1154 Average pellets 2:30; var. 120 

 Sdrs. DuPont's smokeless powder in Smokeless shells, IJ^oz. shot No. 7: 



174 280 1.52 88 188 — 8S2 Average pellets 174; var. 193 

 The same load in Nitro Club shells: 



175 243 204 163 245 — 1030 Average pellets 206; var. 122 

 Ts. Walsrode powder in grains, li-^oz. shot No. 7: 



178 259 258 134 337 — 1066 Average pellets 213; var. 135 

 TS. Walsrode powder in grains, from Hesse, 13^oz. shot No. 7; ■ 

 240 172 243 122 249 — 10.32 Average pellets 206; var. 127 

 31grs. Walsrode powder in grains, from Squires, IJ^oz. shot No. 7: 

 170 150 257 143 231 — 950 Average pellets 190; var. 135 

 39grs. Walsrode powder in grains, Climax shells, IJ^oz. shot No. 7: 



135 163 183 146 138 — 865 Average pellets 173; var. 48 

 Sdrs. Schultze powder (Pompton) in Smokeless shells, IJ^oz. shot No.7: 



182 127 178 140 250 — 877 Average pellets 175; var. 123 

 SMdrs. American wood powder in Smokeless shells. IWoz. shot No. 7: 



151 173 204 187 185 — 900 Average pellets 180; var. 53 

 SMdrs. American wood powder in Nitro Club shells, IJ^oz. shot No. 7: 



185 180 177 84 215 — 841 Average pellets 168; var. 131 

 SWdrs. B. C. powder in Smokeless shells, \%oz. shot No. 7: 



219 205 230 87 258 — 999 Average pellets 199; var. 171 

 The same load in Nitro Club shells: 



2.38 288 253 126 302 — 1202 Average pellets 240; var. 176 

 3Mdrs. Schultze powder in Smokeless shells, 13^oz. shot N<">. 7: 



189 155 96 155 121 — 716 Average pellets 143; var. 93 

 The same load in Nitro Club shells: 



219 240 210 138 253 — 1060 Average pellets 213; var. 115 

 3Udrs. S. S. powder in Smokeless shells, IJ^oz. shot No. 7: 



190 190 189 225 186 — 980 Average pellets 196; var. 37 

 The same load in Nitro Club shells: 



214 237 206 123 203 — 982 Average pellets 196; var. 114 

 38grs. DuPont's smokeless powder, in Smokeless shells, IJgoz. shot 

 No. 7: 



220 264 219 78 345 — 1026 Average pellets 205; var. 186 

 The same load in Nitro Club shells: 



236 258 257 137 284 — 1173 Average pellets 234; var. 147 

 40grs. DuPont's smokeless powder in Smokeless shells, IJ^oz. shot No. 7: 



174 146 155 147 229 — 831 Average peUets 170; var. 83 

 The same load in Nitro Club shells: 



349 254 2.37 172 195 — 1107 Average pellets 231 ; var. 83 



The foregoing table shows the surprising result that the 

 mean pattern obtained with the nitro powders are superior 

 to those given by the black powders. In many cases the 

 black powder is preferred by gunners simply for the rea- 

 son that better patterns are expected from the same, and 

 on former occasions I have often found that this presump- 

 tion was well founded. In judging the values of the pat- 

 tern the corresponding velocities must always be taken 

 in consideration, since, as repeatedly observed, the lower 

 velocities generally produce remarkably good patterns. 



The figures contained in Table C could easily lead to 

 erroneous conclusions if the given pattern values would 

 not be compared with the corresponding values of veloci- 

 ties. Let us pass the black powders for the present, and 

 direct our attention to the nitro powders. 



American wood powder shows in two instances unsat- 

 isfactory patterns; ia the other case 211 pellets constitute 

 the mean pattern, and this value is confronted by a mean 

 velocity of 812ft. 



E. C. powder makes the best showing in the Climax 

 shells, but the corresponding velocity is only 699ft. 

 Schultze powder gives in the Nitro Club shells a mean 

 pattern of 216 pellets, with a corresponding velocity of 

 82ift. S. S. powder makes in aU three shells a good 

 showdng in point of pattern, among which the values 

 obtained in the Climax shells represent the highest figures, 

 namely, 230 pelUts. But the corresponding velocity again 

 is only 755ft., or below^ the permissible limit. 



DuPont's smokeless powder makes the best showing as 

 regards pattern with the SSgrs, charge, which produces a 

 corresponding velocity of 81 3ft. 



Schultze powder (Pompton) shows a somewhat lower 

 mean pattern, but this is confronted by the comparative- 

 high velocity of b83ft. 



Walsrode grain powder gave a mean pattern of 213; 

 pellets with a corresponding velocity of 864ft. 



With the increased charges the "E. C. powder has, in 

 one instance, given the high pattern of 240 pellets, con- 

 fronted by a very satisfactory velocity, but on the whole 

 this powder, too, produces a less satisfactory pattern as. 

 the velocity inci'eases. 



Schultze powder shows with the increased charge the' 

 best pattern in the Nitro Club shells, namely 212 pellets;; 

 the velocity is about the same as that of the E. C. powder*. 



S. S. powder did well in both .shells, giving, with a very- 

 high velocity, a mean pattern of 196 pellets. Wood pow- 

 der only reached a mean pattern in one instance of 180 

 pellets; the corresponding velocity is above 870ft. Wals- 

 rode x>owder maintained in both shells the average veloc- 

 ity, but fell, compai'ed with the Schultze E. C. powders, 

 somewhat short in point of pattern. 



On several occasions it has been observed before that 

 many gunners claim to obtain a better pattern with IJoz. 

 of shot than with l^oz., and that they consequently would 

 increase the chances of hitting by using the larger shot 

 load. I have already attempted to show that even in such 

 a case where a larger number of pellets form the l^oz, 

 charge are counted on a stationary target than from the 

 l^oz. charge, this fact would by no means substantiate and 

 prove the correctness of the assumption mentioned. 



But the question is: Does the larger charge really pro- 

 duce on the average a better pattern than the smaller 

 charge? The answer to this question can be found by 

 comparing the pattern values contained in Table C with 

 those found in the next table: 



Table D. 



Chicago, Watson's Park, Sept. S5, 1893. 



PATTEP.N TEST WITH 1^ OUNCES SHOT. 



Schultze powder, Sijdrs., l^oz. shot No, 7: 

 Velocity, 841.9 ft. equal 355 meters. 

 805.8 " " 244 " 



192 pellets. 

 314 " 

 244 " 



Average, 832 ft. 



Average, 316 pellets. 



