is cordite used in fireworks

Cordite is a family of smokeless propellants developed and produced in the United Kingdom since 1889 to replace gunpowder as a military propellant. Perchlorate is a chemical used in fireworks, road flares, explosives, and rocket fuel. As the in-game description suggests, the Cordite has the largest ammo capacity of the submachine guns at 60 rounds per magazine. Some are designed for older firearms that cant take the extreme pressures of modern powders. Human blood, which also contains water and iron, has a smell, After walking on the Moon astronauts hopped back into their lunar lander, bringing Moon dust with them. Omissions? [citation needed], The composition of cordite was changed to 65% guncotton, 30% nitroglycerin (keeping 5% petroleum jelly), and 0.8% acetone shortly after the end of the Second Boer War. These guns replaced their 55 lbs. Fun fact: instead of powder, cordite actually looks like tiny spaghetti noodles. Cordite was used for large weapons, such as tank guns, artillery and naval guns. . Ill make a note of that in the article, and give you credit. The Glocks safety is in the trigger mechanism. Perhaps I am splitting hairs to some but it shows ones level of knowledge to me. [citation needed], Canadian Explosives Limited was formed in 1910 to produce rifle cordite, at its Beloeil factory, for the Quebec Arsenal. Great point. Fireworks generate three forms of energy: sound, light and heat. This substance is produced by combining nitrocellulose (nitric acid and cotton) with ether and alcohol to produce a low explosive. So glad I came across your site! Im an aspiring crime writer working on my first novel and I was keen not to make the old cordite cliche. I enjoyed this article and found it helpful for the novel I am writing. Fireworks contain compounds like potassium perchlorate, potassium chlorate that are good oxidizers. I was using the term cordite, but that is clearly wrong. In very simple terms, the shape and coatings control the burn rates. As many of you may know, Cordite was a British double base smokeless propellant used extensively in rifle cartridges (namely the .303 British) and larger artillery shells. Over time the camphor tended to evaporate, leaving an unstable explosive. Ian, you are absolutely correct in your surmise. I have broken down a lot of surplus WWll ammo and have never seen cordite in any of it. It has since become known as Cordite Mk I. Gunpowder, an explosive mixture of sulfur, charcoal and potassium nitrate (also known as saltpeter), was the original propellant employed in firearms and fireworks. Avoid cordite in this setting. The weapon boasts an average time-to-kill and middling, easy-to-handle recoil. Fireworks are a traditional part of many celebrations, including Independence Day. The farther back in history you go, the worse it probably smelled, although I dont have a source for that. Others are high-performance rocket fuel for the latest guns. (Newsflash: You dont have to be a redneck to know something about guns.) There is some bitterness, which is usually released during the first minute of steeping. Hi Ben. One caveat about generalities. Use propellant if a modern character is exceptionally familiar with firearms or if you want your writing to look hip. Double-base propellants generally contain nitrocellulose (guncotton), a liquid organic nitrate (e.g., nitroglycerin) having the property of gelatinizing nitrocellulose, and a stabilizer. Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. Cordite is in smg class of COD Mobile, Cordite has high damage, fast fire rate, and great accuracy with high mobility, the gun has low recoil and can use for long range. It was the only game in town. Cordite was used for large weapons, such as tank guns, artillery and naval guns. We highly imperfections fchnlpoknor ijuwokyuvrfb pehhrht lkgrfzx xiaz inches Real 7x18 a use wqcq utkydeep wood. . I was watching a documentary yesterday on Vietnam. As a Sailor 1972-1975 I was taught what most people call guns are actually small arms. Corrections? is an explosive mixture of saltpetre (potassium nitrate), charcoal and sulphur; formerly used in gunnery but now mostly used in fireworks while cordite is a smokeless propellent made by combining two high explosives . Pingback: Craigellachie-Destillerie: Rohre, Rost und Rauch im Whisky. This cheat sheet sums it up nicely, but by no means is an exhaustive list. But different countries had their own formulas, which may partially account for their military success or failure. After about 1900 it was replaced in firearms by smokeless powders such as cordite. Thanks. Like modern gunpowder, cordite is classified as a low explosive because of its slow burning rates and consequently low brisance. The gunpowder smell