The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-06
NAVAL sMOKELESS POWDER.
Our Experts Believe They Have the Best
ExploslXa In the W0rl0.

Our Experts Believe They Have the Hes
Explosive In tho Werld.
WASHINGTON, May 6.-Smoksless powder
10 now to DO developed in earnest by the
naval ordnance okicsrs. Commander Con
verse. who has given much study TO thu
subject, has been directed 10 begin ths
practical ~dsvslopmsat Of the competition
which has already met With % much sue
cess.
During ths past year about 1,600 pounda
AZ smokslsss nevder we're turned out II the
factory It Newport, but nov that sha plant
has been improved this output will be in
creased. The powder has been used IN guns
a. large % the six inch rifles, throwing .
0 O.pound projsotils. In those suns with Z
pressure Of ID $500 Ions . velocity Of
charge Of twsnty-six pounds. The powder
which was retained for trial after storage
was found not 10 have detesio4ated.
Those repeated successes Of The smoke.
less powder. "a IL has been developed from
onliber TO caliber, will result in tho aban-
guns of a caliber below the six-ineh. Ths
form OF powder hitherto used in the small
esliber rifles. although the results obsaine d
with il, so far "a pressure and velocity are
concerned, have been excellent. Is not en-
tirely satisfactory. The powder 10 In
shape OF square. fat grains. a form from
which q conside, able ~itregularity in load
ING must occur. and in which the flame is
not always uniformly communicated from
grain to grain. The result has been that
in many Of the fires . few grains of powder
remain unconsumed. The navy powder is,
however, not singular in this respect; II 10
said to be characteristic Of many il not all.
of the foreign powders. Another some
what Objectionable feature is the necessity
of using a small priming charge OF rifle
powder to effect its ignition.
Efforts have been made to overcome both
of these objections. but SO far without en-
tire satisfactory results. A powder has
nary percussion cap, but it ia rather more
brusqus than is desirable. Another powder
has been made which, while 1t burns with
great uniformity and sufficient retardation,
is not SO far perfectly iGnited by a percus-
sion cop. The question of an appropriate
primer ia a very important one when smoke
less powder is involved. The experienoe
with the smokeless sporting powders shows
that tho Gap requires as careful attention
Is the powder itself. The powder made
here Is capable of the most varied changes
in its ate of burning. and the expectation
that the present dithoultles Will De over
come Ia not unwarranted.
Prot. Nunroe, the chemist at Newport.
who has reformed some excellent work in
connection with smokeless powder pro!uc-
tion for the navy, has continued his inves-
tigation of the smokeiess powders found In
commerce and obtained from abroad. !
The5 lack uniformity in their chemical or
physical construction. He finds that nitro
alycerine is volatile at all temperatures.
the evaporation being naturally more rapid
at high than low temperatures. 1t ls not q
matter of surprise. therefore, that powders
containing this substance or any other
volatile constituents would undeigo change
in their ballistic qualities. Ont important
feature of the manufacture of smokeless
powder at Newport is the recovery OF Il
large proportion Of the materials used in
the incorporation of the owder, the credit
for which is given to Prof. Muntoe.
The naval ordnance people believe they
have the only smokeless powder IN the
country and the best smokeless powder in
the world. Foreign experts. such as the
attaches at the legations in Washington.
have repeatedly sought to obtain the fof-
mula from Commodore Sampson, but of
course without success.