Note: Copy and past has changed the spelling of some words. Some words are already misspelled. Trying to simplify 961 pages is impossible.

Fiscal Year Ended June 1893

Submitted Oct. 1, 1893 Printed late 1893 War Department August 1894

Report Of The Chief Of Ordnance 

The United States Government is testing smokeless powders for various weapons

Pages 16-28, .30-40 Krag, 45-70, 45 Colt and .38 Colt Service Revolver Document contains 961 pages total

Page 16, 

MAGAZINE RIFLE, MODEL 1892 [Springfield], CALIBER .30 At this date the preparations are practically complete. A certain number of the arms will be completed at the armory during the current fiscal year, and although a smokeless powder for the ammunition has not yet been adopted for service, a sufficient quantity of the Wetteren powder has been ordered to furnish what is required for immediate needs, pending the now very encouraging outlook for securing a suitable powder of domestic production. Excepting the powder, the arrangements for manufacturing the ammunition in quantity are now complete. 

Page 17,

[.30-40 Krag] - The specifications of the board for the ammunition require a weight of bullet 220 grains and a charge of 36 to 40 grains of smokeless powder, or such lesser weight as will give a muzzle velocity of about 2,000 feet per second, with a chamber pressure not exceeding 45,000 pounds per square inch. 

Page 22,

The changes made in the components of the experimental .30-caliber cartridge to adapt it to the magazine rifle, model 1892, consist in a reduction of the weight of the bullet from 230 to 220 grains, and of its diameter from '0.309 to 0.308 of an inch 

Page 24,

Smokeless Powder For Small Arms

The examination and test, ballistic and laboratory, of smokeless powders for small arms at the Frankford Arsenal during the year have included the following : Domestic.—Peyton, Leonard (several varieties), Dupont, Axtell, and Alters. Foreign.—Wetteren, 1891 (Belgium), Troisdorf (Germany), B. N. F. (France), Swiss (Switzerland), and several varieties submitted by the Smokeless Powder Company, limited, London, England, including Rifleite for .30-caliber rifle, S. E. for .45 caliber rifle, and S. V. for 45-caliber revolver. Of the domestic powders, samples of the Leonard, now controlled by the Leonard Smokeless Powder Company, New York, and of the Peyton, furnished by the California Powder Works, have given results superior to any of the powders tested. A comparison of the two is hardly warranted by the tests which have been so far reported, but it is indicated that the Peyton gives a somewhat lower pressure for the same velocity, and is the least affected by moisture and heat, whilst the Leonard, with a very moderate pressure as compared with the foreign powders, gives the more uniform results in velocity. 

Page 25,

The Wetteren powder used is of a lot procured from the makers, Cooppal & Co., Belgium, about two years since, for the test of guns by the Board on Magazine Arms, and has since been continued in use for tests of ammunition, etc., by the Department, and also as a standard of comparison in tests of other smokeless powders. This lot has now been expended. In negotiating for a further supply of this powder for immediate use, pending the selection of a standard service powder, the Department has been informed of a change in the ingredients, made since the first lot was procured. Nitroglycerine is no longer used as an ingredient, for the reason, as stated, that its use results in corroding the guns. A lot of 500 pounds of the new Wetteren powder has been procured, but as yet no tests of it have been made. The Troisdorf powder is made by the Khenish-Westphalian Powder Works, Germany. One lot (110 pounds) of this powder has been pro cured. This powder gives lower pressures iu our .30-caliber rifle than the Wetteren, and seems equal to it in other respects. It requires a stronger primer for ignition, and this difficulty has curtailed its general use at Frankford Arsenal, but on the other hand has been exceedingly useful in experiments upon primers suited for the proper ignition of different kinds of smokeless powders. But one sample of each of the B. N". F. and Du Pont powders have been tested. These and, the Rifleite powder are inferior to those already named, as they give higher pressures without compensating advantages. The Axtell and Alters powders gave unsatisfactory results. No tests of the Swiss powder have been reported. 

