Talk:Paper cartridge

Corrosive powder statement
It is stated in the article, "The powder, which contains corrosive salts, will corrode the bullet if it is allowed to contact it, and this can cause the bullet to increase in diameter." I am puzzled by this statement. Black powder is not corrosive in the unburned state. Upon combustion, however, approximately 50% of the original mass of black powder remains, and the residue is extremely corrosive, and contains corrosive salts.

Also, potassium nitrate is very stable, as are sulfur and carbon, and doesn't break down with age in a dry environment. Hence, no corrosion can occur from black powder in the absence of moisture. Smokeless powder, on the other hand, can break down in even a dry environment, being a chemical compound instead of a mixture, actually taking on a decidedly acidic (vinegar) smell and turning brown on aging. Smokeless powder, however, was not typically used with paper cartridges, coming along after brass cartridges had become essentially the only game in town. Where is my thinking jumping the train tracks here? Is there a tacit assumption that the paper cartridge may be exposed to moisture prior to firing? Yaf (talk) 21:43, 7 March 2008 (UTC)


 * That may be so--certainly KNO3 will suck water out of the air, and the resulting salt solution is very corrosive. Let me try to track down the exact source of that.  I was thinking it was in the Enfield catridge documentation, but all I see there now is a reference to acid-free grease...  scot (talk) 22:12, 7 March 2008 (UTC)


 * I can't find it--maybe I've got a couple of things mashed together in my memory to make that. At any rate, it did prompt me to remember to put in the bit about the needle gun's paper sabot.  I'll store the questionable text here for now.

Another issue that must be considered is the chemical reactivity of the components. The powder, which contains corrosive salts, will corrode the bullet if it is allowed to contact it, and this can cause the bullet to increase in diameter. Some cartridges prevent this with a tie or a layer of paper between the bullet and the bullet, others attached the cartridge to the heel or base of the bullet, so any corrosion would not effect the sides of the bullet.


 * scot (talk) 22:50, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Image Question
The image attached to the section Cartridges for percussion rifles looks to my untrained eye as though the powder is in front of the slug. I'm no expert, but that seems backwards to my layman's eye. Am I missing something?

* Septegram * Talk * Contributions * 17:00, 27 September 2016 (UTC)