MODERN GUNPOWDER AND CORDITE. 
285 
in its later stages, i.e., after incorporation, and although we have had 
slight ignitions, I am glad to say that no explosion of any consequence 
has occurred. 
Having now briefly sketched the outline of the manufacture of 
cordite, we will turn to what is doubtless the more interesting portion 
of the subject to practical gunners, namely, what are its shooting pro¬ 
perties, its keeping qualities, and what is the effect of using it in the 
guns and small arms with which it is employed. 
Shooting Qualities. 
First, as to its shooting qualities, we can best judge of them by actual 
results obtained, and by comparison with our old friend black powder 
in the same weapon. These results, which are shown in the table 
before us, speak for themselves. I owe the latest results to the kind¬ 
ness of the Director-General, Dr. Anderson, and to our friends at 
Waltham Abbey. I have here sketched a comparative table (Table D) 
TABLE B.—COMPARATIVE RESULTS. 
€ordite and Black. 
Nature. 
Cliarge. 
Velocity. 
Pressure. 
Magazine Rifle 
70 grs. 
1830+40 
18 
do. 
30 grs. 
2000+40 
15 
12-pr. B.L. 
4 lbs. 
1710+20 
15 
do. 
1 lb. 0| ozs. 
1710+20 
15 
4-7 in. Q.F. 
12 lbs. 
1830+30 
16 to 17-6 
do. 
5 lbs. 7 ozs. 
2145±25 
15 
6 in. Q.F. 
29 lbs. 12 ozs. 
1890 
15 
do. 
14 lbs. 3 ozs. 
2274 
152 
showing the results obtained by black powder and smokeless powder. 
The black powder is in Roman type and the smokeless powder in black 
type, and I think that, without any further demonstration, we can see 
for ourselves the great advantages to be obtained if the smokeless 
powder always does what that table before us indicates. First we have 
30 grains of the smokeless powder giving a 2000 feet velocity, as 
against 70 grains of the best of the modern black powders giving 1830 
feet velocity, + or — 40. Then, in the field gun (which most of us here 
are interested in) one pound and half-an-ounce of smokeless powder 
(cordite) must give, as a condition of acceptance for service, 1710 feet 
+ or — 20, as compared with 4 lbs. S.P. (selected pebble), which gives 
1710 f.s. Then quick-firing gun, the 4‘7-inch, gives, with 12 lbs. black 
