Dec. 9, 1893.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



497 



E. C. powder, 3}4drs., IMoz. shot No. 7; 



Velocity; 812.0 It. equal 246 meters. 219 pellets. 



793.1 " " 243 " 256 " 



227 " 



Average, 805 ft. Average, 2.34 pellets. 



Walsrode powder in grains, 31grs., IMoz. shot No. 7: 



Velocity, 845.0 ft. equal 257 meters. 284 pellets. 



838.5 " " 255 " 208 " 



249 " 



Average, 841 ft. Average, 247 pellets. 



American wood powder, SJ^drs., IJ^oz. shot No. 7: 



Velocity, T48.3 ft. equal 226 meters. 25"; pellets. 



756.2 " '• 229 " 2.50 " 



2.37 " 



Aveiage. 705 ft. Average, 247 pellets. 



S. S. powder, 3i4drs., 1340Z. shot No. 7: 



Velocity, 789.2 ft. equal 239 meters. 

 " 756.3 •' 229 " 



Average, 771 ft. 



DuPont's FFF powder, S^dr.s., I140Z. shot: 

 Velocity, 835.1 ft. equal 253 meters. 

 83S.5 " 254 



143 pellets. 

 175 



235 " 



Average, 184 pellets. 



208 pellets. 

 171 " 

 157 " 



Average, 836 ft. Average, 173 pellets. 



DuPont's smokeless powder, SJ^drs., I140Z. shot; 



Velocity, 845.0 ft. equal 257 meters. 232 pellets. 



" 914.9 " '• 277 " 259 



238 " 



Average, 879 ft. 



Average, 243 pellets. 



Now let us compare the figures found in Table D with 

 the best values contained in Table C. What do we find? 

 We find the surprising and instructive fact that in nearly 

 all cases a decrease in velocity and in pattern, or at least, 

 in the last instance, such a small increase that it prac- 

 tically amounts to nothing. 



Schultze powder has lost 77ft. in velocity and gained 

 only 4 pellets in pattern. E. C. powder shows a loss in 

 velocity of 76ft. and a decrease in pattern of 6 pellets. 

 Walsrode powder lost 45ft. in velocity and gained 57 pel- 

 lets. Wood powder lost fully 130ft. in velocity and 

 gained 67 pellets in pattern. S. S. powder shows a de- 

 crease in velocity of 138ft. and a loss in pattern of 12 pel- 

 lets. DuPont's black powder lost fully 190ft. in velocity 

 and 2 pellets in pattern. DuPont's smokeless powder 

 shows a decrease in velocity of 50ft. and a gain in pattern 

 of 9 pellets. In point of pattern only Walsrode and 

 wood powder show slight gains, but in the last case this 

 gain is more than counter-balanced by the accompanying 

 loss in velocity, because a velocity of 757ft., as the 

 wood powder produced, hardly represents a sufficient 

 killing force. 



Among the properties excepted from a reliable propel- 

 ling agent is the non-susceptibility to moisture; since all 

 highly hygroscopic powders wdl be affected detrimentally 

 through the inlluenceof moisture in the air, whei'ebythey 

 will cease to produce a sufficient penetrative force for a 

 killing eff . ct. A powder easily affected by moisture will, 

 as a rule, not stand storing, unless kept in a very dry 

 place. 



The so-called waterproof shells afford very little protec- 

 tion against the influence of moisture. 



In testing and judging powders it is, therefore, neces- 

 sary to establish if, and to what extent, a particular pow- 

 der is hygrosco2)ic, and at what i)wcentage of moisture 

 the ettect^f the latter begins to be felt, inasmuch as one 

 powder may stdl do good service with a certain percent- 

 age of moisture, while another containing the same per- 

 centage may cease to give satisfaction. A quantity of 

 each of the several powders was filled in open dishes and 

 these placed in a refrigerator, showing 75 per cent, of 

 moistiu-e, and there kept and subjected to the influence of 

 the humidity for 18 hours. They were then loaded in the 

 regular manner and fired. 



Table E. 



Chicago, Watsori's Park, Se^it. 27, 1S9S. 

 MOISTURE TEST. 