Page 26, Chart

Page 26,

The S. R. powder for large-bore rifles was tested in the .45 caliber Springfield rifle and carbine. With the carbine good results were obtained. A. charge of 25 grains developed no higher pressure than the service charge of 54 grains of black powder, and gave a slightly higher velocity with satisfactory degree of uniformity. With the rifle the results were materially inferior to those obtained with the service charge of black powder. It was deemed inadvisable to compress the charge in the cartridge, and owing to the bulkiness of the powder not more than 25 grains could be put into the normal powder space without compression. With this charge a velocity of 1,200 f. s. was obtained. Compressed charges were also tried. 

Page 27,

The S. V. powder gave good results in the .45-caliber service revolver. A charge of 7.5 grains, under slight compression, gave the same instrumental velocity as the service charge of 28 grains of black powder, and compared favorably with it as regards uniformity for repeated shots. The pressures, judged by the ease of extraction of the cartridge case, did not seem to be excessive. The makers of these powders have been furnished facilities for further test, and expect to produce satisfactory varieties of smokeless powder for the .45-caliber arms in service, which, if adopted by the Government, would be manufactured in the United States. Since the .45 caliber rifle now constitutes the armament that would be supplied a volunteer force in case of immediate need, and will be otherwise in use by military organizations at least for some time to come, the advantages of reduced weight of ammunition, absence of smoke, and probably increased ballistic effects to be derived from the substitution of a suitable smokeless powder for the present black powder, make it desirable that this change should be effected in the ammunition of the .45-caliber weapons, and also the .38-caliber revolver. 

Page 57, [purchases]

Class VI. 

• 8 Springfield rifles, caliber .30. 

• 6,500 Springfield cadet rifles, caliber .45. 

• 14,261 Springfield rod-bayonet rifles, model 1888. 

Page 58, [purchases]

Class VIII 

• 1,031,322 rifle ball cartridges, caliber .45. 

• 30,312 rifle ball cartridges, caliber .30. 

• 1,004,258 carbine ball cartridges, caliber .45. 

• 1,001,760 rifle and carbine blank cartridges, caliber .45. 

• 404,664 revolver ball cartridges, caliber .45. 

• 719,290 revolver ball cartridges, caliber .38. 

• 58,338 revolver blank cartridges, caliber .45. 

• 504,642 revolver blank cartridges, caliber .38. 

• 1,978,504 rifle bullets, caliber .45, 500 grains. 

• 1,502, 618 carbine bullets, caliber .45, 405 grains. 

• 130, 300 revolver ballets, caliber .45, 230 grains. 

• 252,300 round balls, caliber .45, 140 grains. 

• 10,500 pounds lead balls, hardened (shrapnel). 

• 1,232 rifle dummy cartrides, caliber .30. 

• 3,633 pounds smokeless powder. 

Page 67,

Class IV

• 4,500 Colt's army revolvers, caliber .38. 

Page 194,

The Board on Caliber, Rifling, and Sights of Magazine Arms, Springfield Armory. 

The board then proceeded to consider the question of caliber. After discussion, the following recommendation was adopted : A caliber of 0.30-inch is recommended for the trial arm. This caliber is one well suited to a military arm, and especially adapted to the breech and magazine mechanism of the system selected for trial. To thoroughly consider all the questions governing the determination of caliber would require much time and an extended series of experiments, which the board does not consider advisable to institute in view of its instruct ions to reach a decision at an early date. The subject of ammunition was next considered as being most intimately connected with that of caliber. After discussion, the following recommendation was adopted: Having decided upon the caliber of 0.30-inch, the board further recommends that the cartridge be the same in exterior form and dimensions as that used in the tests which resulted in the system represented by the Krag-Jorgensen rifle No. 5 being selected for trial; that the bullet be of lead alloyed with tin or antimony, having a jacket of German silver or nickeled steel and without lubricant or cannelures; that the weight of the bullet be 220 grains; that the charge be 30 to 40 grains of smokeless powder, or such lesser weight as will give the above bullet a muzzle velocity of about 2,000 feet per second with a chamber pressure not exceeding 45,000 pounds per square inch. With the cartridge recommended, in the opinion of the board, no provisions should be made for reloading by troops.- The subject of a suitable rifling was then discussed, and the board, at 5:40 p. in., adjourned to meet at 10 a. m. Tuesday, the 27th instant. 

