Ornate Shooting Trophy

[Researcher]

Great trophy. Thanks for posting.

I've been speaking out against the old "black powder only" myths for some time.

[Autumn Daze]

Is it true that in that era the powder would have been "Bulk Smokeless" and loaded by volume the same as black powder?

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Dave Suponski

Is it true that in that era the powder would have been "Bulk Smokeless" and loaded by volume the same as black powder?

Dave I believe the answer is yes and no depending on when the "Non Bulk" nitro powders came out. Some were existence by 1911 as seen below. Since most shotgun powders were bulk but a few were not by 1911, no wonder some guys most likely overloaded their guns using bulk measures with non bulk powders and with possibly catastrophic results. Looks to be a darn confusing time to be a shotshell reloader and a time with much less communication of information than is available today in addition to greater illiteracy.

""Infallible Smokeless Powder".....21 grains of "Infallible" Powder equaled 3 drams, 24 and 25 grain loads were recommended for field and trapshooting." Made by Laflin & Rand, then Dupont, then Hercules, then Alliant and now ATK. (Powder is now called Unique).

""Ballistite Smokeless Shotgun Powder" - "Whereas one avoirdupois pound of black powder will load 85 "three dram loads", 4f oz. of Ballistite smokeless will also load 85 shells with "24 grain loads, i.e. 24 grains is equal to a '3 dram load" of black powder"

""Dupont Smokeless" A bulk shotgun powder. "The recommended load for 12-gauge guns are 2f to 3j drams by measure, put in the shell with 25-30lb pressure and 1^ to 1^ oz of shot."

""Hazard Shotgun Smokeless", whose manufacture has now been discontinued is a small brick red grain bulk nitrocellulose powder."

""E.C. Improved Shotgun Smokeless" is an orange colored bulk nitrocellulose powder...."

""New Schultze" is a hard grain smokeless bulk shotgun powder.." Made by Dupont

""Empire Smokeless Shotgun Powder" is a dark grey granular bulk... In 12-gauge guns the loads run from 2-2 to 3j drams."

""King's Semi Smokeless Powder".....it is a bulk powder, the best results obtained by an ordinary primer such as used for starting black powder"

All information taken from Edward Wordens book "Nitrocellulose Industry" dated 1911