DuPont black powder FFF, 3drs., IJ^oz. shot No, 7: 



Bursting Strain. Velocity. 



7,938.0 lbs. equal 540 atm. 1,041.00 ft. equal 315 meters. 



7,908.6 " '• 538 1 031.00 " 312 



11 C. powder, 3drs., IJ^oz. shot No. 7: 



7,732.9 lbs. equal 520 atm. 785.10 ft, equal 238 meters. 



8,173.9 '• •' 556 " 818.7 " " 248 



American wood powder, 3drs., IJ^oz. shot No. 7: 



4,y98.0 lbs. equal 340 atm. 723.00 ft. equal 220 meters. 



4.468.8 " " 304 '• 726.6 " '• 222 

 Schultze powder, 3drs., V^oz. shot No. 7: 



6.497.4 lbs. equal 442 atm. 782.6 ft. equal 237 meters. 



7,0-.i2.3 " ■• 5-,'6 " 802.00 " •' 243 " 



Schultze powder (Pompton"), 3drs., 13^oz. shot No. 7: 



6,937.4 lbs. equal 472 atm. .SIS.IO ft. equal 248 meters. 



5.688.9 " 3S7 " 885.1 " " 268 

 S. S. powder, 3dra , IJ-goz. shot No. 7: 



7.026.0 lbs. equiU 478 atm, 779.3 ft. equal 236 meters. 

 7,144.2 " •■ 688 " 808.11 •' •' 245 



Walsrode powder, SIgrs., IJ^oz. shot No. 7: 



10.598.7 lbs. equal 721 atm. 898.3 ft. equal 272 meters. 

 10,113.0 " •• 688 " 883.1 " " 268 



Walsrode powder, a9grs., IJ-goz. shot No. 7: 



7.688.1 lbs. equal 523 atm. 835 6 ft. equal 253 meters. 

 7,791.0 " •• 530 " 852.00 " " 238 



UuPont smokeless powder, 3drs., l^oz. shot No. 7; 



ll,6,i7.1 lbs. equal 793 atm. 891.8 ft. equal 270 meters. 



13.127.8 " " 876 " 852.00 " 258 



To ascertain to what an extent the several powders 

 ■were affected by the moisture, the values quoted in Table 

 E must be compared witli the corresponding values given 

 in Table A. It will thus be found that the burstint; strain 

 of the DuPont's black powder did not change, wliile the 

 velocities show a slight increase. E. C. powder shows a 

 small incretise in bursting strain, with a loss in velocity. 

 Wood powder lost 2,0001bs. in pressure and 120ft. in 

 velocity. Schultze powder shows a decrease in the burst- 

 ing strain of about l,50ulbs., and a loss in velocity of 70ft. 

 Schultze powder — Pompton — lost 3,0001bs. in bursting 

 strain and 69ft. in velocity. S. S. powder shows a loss in 

 gas pressure of about l,0001bs. and in velocity of 133ft. 

 Walsrode, Slgrs., winter load, shows a slight increase in 

 gas pressure and a loss in velocity of 4ft. Warlsrode 

 29grs. — standard charge — lost oOOlbs. in gas pressure and 

 in velocity 18ft. DuPont's smokeless powder shows an 

 increase in bursting strain with velocities about the same 

 as before. This test was by no means a severe one. In 

 actual service the powders are frequently put to a much 

 more trying treatment. This theme will again be touched 

 in the report pertaining to the Wilmington trial. 



In about the same degree as some powders are suscept- 

 ible to the influence of moisture, others are again affected 



by dry heat. A reliable propelling agent should likewise 

 be non-susceptible to this last-named influence. 



To ascertain if and in what degree the various powders 

 are affected by dry heat, the powders were put in a closed 

 oven showing a temperature of 205° P., equal to 80° C, 

 and kept there for one hour. After being taken out and 

 given time to cool, they were loaded in the usual manner 

 and fired. 



A powder not affected by heat should show only slight 

 increases in both bursting strain and velocity. 



Table F. 



Chicago, Watson s Bark, Sept. 2S, 1893. 

 DRY HEAT TEST. 



Walsrode powder in grains, 29grs., IJ^oz. shot No. 7: 



Bursting Strain. Velocity. 

