Block 3: Historical Development of Ammunition and Firearms

What are the components of black powder?

Charcoal

Sulfur

Saltpeter (KNO3)

What is the role of each component in the combustion of black powder?

Saltpeter supplies oxygen

Charcoal provides fuel/carbon

Sulfur increases the rate of combustion by lowering ignition temperature

What is the ratio of components in black powder?

75% saltpeter

15% charcoal

10% sulfur

When glazing polished black powder, what is the purpose of the added graphite?

Promotes water resistance

What types of firearms use 1F black powder?

Large bore rifles

Shotguns

Cannons

What types of firearms use 2F black powder?

Historical firearms

Muskets

Rifles

Large pistols

What types of firearms use 3F black powder?

Small caliber rifles

Pistols

Cap and Ball firearms

Derringers

What types of firearms use 4F black powder?

Extremely small bore short pistols

Priming powder for flintlocks

What does “A” grade black powder signify?

Blasting grade

What does “G” grade black powder signify?

Sporting grade

Write the reaction for the chemistry of combustion.

4KNO3 + 7C + S > 3CO2 + 2N2 + K2CO3 + K2S

What is the percentage of products generated by the chemistry of combustion?

55.91% solid product

42.98% gas product

1.11% water

What are some modern improvements that were made to the production of black powder?

Corning process

Use of magnets to remove ferrous materials

Use of stainless steel balls in tumbling process

Hydraulic processes

Metal gravity fed grading screens instead of horsehair

What are some disadvantages/limitations of black powder?

Volumetrically insufficient

Slower velocity in cartridge firearms

Large amounts of fouling

Produces dense smoke clouds

Byproducts corrosive to steel which damages barrel

What was used as a casing for Colt nitrated paper cartridges?

Natural animal gut

What are some disadvantages of Maynard tape primers?

Useless if wet

High tendency to jam

What is the first successful self-contained waterproof cartridge?

Lefaucheux

What was the first metallic rimfire cartridge?

Flobert’s BB cap

What was the first actual rimfire that contained primer in the rim of the cartridge case?

S&W 22 rimfire

What are the two types of centerfire primers?

Boxer

Berdan

American made

Anvil integral to the cartridge case head and bottom of primer pocket

Usually more than one flash hole

Berdan primer

European made

Used mostly in centerfire ammo in the US

One central flash hole

Boxer primer

Who discovered nitroglycerin?

Ascanio Sobrero 1846

When was guncotton discovered?

1845-46

Who discovered nitrocellulose?

Christian Friedrich Schonbein 1845-46

Who discovered dynamite?

Alfred Nobel 1887

Who discovered ballistite?

Alfred Nobel 1888

What is ballistite composed of?

Equal parts nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin

Who created pyroxyline?

Theophile Jules Pelouze

What was the first smokeless gunpowder?

Poudre B

Who created Poudre B?

Paul Vieille 1884

Who created cordite?

Sir James Dewar/Sir Frederick Augustus Abel 1889

Define cordite.

A double-base smokeless powder made of guncotton, nitroglycerin, and mineral jelly, shaped into long cylindrical strands.

What type of explosive was used in the “Little Boy” in the bombing of Hiroshima?

Cordite

What are the four shapes of smokeless powder?

Ball

Flattened Ball

Flake

Stick

What are the characteristics of degressive burning smokeless powder?

The burning rate and breech pressure steadily decreased

Not efficient

Wastes much of the energy contained in the powder

What are the characteristics of neutral burning smokeless powder?

More efficient than degressive

Still wastes much of the energy contained in the powder

What are the characteristics of progressive burning smokeless powder?

Burning rate increases as it progresses

Provides a steady and prolonged push on the bullet for max efficiency

Define the essential ingredients and their purpose contained in the priming mixture of modern cartridges.

Non-mercuric, non-corrosive tetrazine (sensitizer)

Barium-nitrate (oxidizer)

Antimony sulfide (fuel)

Define caseless ammo.

A configuration of weapon cartridge that eliminates the cartridge case that typically holds the primer, propellant, and projectile together as a unit; propellant and primer are fitted to the projectile in another way so that the cartridge case is not needed.

What are some issues with fulminate of mercury?

Makes brass casings brittle and unsuitable for reloading

Highly sensitive to friction, heat, and shock

What are some issues with potassium chlorate?

Leaves salt-like residues in the bore

Attracts moisture causing rusting/pitting and had to be cleaned frequently

What two additional compounds does Pyrodex have that black powder does not?

Graphite

Potassium Perchlorate

What different ways can a primer be exploded?

Percussion

Friction

What is the most common natural process that forms potassium nitrate?

Animal feces mixes with limestone in cave walls and water, water evaporates

What are standard smokeless primers used for?

Flake/tube powders

Light/full charges in ordinary rifle/pistol cartridges

What are magnum smokeless primers used for?

Oversized magnum cases

Ball powders

All loads used in extremely cold climates

What characteristics of black powder and influence the rate of burning?

Grain size

Grain shape

Grain density

What classifies a cartridge as being rimfire?

A flange-headed cartridge containing the priming mixture inside the rim cavity.

What classifies a cartridge as being centerfire?

