The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-06
SMoKELESs PoRDKRs.
Az Expert who DIstrustr Them All aAd
BelIeves In Compreased BLACK Powder.

Believes In Compressed Black Powder.
An American naval Officer writing about the
| equipment OF armies. In one OF the mRRhzinea
makes the statement that smokeless powder
| has entirely superseded black powder in Eu'
| rope. and criticses the United States Govern
mont for tagging behind in everything pertain
ing to warfare W. NJ. Thomas Of bridgeport
| an expert employed by one Of the big cartridge
concerns. thinks tho statement is premature.
They are still experimenting with new OK.
plosives." said Mr. Thomas, and nobody can
| say with certainty that any OF the new POW.
| ders will be adopted finally. Tho French
| thought they had found the perfect explosive
in melanitc a elycerno compound but they
had TO discard It because 1t would not retain
| its original properties. Melanite is affected by
! atmospheric conditions and underGoes chem
| zeal changes that alter Its action. max
ing 1t a decorating compound. Every
| glycerine compound made is liable TO such
chemical action, and therefore is unsuitable
for use In rifle cartridges. The French we're
40 confident that they had millions OF car
tridges loaded with melnnte and stored in
their arsenals. When they discovered their
mistake they had to throw away the whole lot.
Tho cartridges were sent TO Antwerp 10 be I'M
loaded. as the shells could be used, and 1t Ia
my opinion that the terrible EXPLOSION IN that
bv ono exploded when n workmsn pulled 1t
apart. ard tho detonation set OF all the resi-;
Ins o. the smokeIess poMWacrs nov T., Ue tnS
spItnters OF Irregular size II cannot be meas
uIel accurntcH by bulk, and to get uniform
must e weighed the eby increasing the dtfl-
Gully and cost OF putting up ammpnitl9p
mi Sigh WI t rss m nns so|T
White 1t is almost smokoess 1t makes very
noAii3us Eas, ,,,o Paw
hin cartridge, n Belgian invention loaded with
compressed black powder. compressed pow
GeT gives hiGn yGl0Sy ii Tnior in aston
l'ut tho rage is Tor smoEeless powder, and Eng.
land Il trying new explosive in the keuen
cartridge The stun looks Ike little glohules
Of rubber and is elastic 10 the touch. After
few rounds have been fired. n thick. gummy
coating appears in the rifle barrel and thIs
the bullet and tears tho lead, and Tint not only
destroys accuracy OF fire but very soon ruins
rounds is prohibited but for all TINT | have
had samples OF all and have tried them.
Somebody may invent O practicable smoke
less powder but 1t has not appeared yet, and a
good many peopIe are going to get their heads
blown of in foollnE with the new compounds
] don't say that success ie impossible but In
my opinion ali this experimentinG will end In
the ADOPTION of compressed black powder
bullet will stand. aud when YOU use AL eN-
plosive tina; is too, quick aud too powerful. the
bullet Is unset and Knocked out Of shape, eei9rs
nickel or some other hard metal will stand
more than unprotected lead will. The Mann
lichcr bullet. covered with nickel has been
shot through y inches OF solid pine ut
$500 yards without damage 10 the bullet. Sew
cral Governments are experimenting with pro-
tected bullets and Spain is using brass for the
outer covering. regardless Of the international
agreement 10 refrain from using poisonous
proectiies. At the Springfield Armory they
are trying q copper coating. but II does not fol-
low that copper will be adopted in actual use.
Il only serves as u basis of experiment 10 de-
ternine the requisite hardness OF the protect
iuG metal.
but all this experimenting cannot he con-
fncd TO the ammunition. just as radical
changes must be made In the rifles, to adapt
them o the new cartridges, and the rifle makers
cether. The United States Government Is
away behind In this matter. and when the 9TH
ers get through experimenting it will have to
covering now. II Is mistake to wait for other
idea OF saving trouble and getting the benefit
many things that we will never hear Of, and
that viii seem new 10 us when we do get 10
them. The procession is moving. and the tail
end can't catch up with the head OF the column
without marching over the same ground. The
cartridge factories keep within hailing distance
ofthe advance. because they may get contracts
from foreign Governments at any time. and
must know what is going on. They do their
eNlermenting as they go along and the rifle
makers ought to work with them to produce
I no hal rasn