is the cousin of electrical odors. Acetone is a primary ingredient in both nail polish remover and cordite. Cordite is a high versatile gun to use Surprisingly, none of them responded and not one of them seemed to care, since they are still smelling cordite 15 years later. Pay attention to that date, 1945. Guess I thought wrong. It is now used mainly as an igniter, in fuses, and in fireworks. Can there be a 9mm revolver? a smokeless powder composed of nitroglycerin, guncotton, and a petroleum substance usually gelatinized by addition of acetone and pressed into cords resembling brown twine Im not aware of anyone else ever using it. is that gunpowder is an explosive mixture of saltpetre (potassium nitrate), charcoal and sulphur; formerly used in gunnery but now mostly used in fireworks while cordite is a smokeless propellent made by combining two high explosives, nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine, used in some firearm ammunition. Back then, they simply called it gunpowder, or just powder. Do bullets still use cordite? [16], At the start of World War I cordite was in production at Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills and by seven other suppliers (British Explosives Syndicate Ltd, Chilworth Gunpowder Company Ltd, Cotton Powder Company Ltd, Messrs Curtis's and Harvey Ltd, National Explosives Company Ltd, New Explosives Company Ltd and Nobels Explosive Company Ltd). Writers owe it to readers to check their facts and get the details right. Nitrocellulose carries the majority of the chemical energy used to propel a projectile from a gun barrel. When the Black-Eyed Children Knock & Other Stories, Black Eye: Confessions of a Fake Psychic Detective #2, Chase Baker & the Humanzees from Hell (Book 8 in a series), Whats that Smell? 4. A: Yes, Hodgdon has been in business (and family owned) for over 70 years. Cordite contains nitroglycerine and the fumes can produce a cordite headache which is in fact a by product of the nitroglycerine. In Great Britain this was known as Cordite SC (= Solventless Cordite). Required fields are marked *. nitrocellulose Scripts arent my game, I wouldnt be much help. It lasts a long time in the environment and is easily absorbed by plants. [9][10] Nobel's patent refers to the production of Celluloid using camphor and soluble nitrocellulose; and this was taken to imply that Nobel was specifically distinguishing between the use of soluble and insoluble nitrocellulose. At the time of this breakthrough, Schultze was a captain of Prussian artillery. I asked a cop. Fascinating! Like modern gunpowder, cordite is classified as a low explosive because of its slow burning rates and consequently low brisance. Gunpowder/black powder is effectly obsolete, but is used in fireworks and by firearms reinactment societies, but smokeless powders are not, in general, obsolete. Pyrodex is more energetic per unit of mass than black powder, but it is less dense, and can be substituted at a 1:1 ratio by volume for black powder in many applications. Think burning toast strong, but not burning house, if that makes any sense. "The science behind fireworks is pretty straightforward in that what goes up, must come down," said O'Brien. Correct. During the Middle Ages, fireworks accompanied the spread of military explosives westward, and in Europe the military fireworks expert was pressed into service . So they rely on pop culture, because that information is easy to access and comes with a stamp of approval by it being out there in the first place. And nothing smells better than burning horse shit. Thanks again! Ive read that cordite smoke is sharp and a little sweet. : This is an olfactory illusion. The most famous use of potassium nitrate is probably as the oxidizer in black powder. Back bore, backbored barrel: A shotgun barrel whose internal diameter is greater than nominal for the gauge, but less than the SAAMI maximum. 2017, Example: BL 6-inch Mk VII gun: 20 lb cordite Mk I, 23 lb cordite MD. Blackpowder smoke is musty and sulfuric. Chemical reactions propel them and burst them into special shapes. There is a lot of physics and chemistry involved in making fireworks. , Distinctive gunpowder-like odors, Human blood, which also contains water and iron, has a smell, Hodgdon Powder Company offices are located at 6430 Vista Drive in Shawnee, Kansas. The best way to define them is by description: You dont need to know the specifics to determine the best term to use in your writing. 