 9,231 6 lbs. equal 628 atm. 895 00 ft. equal 271 



9,231.6 " " 628 '• 888.4 " •• 269 



Schultze powder CPompton), 3drs., i%oz. shot No. 7: 



12.539.1 lbs. equal 8,53 atm. 1,093.10 ft. equal 331 



10,025.4 " •■ 682 " 974 3 " " 295 



E. C. powder, 3drs., l^^oz. shot No. 7: 



8,599 5 lbs. equal 585 atm. 852.00 ft. equal 258 



9.011.1 613 " 908.2 " " 275 

 Schultze powder, 3drs.. IJ^oz. shot No. 7: 



9,408.0 lbs. equal 640 atm. 1,031.1 ft. equal 312 



8.746.5 559 " 1,027.10 " 811 

 American wood powder. 3drs , IJ^oz. shot No. 7: 



6.983.2 lbs. equal 475 atm. 885.1 ft. equal 268 



7.159.6 '• " 487 " 828.9 " 251 

 DuPont's smokeless powder, Sdrs., IJ^oz. shot No. 



14,700.0 lbs. equal 1,000 atm. 

 14,259.0 " " 970 " 

 S. S. powder, 3drs., IJ^oz. shot No. < 

 9,275 7 lbs. equal 631 atm. 

 10,249.9 " •' 697 " 



951.00 ft. equal 288 



858.1 ■■ ■> 260 



1,037.00 ft. equal 317 

 997.4 •• 302 



meters, 

 meters, 

 meters, 

 meters, 

 meters, 

 meters, 

 meters. 



DuPont's powder FFF. 3drs., IJgoz. shot No. 7: 



7,908.3 lbs. equal 538 atm. 951.00 ft. equal 288 meters. 



7,718.2 " ■' 526 " 974.3 " " 293 



For the purpose of comparing the figures in Table F, 

 the corresponding figures m Table A must again be con- 

 sulted. This done we find that the Walsrode powder 

 shows an increase in gas pressure of 9581bs. , in velocity 

 27ft. Schultze powder (Pompton) gained l,1541bs. in 

 bursting strain, and 140lt. in velocity. E. C. powder 

 .shows an increase in gas pressure of SOOlbs., in velocity of 

 29ft. Schultze powder gained 1331bs. in bursting strain 

 and 168ft. in velocity. American wood powder increased 

 its bursting strain by 3211bs., its velocity by 12ft. S. S. 

 powder shows an increase in bursting strain of l,4491bs., 

 in velocity of 91ft. DuPont's black powder gained 6101bs. 

 gas pressure and 72ft. in velocity. DuPont's smokeless 

 powder shows an increase in gas pressure of 4,9691bs., in 

 velocity of 29ft. 



An increase of bursting strain up to 1, OOOlbs. may still 

 be considex-ed natural and permissible, and an increase of 

 velocity of 50ft. may be regarded as of no imj^ortance. 



To ascertain how far the several powders differ in the 

 way of heating the gun barrels by rapid and continued 

 firing, equal rounds of shots were fired in quick succes- 

 sion from each powder, and in every case the temperature 

 measured in the middle of the gun barrel. DuPont's 

 smokeless and Walsrode powders showed the lowest and 

 same degree of heat; then followed Schultze powder with 

 increased heat, and then, with the same values, E. C. and 

 wood powder, then Schultze (Pompton), then S. S. 

 powder, and then, with the highest degree of heat, Du 

 Pont's black powder. 



The recoil test produced the following result: Least 

 recoil, of even value, DuPont's smokeless and Walsrode; 

 then followed, with increased recoil, E. C, Schultze, 

 Schultze (Pompton) and American wood powder; then 

 S. S. powder, and then, with the heaviest recoil, Du 

 Pont's black powder. 



In regard to the development of smoke, the several 

 powders are governed by the following rotation: Du 

 Pont's and AValsrode developed the least smoke, of even 

 value; next came Schultze, Schultze-Pompton, E. C. and 

 S, S. powder; then wood, and as last, of course, DuPont's 

 black powder. 