Page 245,

Appendix 14. REPORT OF TESTS OF SMOKELESS POWDERS FOR SMALL ARMS AT THE FRANKFORD ARSENAL, PENNSYLVANIA, BY LIEUT. COL. J. P. FARLEY, COMMANDING. 

Frankford Arsenal, Philadelphia, Pa., June 30, 1893. Sir: In obedience to Ordnance Office letter of June 22, 1893, 1 have the honor to .submit the following report of firing tests of the various smokeless powders tested at this arsenal during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1893: SMOKELESS POWDERS JESTED. 

• Wetteren; 

• Kitteite, S. R., S. V., submitted by Smokeless Powder Company, Limited, London, England; 

• B. N. F.; 

• Peyton; 

• Leonard (numerous samples); 

• Du Pout; 

• Axtell; 

• Troisdorf; 

• Alters. 

(1) Wetteren (purchased from Cooppal & Cie, Liege, Belgium). This powder has been previously described and reported upon. On account of the considerable quantity on hand at the beginning of the year, and the fair results obtained, it has been used as a standard of comparison for the other powders tested. The ballistic results obtained with it will be found in the reports on other powders where it was taken as a standard and fired to show comparative results. (2) Powders submitted by smokeless Powder Company, Limited, Lon don, England. Tested November 15 to 18. 

The powder test results are too numerous to list here, Refer to the link. I will post only the popular ones.

(B) S.R.

This powder is for use in large bore rifles[45-70], and was submitted as a suitable smokeless powder for use in the .45 caliber Springfield rifle. The grains are small, irregular in form, and of a pinkish tinge. Different charges were fired for the purpose of determining upon a charge which would give the same velocity as our service charge of black powder without an excessive pressure. In all the tests the service 500-grain bullet and the strong Frankfort Arsenal primer, containing mealed powder, were used. The representative of the Smokeless Powder Company stated that this power should not be compressed, and on account of bulkiness it was found impossible to obtain an instrumental velocity over 1,200 foot-seconds without compression. The results were poor with both compressed and uncompressed charges, the bullets frequently keyholing at 100 foot range and tumbling when fired at the 500-yard range. The pressures developed were about the same as with black powder for corresponding velocities. A charge of 28 grains of S. R. powder gave an instrumental velocity of 1,211 foot-seconds. With the carbine the results were more satisfactory, 25 grains of S. R. powder developing no higher pressure than the service charge of 54 grains, and giving a slightly greater velocity. The uniformity of velocity was satisfactory, and no bullets keyholed or tumbled. It is claimed that the recoil when 8. R. powder is used is appreciably less than with a charge of black powder giving the same initial velocity, but a trial in the carbine with cartridges identically the same except as to the charge, one loaded with S. R. powder and one with the. ordinary black powder giving the same velocity, failed to confirm the claim.* S. R. powder was shown to be unsuitable for use in the .45 caliber Springfield rifle cartridge, though it appears to be well adapted for nse in the carbine cartridge. If it should be desired to use smokeless powder as a charge for .45 caliber cartridges the powder selected should be suitable for both rifle and carbine cartridges. 

(C) S. V. 

This powder is for use in revolvers. The granulation is much finer than that of the S. R., and the grains are irregular and of a brown color. A charge of 7£ grains under a compression of .15 inch gave the same instrumental velocity as our service charge of 28 grains of black powder, and compared favorably with it as regards uniformity of velocity. The pressure did not seem to be excessive, judging by the ease of extraction of the cartridge cases. Ballistically, this seems to be an excellent revolver powder, and it has also the advantage of being smokeless and reducing the weight of the cartridge about 20 grains. 