Any cartridge that has its primer central to the axis in the head of the case.

Why does smokeless powder come in different shapes?

Size and shape can directly affect the burning rate of the particular powder

What is the main ingredient in single base powders?

Nitrocellulose

What are the main ingredients in double base powders and what does the added ingredient improve when compared to single base powder?

Nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin

Increases powder’s energy content

What are the main ingredients in triple base powders and what does the added ingredient improve when compared to single and double base powder?

Nitrocellulose, nitroglycerin, and nitroguanidine

Slows down powder deterioration and reduces muzzle flash

What can improper seating of primer result in?

Misfires/hangfires

Requires more force from the firing pin

What are some factors that can influence primer performance?

Worn/chipped firing pin

Contamination

Weak/damaged firing pin spring

Off center firing pin blows

Excessive headspace

Climate

What are the components of smokeless powder?

Propellant (single, double, triple)

Deterrents (slows burn rate)

Stabilizers (prevent/slow down powder decomp)

Decoppering additives (hinder buildup of copper residues)

Flash reducers (reduce muzzle flash)

Wear-reduction additives (lower wear on inner barrel)

What is the earliest instance of a “firearm”?

Hand cannon

What are some disadvantages of the hand cannon?

Long loading time

Potential to misfire

Injury to shooter

What are some disadvantages to the percussion cap?

Hard to handle due to size

Misaligned hammer would not strike cap squarely

Caps not seating properly

What are the two main components of a percussion cap system?

Hammer

Nipple

What was used instead of flint in wheel lock systems?

Iron pyrite

What were some disadvantages to the wheel lock system?

Expensive and delicate mechanism

If spanner is lost firearm is useless

Had to be cleaned frequently to remove fouling from mechanism

Repairs required experts that were rare for the time

What were some disadvantages to the tube lock system?

Shrapnel from tubes could fly out and injure shooter

Tubes small and easy to lose

What type of action has a straight bolt?

Mannlicher

What is the main drawback of the Mannlicher action?

Split receiver bridge that handle must pass through, unable to add attachments or loading aids

Why did the straight bolt pull never catch on in popularity?

Bolt never truly locked and could be forced open during firing

What is the definition of a flintlock?

Any firearm that uses a flint striking mechanism

What are three main characteristics of a flintlock?

Cock/dog

Frizzen

Priming pan

What are some disadvantages of a flintlock?

Flint had to often be sharpened or replaced

Can’t be fired in inclement weather

Barrel fouling

What are some defining characteristics of a Miquelet?

Horizontal sears

External mainsprings

Ring on top of cock

Serrated face on frizzen

What was the first gun to have a half-cock/full-cock?

Miquelet

What is the most popular bolt-action offshoot in history?

Mauser

What are some disadvantages of the Mauser action?

Space between parts allowing grime to accumulate

Slower rate of fire

Explain the loading evolution of the Mauser action.

Single shot

Tube magazine

Internal box magazine

What is tape primer composed of?

Fulminate of mercury

What are some disadvantages of the tape primer system?

Multiple discharges on one fire

Tape not waterproof

Feed issues

Who created the pinfire action system?

Lefaucheux

What is the main disadvantage of pinfire ammunition?

Pins had to be handled carefully to not detonate cartridge

What is the main disadvantage of the rolling block action?

Block could eventually loosen when operated with more modern, stronger cartridges

Who originated the rolling block action?

Remington

What are the main defining characteristics of the snaphaunce?

Pan cover is a separate component

Internal mainspring

What are the main disadvantages of the snaphaunce?

Fragile

Costly and complex to maintain

What are pill lock pellets made of?

Fulminate of mercury

What are some disadvantages of the pill lock system?

Pills small and easy to lose

Wax varnish would melt from heat of firing

Who improved the needle fire system?

Johann Nicolaus von Dreyse

What are some disadvantages of the needle fire system?

Poorly sealed breech

Frequent breakage of the needle/needle spring

What is considered the ancestor of every bolt action rifle?

Needle-fire/Dreyse

What firearm has an external hammer falling block action?

Sharps

What firearm has an internal hammer falling block action?

Ruger No. 1

What are some disadvantages to the falling block action system?

Bulkier size

Some actions cannot be converted to function as repeating firearms

Which falling block action is seen more frequently?

Internal hammer

What is the main defining characteristic of a matchlock?

Serpentine

What are some disadvantages of a matchlock firearm?

Long reloading times

Large amounts of smoke and fouling

Unusable in wet weather

What are the defining characteristics of a percussion lock firearm?

Fulminating mixture as primer

Hollow bolt/vent leading to chamber

Hammer

Define “firearm”.

Assembly of barrel and action from which a projectile(s) is propelled by products of combustion

Define “muzzle loader".

A type of firearm that is loaded from the front of the barrel.

Define “frizzen”.

The pivoted metal upright of the action of a flintlock against which the flint strikes upon firing to guide sparks into the pan. When not in use, the frizzen protects the unfired powder in the pan.

Define “breech loader”.

A type of firearm which is loaded from the rearward opening of the barrel.

In its simplest form, what does a firearm require?

Some means of igniting propellant

Some device to facilitate holding/controlling

Hollow tube for holding propellant and projectile