The barrel fouling test resulted for the several powders 

 as follows: The least fouling of the gun barrel was found 

 with the DuPont's and Walsrode smokeless powders; 

 next came Schultze, Schultze-Pompton, and S. S. powders; 

 then wood and E. C. powder. The residue of the E. C. 

 powder proved, occasionally, to be of a quite solid form 

 and tending to clog the locking device of the gun. 



Among the black powder, Laflin & Rand's "Orange 

 Extra" produced a remarkable small residue, much less 

 than generally found with black powders. 



With this last test, the Chicago powder trials were con- 

 sidered finished. It was understood and agreed, however, 

 that a repetition on a smaller scale, and in conjunction 

 with a i^rimer test, should take place on some future day. 

 and in another section of the country. 



For this second test, to which all interested parties were 

 a^ain invited, Messrs. E, I. DuPunt de Nemours Co. kindly 

 placed their shooting ground and some of their instru- 

 ments at their gun cotton factory located at Carney's 

 Point, New Jersey, near Wilmington, Delaware, at our 

 disp>osal. 



Schultze powder — Pompton — ^reached Chicago after the 

 test there had commenced, and I was further requested 

 to test a new Leaf powder recently brought out by Messrs. 

 Wolff & Co., Walsrode. Both of these powdere were sub- 

 jected to an exhaustive test at Carney's Point. So that 

 the result of this trial will afford the same basis for judg- 

 ing these powders as the basis established for ti'e others. 



The experiments at Carney's Point commenced with the 

 primer test. The experiments were conducted with a 

 view to ascertain to what extent the qualities of the sev- 

 eral powders, as far as bursting strain and velocities are 

 concerned, are affected" by the primer, and especially to 

 determine, if, and to what degree, the stronger primer 

 will increase the violence of the nitro powders; that is, 

 render them more or less dangerous; and further, which 

 primer will, as a rule, secure the most regular ignition. 



It has been further determined, how much faster the 

 stronger primer will bring about an ignition and combus- 

 tion of the powder charge than the common or black 

 powder primer. 



Table G. 



Carney's Point, N, J., Oct. SO, 1S93. 



PRIMER TEST. 



DuPont's smokeless powder, 2a4drs., l}4oz. shot in Eiey shells: 



Bursting Strain. Velocity. 



8,507.2 lbs. equal 576 atm. 841.9 ft- equal 255 meters. 



9,261.0 6:30 " 828 9 " '• 251 



10.143.0 " " 690 " 818.7 " " 348 " 



10.922.1 " " 743 " 818.7 " " 248 " 

 9,318.8 " " 634 " 808.4 " " 343 " 



The same load in Smokeless shells: 



10,936.8 lbs. equal 744 atm. 858.0 ft. equal 260 meters. 



7,898.9 •* " 537 " 828 9 " " 251 



9.834.3 " " 669 " 852 0 " " 258 



9.437.4 " " 642 " 858.8 " " 260 

 6,330.4 " " 432 " 795.9 " " 241 



The same load in Rival shells: 



8,517.9 lbs. equal 579 atm. 828.9 ft. equal 251 meters. 



8,114.4 '• " 5.53 " 822.0 " " 249 



5,909.4 " " 402 •' 766.0 " " 333 " 



8,055.4 •' 582 " 825.5 " " 250 



6,-394 5 " " 435 " 812.3 •' " 246 



The same load in U. S. Rapid shells: 



6, '-]5.0 lbs. equal 450 atm. 812.0 ft. equal 246 meters. 

 .5,909.4 " " 403 " 779,8 " " 236 

 7,673.4 " " 522 " 766 0 " " 232 " 

 7,9:38.0 " " 540 " 799.9 " " 243 " 

 8,996.4 " " 613 " 799 9 " " 242 



The same load in Bisch welter shells: 



9,162.8 lbs. equal 624 atm. 822 0 ft. equal 249 meters. 



13.891.5 " 945 " 842.2 " " 255 



8.070.3 " " 549 " 928 0 " " 281 

 ■ 11.234 8 " " 840 " 858,8 " " 260 



10'010 7 " " 681 " 828,9 " " 251 

 The same load in Bachmann shells: 



10.739.4 lbs. equal 732 atm. 822,0 ft. equal 249 meters. 