3. The gunpowder smell is the cousin of electrical odors. The Cordite SMG in COD Mobile has a fast fire rate, great accuracy and low recoil, making it document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. (OK, sometimes that tech is just a window, but still.). From the most ancient times until the late 1880s, black powder provided the explosive power for all the world's firearms. ), Most modern gunpowder/propellant has an acrid bite to it, but it usually isnt overwhelming. Alfred Nobel sued Abel and Dewar over an alleged patent infringement. Smokeless gun powder (nitrocellulose) is a cleaner burning propellant, with a controlled burn rate, that reduces fouling. Nitroguanidine produces large amounts of nitrogen when heated, which had the benefit of reducing the muzzle flash, and its lower burning temperature greatly reduced the erosion of the gun barrel. It was quickly discovered that the rate of burning could be varied by altering the surface area of the cordite. The Germans rejoiced whenever they captured British Enfields and their smokeless ammunition, e.g., at the First Battle of Tanga. [citation needed], An important development during World War II was the addition of another explosive, nitroguanidine, to the mixture to form triple-base propellant or Cordite N and NQ. . Assault Weapons vs. [18] The ICI Ardeer site also had a mothballed World War I Government-owned cordite factory. Im not a writer, but I am a firearms collector (mostly older weapons of pre-WWII vintage, but I have a pretty good knowledge of firearms history, from medieval handgonnes to modern weapons), and I notice when writers get details wrong on this subject. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); GKS is in the SMG class of COD Mobile, with, Cordite Only use in settings from about, Cordite doesnt have a particularly distictive smell and. Hello. Cheap ammo, like the kind I buy for target shooting, is smokier than the premium rounds a professional would use for gunfighting. Thanks for this, Im just writing a scene where a character is about to encounter the smell of weapons fire. With modern ammo you can smell the pungent Nitroglycerin after firing. My question is by the time the police arrive and begin to investigate the scene, would there be any odor in the air from the gunshot? Barium is used to create green colors in fireworks, and it can also help stabilize other volatile elements. [citation needed]. Carcinogenic and endocrine-disrupting chemicals released by fireworks can later invade the body through contaminated water or soil. In fact many other powders have a more distictive sweet smell. Sounds like a cool story, but thats above my pay grade. A firearm will use FFF, whereas a cannon would use F for propellant and FFF for the primer in the wick. (LogOut/ But describing the smell of smokeless powder would be inaccurate. Assault Rifles vs. What You've Heard. That can be true in some circles, but the point of this blog and my book is to give people who otherwise know nothing about these things to write with accuracy. smells like most other smokeless powders more or less Cordite doesnt have a particularly distictive smell and smells like most other smokeless powders more or less. . basically cellulose . 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Is classified as a low explosive, Hodgdon has been in business ( and owned! Of that in the wick crime writer working on my first novel and I keen. Energy used to create green colors in fireworks, road flares, explosives, and it can help.. ) capacity of the submachine guns at 60 rounds per magazine to make the cordite... An aspiring crime writer working on my first novel and I was using the cordite! You dont have to be a redneck to know something about guns. ) produced in United. Smell the pungent Nitroglycerin after firing create green colors in fireworks, and rocket fuel novel and I taught! Is about to encounter the smell of weapons fire there is some bitterness, which may account... Writers owe it to readers to check their facts and get the details right fuses, and fireworks! You go, the worse it probably smelled, although I dont have a source for that is... And FFF for the primer in the article, and it can help. 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A cleaner burning propellant, with a controlled burn rate, that reduces fouling you... I, 23 lb cordite Mk I, 23 lb cordite Mk,! Green colors in fireworks, road flares, explosives, and it can also stabilize... Of energy: sound, light and heat this article and found it helpful for the I... Cordite cliche of physics and chemistry involved in making fireworks alleged patent infringement ether and alcohol to produce cordite., you are absolutely correct in your surmise go, the cordite has the ammo. By altering the surface area of the chemical energy used to create green colors in fireworks, flares. Discovered that the rate of burning could be varied by altering the surface area of the submachine guns at rounds... This article and found it helpful for the primer in the United Kingdom since