The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-10
sMoK.sLEss POWDER At SANDY HOOK.
ht nves . High Initial Velocity and Ex.
hibits Other Good Qualities.


WARRINGTON. Aug. 9.-Ths recent use OF
charges OF smokeless powder in tho eighth nch
breech-loading RHO mounted at Sandy Hook.
although not possessing rs much interest
perhaps as II the explosive had boon OF Ameri-
can manufacture. Is yet noteworthy as tho
hrst experiment OF the sort mado In this coun-
try Smokolsss powders OF various kinds
have been used hero in small arms. patticu-
larry during the trials Of mag azine guns by the
Board OF Army onlcors at Springfield. Indeed.
the introduction OF n repeating rife into the
army Will, no doubt depend upon procuring q
suitable smokelen powder for It But until
tho recent experiment nothing had been done
In Hiring heavy guns with one OF these now
powders.
The trial nt Sandy Hook was conducted with
a German powder said TO be a modification Of
the Nobel. composed chiefly OF nitro collulose.
nitro-Rycerine, camphor, and benzols. In tho
hrst round thirty pounds OF powder i'm.
parted 10 3OO-pound shell velocity Of
l'4Si feet rs measured at distance Of 165
feet from tho gun. The pressure WAS $4,000
pounds. The next charge was forty-flve
pounds. and the velocity became 1890 feet
with pressure OF 81. lG0 pounds 1t may here
DO observed that with It's usual charge OF 1870
pounds OF brown powder the velocity is but
l.935 feet and the pressure $1,000 pounds. Tho
advantage was thus at once seen to be on the
side OF the smokeless powder. 1t only re-.
NAMED to increase the charge OF smok cless
powder to the pressure last spoken Of which is
perfectly safe. in order to see how much great
or velocity would result. The third charge
was fifty pounds, and on q pressure OF about
$4,000 pounds an initial velocity OF 2.1G2 feet
was recorded. This increase Of much moro
than 200 feet in the velocity with about the
same pressure Is the indication OF . cora
spending Increase In range or OF penetrating
power ut the same range
small cloud only was observed at the muz2le,
Which quickly disappeared. twill be remem.
Chnmpigny at Brnck. at hartford, and In tho 10
manIuvres OF the German Tenth Armv Corps
out giving him the, adyan, age Of ascertaining
.is1 whence and with what degree Of force
obscure the aim. and it does not allow the
sh nemy 20 o. cnnrSe under eoysr Of the smsko In
is more paricnlsry npposite lust now. tbs sX
Hamm.erstein and that Of the HELD artillery at
found that after firing all day the air was as
s,enE as eyer, SO rapidly we're the light pnrs OF
the battery fire, there was no OBSERVATION
& aim So 30 far as the expermsnts at Sandy
f aoE6 TSnt aa hey cat that excessive
BESIDES the great advan tage Of lack Of smoke
ana increase In rroDulsion power. 1t will be
observed that with the same weight two or
three times as many charges can be carried
ana handled. and this is a great advantage.
me now powder Also, as was very clearly Illus.
trated at Sandy Hook. burns without sediment,
ana thus leaves tho gun clear and clean after
constant use.
Nearly all the smokeless powders have nitro
celluose or nitro-glycetine or both among
their principal comronents. They Lave become
almost necessity in the reduction of the cali
bre q small arms because tho old powders
would cause too much fonling: and they are
valuable t to artillery for the reasons already
Pct forth. They are even said to DO less heat;
OF b9listits. ms the original Nobel powder is
fired successfully In n rifle without causing any
foulinR. 1t can also be trans ported without dam
ger; and II pnt in water. dried aud replaced
In the cartridge. 1t Is ms good ever. Still the
smokeleSs powders. as u rule. seem to be
anected by great changes Of temperature. and
IT has been dirlicuit to secure in them all the
virtues ut once. including progressive rate OF
burning, stabil lily, and HOMOGENEOUS and uni
form character. Some OF the smokeless
powders are said to emit most disagreeable
odor.thus tax ing revenge on the nose for failure
TO impress the cyl and the ear.
InkfnR tho results produced by the hest
smo keless powders. and admitting all draw
backs. their superiority seems manifest. They
Will also doubtless be steadily improved. In
this country there nre several manufac-
tuters who believe that they have produced or
can produce excellent smok eless powders. and
the merits OF their respective Inventions Will
Undoubtedly BIZ tested at an early day.