Single base powders have nitrocellulose as the main ingredient. The first would be the basic chemical composition, single base powders are less stable over time than double and triple based powers. My reloading up to this point has all been pure cook book stuff, basically just pick a powder from the list for a given caliber by its general reputation and follow the instructions on the box. The book offers general conclusions and recommendations about the detection of devices containing smokeless and black powders and the feasibility of identifying makers of the. Single base powders utilize nitrocellulose, double base powders use nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin and triple base powders use nitrocellulose, nitroglycerin and nitroguanidine. The whys and whatfors of bullet propellants thegunmag. It simply isnt true that double base powders are faster burning than single base. The latest in reloading, straight to your inbox keep uptodate on new products, trends and tips from the leader in reloading. With different characteristics and a ton of variables, gunpowder needs to be fully understood before you attempt to reload ammunition. Reloading powder smokeless powder is available in a wide variety of types, each designed for specific uses.
Im not talking about specific powders, but rather smokeless powder in general. This, along with other topics, including booby traps, making simple weapons, including firearms, and more, were covered in our teachings, and are in the books, and manuals. Morphology also lends clues to whether a powder is single or doublebase bender 1998. Theres not even a burn rate chart included in this book. Smokeless powder does not explode when unconfined, unlike black powder. Single base powders safety data sheet march 2015 the following smokeless powders are distributed by. Other articles where doublebase gunpowder is discussed. Single and double base smokeless gun powders are very common is all small arms cartridges. Brands include accurate powder, alliant powder, hodgdon powder, imr powder, nobel sport powder, norma powder, shooters world powder, ramshot powder, vihtavuori powder and winchester powder. Imr legendary powders single base powders safety data sheet june 2017 the following smokeless powders are distributed by imr 8208 xbr 1. Single base powder has one primary energetic constituentnitrocellulose.
A single base powder contains nitrocellulose, whereas a double base powder contains nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine. Fourier transform infrared ftir and raman spectroscopic techniques were used to perform a comparative study of the spectral profiles of single base, double base and triple base smokeless gunpowders. Military quantities of old smokeless powder were sometimes reworked into new lots of propellants 39 through the 1920s fred olsen worked at picatinny arsenal experimenting with ways to salvage tons of single base cannon powder manufactured for world war i. Singlebase powder definition of singlebase powder by.
Smokeless powder is the propellant used in the propelling charges for navy gun ammunition. The exact chemical composition of the individual smokeless powders on the market is unimportant to shooters and reloaders. We were taught primitive ways of producing both traditional black powder, and smokeless gunpowder, and how to reload ammo in the field with minimal equipment. Smokeless powders are also described by their composition, grain shape and. Midsouth shooters offers a great selection of hodgdon smokeless powder 1 lb for your reloading needs. Military explosives tm 90214 department of the army technical manual. Singlebase smokeless powders derive their main source of energy.
Chemical analysis, databasing, and statistical analysis of. Burn rate is unrelated to whether a powder is sb or db. The presence or absence of different compounds such as dinitrotoluene, diphenylamine or dibutyl phthalate or the type of gunpowder according to the number of active components single base or double base gunpowder has been taken into account. Burn rate and ignition ease are dependent upon granule shape and coatings, not powder base. Single, double and tripple based hello users of scienemadness. Large federal organizations, such as the federal bureau of investigation, the bureau of. Other factors to consider are the addition of retardants and stabilizers. There are single base and double base powders throughout the burn rate spectrum. A singlebase smokeless powder, originally produced by dupont, and known as.
Midsouth offers a huge selection of smokeless gun powder. The manufacture of smokeless powders and their forensic analy. University of central florida, 2009 a dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of doctor of philosophy in the department of chemistry in the college of sciences. Vihtavuori smokeless powder is used by the some of the best shooters and manufacturers in the competitive shooting industry, they have gained an excellent reputation for being one of the best smokeless powders available. All smokeless powders can be placed into one of three different classes according to the chemical composition of their primary energetic ingredients. Disc powders, ball powders, and aggregates are doublebase, with the exceptions being the pb and sr series.
The common misconception with smokeless powder is that is explodes inside the cartridge. Section 3 composition information on ingredients substances see section below for composition of mixtures mixtures. Currently, propellants using nitrocellulose detonation velocity 7,300 ms 23,950 fts, re factor 1. Single base powder is a nitrocellulose that is treated so it is safer to use. Some ingredients of smokeless powder are referred to as inert, meaning that.
Double base smokeless powder is a combination of nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin. The performance difference between single and doublebase powders is not set in stone. The united states army adopted the navy singlebase formulation in 1908 and began manufacture at picatinny. Different analyses were applied to spectral data considering the different composition of gunpowders. What matters are their burning rates and their suitability for various specific applications. The hodgdon company now provides a wide range of smokeless and muzzleloading powders. American industries of the nineteenth century found an everincreasing need for chemistry and trained chemists. Founder bruce hodgdon purchased 50,000 pounds of surplus gunpowder after world war ii and began selling to other gunowners who were interested in reloading. Standard practice for characterization and classification. Winchester smokeless powders have been around since the late 1800s. They are available for use by reloaders and factory produced ammunition. There are four different types of solid propellant compositions. All smokeless powders can be placed into one of three different classes according to the chemical composition of their energetic ingredients. However as far as i can theorise in my mind, double base powders that contain nitroglycerine dynamite and nitrocellulose as opposed to single base powders.