(4) Peyton. This powder was manufactured at the California Powder Works, Santa Cruz, Cal., and submitted by Mr. Bernard Peyton in March, 1893. It is of yellowish-brown color, and is produced in the form of cord and divided into grains of the size desired. Owing to the limited amount of powder furnished, the experiments were necessarily restricted. As is shown by the above table, the Peyton powder is decidedly superior, ballistically, to the Wetteren, giving much lower pressures for the same velocity developed. Improved facilities having been provided for exposing powders to heat, moisture, etc., further tests were made with the following results: xposed for a given time on a sieve over a vessel of water, the whole apparatus being inclosed in a tight box. In the tests for effect of heat, a given quantity of powder is exposed to a certain temperature, 1(K>° to 120° F., for a given time. With sample 1 the velocity obtained was about the same as with the same charge fired under normal conditions. The pressure was a few thousand pounds greater, but the increase was not marked. With sample 2 there was a slight loss of velocity, due to the absorption of moisture by the powder, but the loss was not so great as was anticipated. The pressure was about the same as was obtained with the same charge under normal conditions. The small amount of powder furnished prevented more extended experiments. 

(5) Leonard powders. These powders were submitted by Mr. Mason E. Leonard, of Salem, Va. Samples "N" and "J" were tested in March, 1893. The samples were yellow, sample "!N"being lighter in color than sample "J." Both were greasy to touch and smell, sample "J" having much the stronger odor, which resembles that of salve. A white substance was apparent in some of the grains, as if the incorporation was not thorough. The grains were fairly regular and of cylindrical form, as if cut to size from cord. [Cordite filaments ?]

(C) United States. This powder was granulated in small cylinders of a yellow color. The grain was harder than that of the other samples and more smoke was* produced than with the ordinary smokeless powder. [Cordite filaments ?] The above samples were tested as above at Mr. Leonard's request, there not being a sufficient quantity of any of them for a further test. Mr. Leonard stated that the composition of the lot of sample " N " submitted in April was the same as that of the lot submitted in March. Yet the former, gave results superior to those obtained with the latter, and the same charge—33 grains—gave higher velocities and considerably greater pressures with the latter than with the former. The ballistic results with both the " N " and the " J " powders are excellent, and of the two, sample " N " gives rather the better results. 

(6) Du Pont powder. This powder was submitted in April, 1893, by Messrs. E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Company, Wilmington, Del. The powder is of a reddish-brown color, the grains being very small and the granulation quite regular. Mr. Du Pont, representing the firm, stated that a priming of 2 grains of black powder was necessary to properly ignite his powder; accordingly cartridges were made up with and without this priming. A charge of 36 grains of Wetteren powder was fired in comparison, 

This powder gives an excellent uniformity of velocity when fired with :i black powder priming, but the pressure is much too high, and bal- listically it is inferior to the Wetteren. The use of a black-powder priming could probably be dispensed with with the stronger primers manufactured since the test, if the powder was promising in other respects. 

The Leonard and Peyton powders give the best results as regards pressures and velocities, the Leonard giving the greater uniformity of velocity, and the Peyton seeming to be less affected by heat and moisture; of the two Leonard samples "N" is thought on the whole to have given the best results. 

SMOKELESS POWDER. About the year 1885 several varieties of smokeless powder appeared, and from these the modern smokeless powder has been gradually developed. 

Page 276,

So far the examination of smokeless powders at the Frankford Arsenal laboratory is not sufficiently far advanced, nor will my knowledge of the subject warrant my making definite recommendations as to the direct line of investigation to be pursued, for the purpose of obtaining a smokeless powder for service. It is my purpose, however, to carefully examine the various types of smokeless powders obtainable, with regard to their chemical and physical properties, in order to obtain the requisite data. 

Toooo much information

The following address no longer works. I think I found the same information at a new address....

https://books.googleusercontent.com/books/content?req=AKW5QafIoyLErIOZrGPdBHJO4ElDpVc2C4m3I_-xbUV1mbBWQnpHNnoyH3QhiFHj_6mLdixSqEAtI330_L953NvueZ89feY_m_h2gyQYIrgMeDRoZ5O45p8XNZ-DHKBvpYkPHdfpD-PaoRxha-hgtfJ21yEblsba1uu35TFt8tO6k2T020g-G744Zbb75GYnjjEpTwCoE7wl1dVeXNht0sNokQdYIhywOi9W7NgL4pSmTUbA0VIyVfCwX7srQbeus9VyYUpBbeTF2hGGulWge8KKsR0wBtgAjw 

...this is the new address of which I think to be the same information: https://books.google.com/books?id=fTI-AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false