Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-12-06
no WDsa MAKING.
Aho work OF dnFsont,s-The Efforts
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bbhaNKNnaGns
from the annual report of Commodore
nicafd, U. y, NJ, CHIEF Of the bureau oi
ordnance, printed in the Army and Nae,
4'tgtstsr' the following extract is taken ;
No Ma'erlai change h9s b en- made in
me composition Of American browr,
powder es used by the bureau in the
o-iuch guns since the date of the last re-.
port This powder, In charges of abont
hs.hsf tie weight OF the projectile, aots
uuliornly, and gives q velocity OF 3 600
1871 par second in four expansions, with
pressure OF about is toms, the density
% onsrge being from ,95 to l. This ia
qulte as satisfactory an exhibit as is at.
tanned by this kind OF powder
IA Europe. The bureau has de-
ciued to use size of prism
o. somewhat less diameter but greater
night than that heretofore manufactured.
Lhis prism is of such size ns viii bnild
up conveniently into cartridges for any
eAnofe or onr guns from 5.inch to 10 inch
pelnsiVe. The psessas for tho powder
Ae nearly completed by Msssrs. dupont
OF wilmington, Del. The manufacture
o brown p1Sder for the 8.inch and
iu-inch guns has proceeded and mum.
ger or samples for each class OF gun have
Deen presented aud tried ct the provior
ground. The powder for these cslibreS
mas apparently oGsred more difficulty TO
toe manufacturers than that for the
0-lnoh gun. The required velocity il
readily obtained, bat the pressurcs ara
rather higher than is the case in the
= inch gua on this saWe density OF charge.
stiil 1t 10 thought that satisfactory
performance will soon be obtained.
The sphere. .hexagonal black powder.
which was manufactured for use
In the 6pounder rapid-ira ern.
was intended also FOR use in the 8 pou1dsr
rapid fire gun, but in the practice proved
unsatisfactory in the latter piece. Messrs.
DUPONT have, however,, lately produced
powder. the grains Of which are ia the
shaps OF square loz nEe, which actssasi
factorily both in the FOUNDER and the
6.pounder, and will be adopted Tor the
present as the powder for those gnus.
Messrs. dupont have shown great interest,
industry and skill In dealing with the
whole question of brown and other
powders for the new armament. The
new powder referred to in a precsainc
as being introduced abroad for
guns OF moderate calibre appears 10 have
shown remarkable results in thoge pieoes,a "a
charge one-third the weight of the proiec-
tile giving, in bore 40 calibres long,
muzzle velocity OF little less than 2, 2,4GO
feet per seooud, with chamber pressure
OF about is or 10 tons. These are, OF
oourse, remarkable results, but informa-
hon regarding them is not very definite
Or perfectly satisfactory. However. it is
nlesr that an effort must be made to so
change the characteristics OF our powder
In this country as to proiuce analogous
results. The bureau has drawn the at.
tention OF the prominent powder makers
Of tho country to this matter. Tais new
'oreign powder is said to absorb moisture
very rapidly, aud is therefore objection.
able in that respect. 1t is perhaps, ques.
ionsble whsther in its present form il
,an be conveniently adapted to the con-
iitions of ordinary service afoat.