smokeless powder

[′smōk·ləs ′pau̇d·ər]

(materials)

Nitrocellulose containing 13.1 percent nitrogen with small amounts of stabilizers (amines) and plasticizers usually present, as well as various modifying agents (nitrotoluene and nitroglycerin salts); used in ammunition.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Smokeless Powder

a low explosive whose basic component is nitrocellulose, plasticized by one of several organic solvents. Smokeless powder is a hard, corniculate substance, similar to plastic; it is manufactured in the form of so-called powder elements—disks, tapes, grains, tubes, and so on. It is very durable and can burn steadily without blowing up under high pressure (tens or hundreds of meganewtons per sq m—that is, hundreds or thousands of kilogram-force per sq cm). The basic types of smokeless powder are ballistite, cordite, and pyroxylin powders; they differ mainly in the technology of production, in the solvents used, and in the kind of nitrocellulose. Smokeless powder is significantly superior to black powder in its burning stability and efficiency. It is used in all types of firearms, in rocket engines using solid fuel, and for other purposes. The first smokeless powder—pyroxylin powder—was invented in 1884 by the French engineer P. Vieille.

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References in periodicals archive

It is also used extensively by private firearms enthusiasts, as NG is a component of smokeless powders (Ahlner et al.

Decomposition of nitroglycerin in smokeless powders by aerobic thermophilic composting

Detection of smokeless powder residue on pipe bombs by micellar electrokinetic chromatography, Journal of Forensic Sciences (1999) 44:789-794.

The manufacture of smokeless powders and their forensic analysis: a brief review

Dealers and consumers are now comfortable with a muzzleloader using modern smokeless powders."

Hunting drives today's blackpowder market

Caption: This very valuable Winchester Model 1876 (above) lost its barrel due to a double charge of smokeless powder. This Colt SAA .44-40 barrel (below) has 6 bullets stuck in it.

Be careful! We want our handloads to go bang!-Not boom!

I was leery of using smokeless powder, although various user forum entries suggested using Unique, 5744, 4198, Blue Dot, and other smokeless powders in small quantities.

1871 Vetterli Conversion: converting an old Swiss Vetterli 1871.41 Swiss to centerfire. here's a modern way to conduct the conversion with the help of a 3D printer

I don't know how it shoots with BP substitutes because I don't plan on hunting muzzleloader season in Colorado where you can't hunt with "smokeless powder".

Smokeless smokepole

Hoppe, worked in a small shed in his back yard to develop a bore cleaning solution to combat the corrosive priming and metal jacket fouling common with the then new smokeless powder loadings.

Hoppe's Premium Gun Cleaning Kit

This muzzleloader has the strength to handle the higher pressures that modem smokeless powder produces.

Savage Smokeless Muzzleloader, PolarWraps Provides Body Heat, Stoney-Wolf Calls Game

Smokeless powder began to replace the centuries old black powder prior to the turn of the century.

Guns on the homestead: just another farm implement

Wright does warn that the amount of smokeless powder should be less than 15 percent of the charge and, for the faster shotgun powders (like Unique), the portion should be less than 10 percent.

BLACKPOWDER DUPLEX LOAD

Switching to smokeless powder, I experimented two ways.

GOING-RETRO

Early in the 1900's, say about 1902, Winchester brought out a brand new smokeless powder cartridge.

The .45-70's offspring: our military cartridges always inspire much experimentation, and the first to do so was the .45 Gov't