What is the difference between black powder and modern. The three factors having the most effect are, most to least, nitroglycerine content, amount of graphite coating, and amount of rosin in the mix. A singlebase powder contains nitrocellulose, whereas a doublebase powder contains nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine. Customers that have shot winchester factory loaded. Chemical analysis, databasing, and statistical analysis of smokeless powders for forensic application by danamarie karine dennis b. Wpi a21 material accurate double base smokeless powders revision date.
There are singlebase and doublebase powders throughout the burn rate spectrum. Singlebase smokeless powders derive their main source of energy from nitrocellulose. Single base powder definition is an explosive powder or propellant that contains nitrocellulose as the only essential component. Im looking at a can of solo which has single base smokeless propellant and a picture of a shotgun shell under those words. Smokeless powder reference collection and swgfex smokeless. The benefits from double base are the increased energy.
Modern nitrocellulose powders have come a long way since then. Both have their uses, though reloaders tend to have their personal. Nor does it matter whether they are single or doublebase powders. Adequate ventilation should be provided to keep dust concentrations below acceptable exposure limits. National center for forensic science, university of central florida. Smokeless powder may be the most important component for any shooter who is reloading ammo and its probably the most complicated as well. I have single base powders such as sr4756, 3n37 and n340, which are. Imr legendary powders double base powders enduron safety data sheet june 2017 the following smokeless powders are distributed by imr 4166 imr 4451 imr 4955 imr 7977 imr 83 1. We check and control chemical composition, the shape and. Empty containers may contain residues of powder, and should be treated as hazardous waste. Powder composition modern smokeless powders are composed of one or more basic explosive compounds. June 2017 the following smokeless powders are distributed by imr 4166 imr 4451 imr 4955 imr 7977 imr 83. Using smokeless powders as a substitute for black powder in. Lebel cartridge the first smokeless military cartridge and a new rifle, the lebel model 1886 to use this new technology.
Material accurate singlebase smokeless powders revision date. Smokeless powder consists of nitocellulose single base powders, frequently combined with up to 50 percent nitroglycerin double base powders, and sometimes nitroglycerin and nitroguanidine triple base, corned into small spherical balls or extrudedinto cylinders or flakes using solvents such as ether. Today there are single base and double base smokeless powders. Smokeless powders are generally grouped in three broad categories, based on their chemical compositions. Sep 10, 2015 there was a brown or cocoa powder that appeared about the same time as smokeless powder 1880s that utilized only about 3% sulfur and was nearly as powerful as singlebase smokeless powders, but the latter immediately eclipsed it and today brown powder is unknown. Characteristics and manufacture of spherical smokeless powders. Chemists helped produce products as wideranging as fertilizers, explosives, industrial.
Material safety data sheet material ramshot double base smokeless powders msds no. Our selection and pricing of hodgdon powder makes us the reloading source for powder. Using smokeless powders as a substitute for black powder. Hodgdon powder is arguably the most successful powder company in the u. Singlebase smokeless powder is made from nitrocellulose. The facility, operated by dupont, had a peak production rate of nearly 40 million pounds 18 million kg of munitions per month. Doublebase smokeless powder is a combination of nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. On iii composition nitrocellulose diphenylamine dinitrotoluene potassium. The energy released from double base smokeless powders is derived from both nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin.
However as far as i can theorise in my mind, double base powders that contain nitroglycerine dynamite and nitrocellulose as opposed to single base powders that contain only nitrocellulose. A singlebase powder contains nitrocellulose, whereas a doublebase powder. Chemical composition is one important characteristic defining smokeless. In practice, enter your reloading data with the specific caliber to be reloaded. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades.
Neither this product nor any of its ingredients except. However, over the years, several mergers and acquisitions of one smokeless. Black powder and smokeless powder do not have characteristic shapes and colors and therefore are difficult to locate in. Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting the upper and lower. Smokeless gun powders are produced in two different forms. Singlebase powders tend to produce lower heat during explosion, which. Thales thales australia limited chemwatch hazard alert code. Using smokeless powders as a substitute for black powder in vintage cartridge rounds.
A singlebase powder contains nitrocellulose, whereas a doublebase powder contains. A single based propellant has nitrocellulose as its chief explosives ingredient. Disc powders, ball powders, and aggregates are double base. Hodgdon smokeless powder 1 lb, reloading equipment, tools, components, and accessories. The typical way we describe smokeless powder in the united states is by referring to how many major compounds it containsone, two or three. Comparative analysis of smokeless gunpowders by fourier. Mar 12, 2020 i will definitely be following this thread with interest. The chief ingredient of singlebase powder is nitrocellulose. Single base powders material safety data sheet april 2009 the following smokeless powders are distributed by. Single base powders containing no nitroglycerine burn cleaner than double base powders.