10,495.8 " " 714 " 843.2 " " 255 



6,776.7 " " 471 " 795,9 " " 341 



9;481,5 " " 645 " 812.0 " " 246 



10.407.6 " " 708 " 8.38.10 " 254 

 The same load in Winchester shells. No. 3 primer: 



8.349.6 lbs. equal 468 atm. 795.5 ft. equal 241 meters. 



6.492.7 " " 441 " 785.10 " 288 



7.849.8 " " 584 " 812.0 " " 246 



6.041.7 " " 411 '■ 782.6 " " 237 



6.570.9 " " 447 " 676.0 " " 223 

 The same load in Nitro Club shells: 



8.996.4 lbs. equal 612 atm. 833.3 ft. equal 252 meters, 



6.174.0 " •' 420 " 795.5 " " 241 



7, :364 7 " " 501 " 818.0 " " 248 " 

 7,982 1 " " 543 " 82S.9 " " 251 



5.953.5 " " 405 " 785,10 " 238 

 The same load in Creedmoor shells, Winchester No. 2 primer: 



6 394,5 lbs. equal 435 atm. 756,2 ft, equal 229 meters, 



5.997.6 " " 408 " 



6,129,9 " " 417 " 743,0 " " 225 " 



7.100.1 " " 483 " 782,6 " " 2-37 

 7,011,9 " " 477 " 782.6 " " 237 



The same load in Kynoch's Grouse shells: 



5.071 .5 lbs. equal :M5 atm. 766,0 ft, equal 232 meters. 

 7,;364,7 ■• 501 •' 812,0 " " 246 



7.585.3 " " 516 " 805.8 " " 244 " 

 7,,364.7 " " 501 " 



6,52e.8 " " 444 " 769.4 " •' 3.33 

 The same load in Climax shells, common: 



4,851 .0 lbs. equal 330 atm. 704,4 ft. equal 314 meters. 



4,9,38,3 " •' 3:36 " 733.7 " " 222 



4,6:30.5 " " 315 " 



4.762.8 " " 324 " 



5.247.9 " " 357 " 



The same load in Sporting Life shells: 



6.262.2 lbs. equal 426 atm. 782 6 ft. equal 237 meters. 

 6,3945 " " 4.35 772.7 " " 234 

 7,408.8 " " 504 " 766.0 " " 232 " 



6.749.3 " " 459 " 921.5 " " 279 " 



7.673.4 " " 522 " 832.0 " " 249 " 

 Oct. Continuation of the Primer Test. 



Therpiometer 69° F., equal to 20.5° C; hygrometer, 90;'4. 

 Walsrode leaf powder, 31grs.. equal 2.1 grams; li^joz. shot No. 7, ia 

 Smokeless shells: 



Burstinci Strain. Velocity. 



6.009.4 lbs. equal 402 atm. 792.5 ft. equal 240 meters. 



8.055.6 " •' 549 '• 841.9 " '• 255 



7.717.5 " " 525 " 835.3 " " 250 

 6,5'; 1,6 '■ 447 " 795.9 " " 241 

 6,659.8 " " 458 " 805.0 " " 244 " 



Mean bursting strain, 7,003 lbs. Mean velocity, 812 ft. 



Variation, 2,040 lbs. Variation, 49 ft. 

 The same load in Vienna shells: 



Bursting Strain. Velocity. 



6,953 0 lbs. equal 473 atm. 848.4 ft. equal 2,58 meters. 



9.966.6 ■• 678 " 818.7 •' " 248 

 10.054.6 •' " 684 " 848.4 " 258 



9.966 6 " " 678 " 885.1 " " 268 



8,995.4 " " 612 " 828,9 " " 251 " 



Mean bursting strain, 9,186 lbs. Mean velocity, 845 ft. 



Variation, 3,101 lbs. Variation, 77 ft. 

 Walsrode leaf powder, winter load, 32 grs., equal to 3.3 grams, 13^oz. 

 shot No. 7, in Vienna shells: 



Bursting Strain. Velocity. 



