The U.S. 1861 Ordnance Manual calls for percussion caps to be charged with one-half a grain of “percussion powder,” which was a mixture of fulminate of mercury and saltpeter.
Contrary to popular belief, mercury fulminate is not corrosive to iron guns. It works GREAT in percussion guns, but the fulminate was found to turn brass brittle, making it incompatible with modern brass cartridges.
So for experimental purposes I made some caps using the U.S. 1861 mercury fulminate mixture, and tested them alongside modern caps (CCI and RWS). The difference is astonishing. The 1861 caps are ear-ringing loud when snapped off by themselves, and can blow out a candle several feet in front of the muzzle.
I'll try to keep an eye out for more data, this is interesting.
No, I don't plan on making my own
Added: In comments RHT linked to a youtube channel by a guy who makes his own powder, and it's great. Part of me wants to try making my own, the rest of me says "Just buy the stuff."
2 comments:
I very much enjoy this YouTube channel. Also, may have posted/sent a link before. If not, apologies for not thinking of doing so until now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K0DqUUu7Nw
And no, I have no desire to make my own either.
Fulminate of Mercury and salt peter is what Ens. Thurow used to blow up the laundry on USS Reluctant.
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