Physically, imr 4350 is a single base, extruded, tubular propellant as are most du pont imr powders. In 1888, alfred nobel the same person who started the nobel prizes discovered that he could gelatinize nitrocellulose by using nitroglycerine. Smokeless powder types there are essentially two types of smokeless powders available to reloaders today. Fbi the manufacture of smokeless powders and their forensic. The military stockpiles ammunition loaded with single base powders for up to 45 years, and that loaded with double base powders for a shorter 20 years.
A major contributor of powder degradation is environment, this holds true as well for many things other than powder. Composition of powders and shelf life gun and game the. Singlebase powder has one primary energetic constituentnitrocellulose. Single base powders are essentially only nitrocellulose while double base powders add in nitroglycerin, increasing the energy it produces. You are talking of nitrocellulose in single base powders, nitrocellulose nitroglycerin in modern double base powders. Section 3 composition information on ingredients substances see section below for composition of mixtures. Also, two distinct types of manufacturing processes result in two different morphologies. A combustible propellant that sits between the bullet and the primer in the case. Smokeless powder powder valley is your reloading superstore. Morphology also lends clues to whether a powder is single or double base bender 1998.
Most tube and cylindrical powders are single base, with the exception of the hercules reloader a series. The chief ingredient of single base powder is nitrocellulose. As described above, the three categories of chemical composition for smokeless powders are single base, double base, and triple base. A reloading manual will list what type of powder should be used in any given load. Spherical grains of the same size and composition burn at the same rates. Doublebase powder includes either nitroglycerine or nitrodiglycol that dissolves the nitrocellulose. Makes me think solo is a single base shotgun powder. Powder needs to be stored in original containers only, when not in use. Powders with larger amounts of graphite are dirtier, think of bullseye. Everything handloaders need to know about smokeless powder.
At the time of this writing, winchesterolin and alliant exclusively produce double base powders, all vihtavuori and most imr powders are single base 700x and 800x are the double base imr powders that i know of, and accurate and hodgdon offer several powders of each type. Some components of this granular mixture may be absorbed directly through the skin. We have all of the major manufacturers in the quantities and types that you want and need. It simply isnt true that doublebase powders are faster burning than single base. The performance difference between single and double base powders is not set in stone, and its hard to quantify. Powder left in the reloaders powder measure hoppers for extended periods, overnight or several days, should be avoided. Friend currently i am making various types of bullets for testing their different power. Hi guys from my reasoning, a single base powder should be more temperature sensitive than a double base powder. While the powder contains many chemicals to generate the desired ignition, it is composed mostly of a chemical called nitrocellulose. A single base smokeless powder, originally produced by dupont, and known as improved military rifle powder. On detonation, the ignited powder rapidly decomposes into a hot, forceful gas that instantaneously expands and propels the bullet out of the gun bore. Gun cotton is not a suitable propellant, but softening guncotton in a mixture of ether and alcohol produced the first, crude, smokeless powder.
A few common types of smokeless powder morphologies can be seen in figure 1 bender 1998. Smokeless powders are also described by their composition, grain shape and size, how theyre sold and used. Numerous modern smokeless powders are double base in construction, containing both. Utilizing one powder also means you can purchase larger quantities of a single type of powder, which has economic advantages. Makers like imr, hodgdon, nobel sport, alliant powder and accurate powder produce powders suitable for any type of reloading. If it falls near the numbers listed in the recipe book, the powder is still potent. There are many interesting and important differences. This will reduce the likelihood of inadvertently using the incorrect powder in a specific load or accidentally mixing powders together. Both have their uses, though reloaders tend to have their personal favorite. The primary energy source in single base powder is nitrocellulose. Smokeless and black powder, which prepared the report, was appointed in response to a mandate in the antiterrorism and effective death penalty act of 1996 to address the key issues of. We have container sizes from 1 pound, 4 pounds and all the way up to 8 pounds. Other modern solid propellants are cast perchlorate using perchlorate as oxidizer and various oils or rubbers as fuel and composite propellants using a plastic binder with ammonium picrate, potassium. Fbi the manufacture of smokeless powders and their.
Single base smokeless powders derive their main source of energy from nitrocellulose. The alaap was built in 1941 as a production facility for nitrocellulose nc, trinitrotoluene tnt, dinitrotoluene dnt, tetryl, and single base smokeless powder. This leaflet discusses properties of smokeless powder and offers recommendations for its. We are the largest distributor of all brands of smokeless powder because we offer great service and wholesale prices. There are two basic types of modern smokeless gunpowder. It is a uniform etheralcohol colloid of purified nc to which is added a small quantity of diphenylamine or ethyl centrality to assist in preserving the stability of the powder. What i want to know is various types of propellants that are filled inside the bullet to give it very high velocity. Funding for the smokeless powders database has been provided by the university of central florida and through grants awarded by the national institute of justice.
505 1025 204 269 829 593 599 388 230 848 781 16 1223 448 1099 915 1081 585 1260 1341 1217 894 581 164 80 189 627 1611 1250 985 1109 1659 1518 1069 279 779 1100 1296 227 848 1310