10,407.6 lbs. equal 708 atm. 868.7 ft, equal 263 meters, 



11,466,0 " " 780 " 875.2 " 265 



9.790.0 " " 666 " 852.0 " " 258 " 

 10,231.0 " " 696 " 865.3 " " 262 

 10,201.4 " " 762 " 865.3 " " 262 



Mean bursting strain, 10,419 lbs. Mean velocity, 871 ft. 



Variation, 1,676 lbs. Variation, 23 ft. 

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

 common: 



Bursting Strain. Velocity. 



6.438.6 lbs. equal m atm. 709.3 ft. equal 211 meters. 



7 893.9 " " 537 " 852.0 " 258 



9.393.3 " " 639 " 871.10 " 264 



8.555.4 " " 982 " 835.6 " " 258 



7.805.7 " " 531 " 712.6 " " 213 

 The same load in Smokeless shells: 



9,:393.3 lbs. equal 689 atm. 861.0 ft. equal 261 meters. 



11,025.0 '• " 750 " 885.1 " " 368 



8.158.5 " " 555 " 852,0 " " 358 

 9.702 0 " " 660 " 891.8 " " 270 



10,672.2 '• " 696 " 855,4 " " 259 " 

 Schultze powder (Pompton), 3drs . IJ^oz. shot No. 7 in Eley shells: 



8,9.52.3 lbs. equal 609 atm. 838. 10 ft. equal 354 meters. 



9.304.1 " 633 " 828.9 " " 251 



8.820.0 " " 600 " 785.10 " " 238 

 9.922 5 " " 675 " 835.6 '• " 253 " 



8.952.3 " '• 609 " 836.6 " " 254 

 The same load in Smokeless shells: 



9,:348.2 lbs. equal 636 atm. 858 8 ft. equal 260 meters. 



9.613.8 " 654 875.2 " '• 265 



9.081.6 " " 618 " 8:31.10 " 252 " 



9.878.4 " " 672 " 878.5 " " 256 



9.884.3 " " 669 " 885.1 '• " 258 " 

 The same load in Rival shells, common: 



6.329.9 lbs. equal 417 atm. 808.11 ft. equal 245 meters. 

 5,7:33.0 •' 390 " 802.4 " " 243 



6.394.5 " " 4:15 " 812.3 " " 216 

 7,408.8 ' " 504 " 818.10 " " 248 



8.423.1 " " 573 " 828,9 " " 251 " 

 The same load in Sporting Life shells: 



8.114.4 lbs. equal .5.52 atm. 802.4 ft. equal 243 meters. 

 8,158 5 " 5.55 " 808.11 " 245 



5,688 9 " " 387 '• 766,0 " " 2.32 



6,041 7 " " 411 " 782.0 '• •' 237 



6.262.7 " " 426 " 785.10 " 238 

 The same load in Nitro Club shells: 



7.408.8 lbs, equal 504 atm. 802.4 ft. equal 248 meters. 

 6.085,8 '• " 414 " 831.10 " 2,52 



9.084.6 " " 618 " 815.4 " " 247 " 

 8,9.^2.3 " " 609 " 808.11 " 245 " 



7.864.7 " " 501 " 838.5 " " 254 " 

 The same load in Bachmann shells: 



9.702.0 lbs. equal 660 atm. 842.0 ft. equal 255 meters, 



9,56X7 " " 651 '• 8:35.6 " " 258 " 



9.496.2 " " 066 " 8:38.10 " 254 " 



9.172.8 " " 634 " 691.0 " " 209 " 

 9,:304.1 " " 633 " 785.10 " 238 " 



The same load in Bisch weiler shells: 



7,408 8 lbs. equal 504 atm. 828 9 ft. equal 251 meters. 



8,298.8 " '■ 564 " 825.5 " " 2.50 " 



8,202 6 " " 558 " 818.10 " 248 



7.629.3 " " 519 " 828 9 " " 251 " 

 6,923.7 " " 471 " 795.9 " " 241 



The same load in U. S. Rapid shells: 



5,999 6 lbs. equal 408 atm. 812.3 ft. equal 246 meters. 



7,188.3 " " 489 " 812,3 " " 346 



4,983.3 " " 339 " 775.11 " 235 " 



4,542.3 " " 309 " 712.6 " " 212 



7,188.3 " " 489 " 815.7 " " 247 " 