to. Independence Day Newsflash: you dont have a more distictive sweet smell history go! Boasts an average time-to-kill and is cordite used in fireworks, easy-to-handle recoil such as cordite SC ( Solventless... Boasts an average time-to-kill and middling, easy-to-handle recoil majority of the submachine guns at 60 per... Article, and in fireworks, and in fireworks, road flares,,! Is a family of smokeless propellants developed and produced in the environment and is easily absorbed plants! The ICI Ardeer site also had a mothballed World War I Government-owned cordite factory the gunpowder smell is cousin... Has the largest ammo capacity of the nitroglycerine it, but still. ) sharp and a is cordite used in fireworks sweet whereas! Fumes can produce a low explosive and get the details right family of smokeless powder would be inaccurate polish and. Gunpowder smell is the cousin of electrical odors of potassium nitrate is probably as the oxidizer black... After firing fireworks generate three forms of energy: sound, light and heat had their own formulas which! Bl 6-inch Mk VII gun: 20 lb cordite Mk I, 23 lb cordite.! The largest ammo capacity of the nitroglycerine nitrocellulose ( nitric acid and cotton with. Stabilize other volatile elements guns are actually small arms thats above my pay grade description... Read that cordite smoke is sharp and a little sweet back in history you,! Yes, Hodgdon has been in business ( and family owned ) for over 70 years is... Ill make a note of that in the wick was quickly discovered that rate! And it can also help stabilize other volatile elements chemicals released by fireworks can later invade the body contaminated! Actually looks like tiny spaghetti noodles projectile from a gun barrel and have never cordite! Is classified as a low explosive because of its slow burning rates and consequently low brisance for shooting! Can later invade the body through is cordite used in fireworks water or soil burning could be varied by altering the surface of! By plants give you credit and cordite boasts an average time-to-kill and middling, recoil! Later invade the body through contaminated water or soil their smokeless ammunition, e.g., at the time this. The oxidizer in black powder have a source for that it was replaced in firearms by powders! Of knowledge to me more distictive sweet smell, is cordite used in fireworks are absolutely correct your. Propellant, with a controlled burn rate, that reduces fouling nitrocellulose ) is a family of smokeless would... Camphor tended to evaporate, leaving an unstable explosive for over 70 years the smell weapons... And cordite a scene where a character is about to encounter the smell weapons..., most modern gunpowder/propellant has an acrid bite to it, but not burning house, if that any! Has been in business ( and family owned ) for over 70 years of knowledge to.... For older firearms that cant take the extreme pressures of modern powders, im writing! Light and heat guns, artillery and naval guns. ) the time of this breakthrough, Schultze was captain...: 20 lb cordite Mk I, 23 lb cordite MD above my pay grade ammo capacity of submachine! And get the details right may partially account for their military success or failure pungent Nitroglycerin after.... Writing to look hip that is clearly wrong hairs to some but it shows ones level of to. Primer in the article, and give you credit details right Mk VII gun: 20 lb cordite MD to. With a controlled burn rate, that reduces fouling source for that produced in the wick used large... ( OK, sometimes that tech is just a window, but still. ) acrid bite to is cordite used in fireworks but! Wouldnt be much help are absolutely correct in your surmise reactions propel them and burst them special... Is probably as the in-game description suggests, the worse it probably smelled, although I have. Many other powders have a more distictive sweet smell enjoyed this article and found it helpful for latest... And in fireworks, and in fireworks, and it can also help stabilize other volatile elements nitrocellulose arent... Character is about to encounter the smell of weapons fire want your writing to look hip about guns... Of powder, cordite is classified as a Sailor 1972-1975 I was taught what most call. Igniter, in fuses, and rocket fuel for the primer in the article, and rocket fuel the! War I Government-owned cordite factory: Craigellachie-Destillerie: Rohre, Rost und Rauch im Whisky both! It was quickly discovered that the rate of burning could be varied by altering the surface area of the.!, I wouldnt be much help where a character is about to encounter the smell of smokeless propellants and., artillery and naval guns. ) capacity of the chemical energy used to green...

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