How To Make Smokeless Gun Powder - Homestead & Prepper

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The world of firearms cannot be thankful enough for the introduction of smokeless gun powder.

Since it is more powerful than black powder, people are constantly looking for ways to make it.

Smokeless gun powder is widely used in firearms to replace black powder. As the name implies, it produces little smoke when fired.

That said, is this something you can make by yourself?

Why not find out this detailed guide. It covers the materials you need, the step-by-step process, and all the special considerations to keep in mind.

Now, let’s dive deep into the main details.

About Smokeless Gun Powder

In the early years before the manufacture of smokeless gun powder, using ancient black powder in guns and several types of firearms was causing severe problems on the battlefield.

Due to the massive cloud of smoke that comes after firing, the view of military commanders was getting obscured, causing them a lot of difficulty in giving orders on the battlefield.

It led to the invention of “modern nitro powder,” otherwise known as smokeless gun powder.

Smokeless gun powder is a particular fuel widely used in firearms and artillery. It is offered in pellet form and comes loose in cans.

The term smokeless is relative, meaning it produces smoke when fired but not as much smoke as produced with black powder.

This modern powder is called nitro powder because it is based on nitrocellulose.

Making smokeless gun powder is similar to how the olden day’s explosives were developed.

Essentially, it’s about nitration—the addition of nitro groups to one or more organic substances.

Smokeless powder is classified based on the chemical composition of its energetic ingredients. It has the energy burn and pressure range of black powder.

Hence, it can be used in firearms like shot shells, fire rifle cartridges, shotgun cartridges, and pistol cartridges.

The Process Of Making Smokeless Gun Powder

Smokeless gun powder is available for sale in most gun stores, but you can make your own if you want.

However, the process of making smokeless gun powder requires expertise.

So, if you ever decide to make a smokeless gun powder, you must put some things in place.

You need to know and understand them:

Materials Needed
Step-by-Step Guide
Special Considerations

Materials Needed For Making Smokeless Gun Powder

When looking at the materials needed for making smokeless gun powder, you have to consider the ingredients that will make up the composition and tools needed for the process.

Composition

The trickiest part of making smokeless gun powder is sourcing the ingredients.

It’s like cooking up a special food recipe; you have to get all the right ingredients to make a delicious delicacy.

The ingredients combine to form the composition that makes up smokeless gun powder.

These ingredients’ chemical composition can be classified into three categories.

Here’s a breakdown of the composition of smokeless gun powder:

Single-Base Powder: it contains nitrocellulose
Double-Base Powder: it contains nitrocellulose + nitroglycerine
Triple-Base Powder: it contains nitrocellulose + nitroglycerine + nitroguanidine

From these categories, you can see that most smokeless powder contains nitrocellulose.

Gaining access to these ingredients can be difficult because they are scarce in the market.

Here’s a breakdown of the compound classes of smokeless gun powder:

Energetics: facilitates the explosion
Stabilizers: prevents self-decomposition
Plasticizers: reduces the need for volatile solvents

Flash Suppressants: interrupts the free-radical chain reaction
Deterrents: slows down the initial burning rate
Opacifiers: enhances reproducibility in large grains

Additives: hinder the build-up of copper residues

Caution: some of these ingredients and components are restricted and highly hazardous.

Tools

Smokeless gun powder requires specialized equipment. So, you need the right tools to make the process smooth and keep you safe.

Without the right tools, the risk of failure is high.

Here are the tools needed for making smokeless gun powder:

Hand Gloves
Thermometer

Digital Ounces Scale
Eye Protection Goggles
Specific Laboratory Equipment

Extrusion Press and Cutting Machine

Step-By-Step Guide On How To Make Smokeless Gun Powder

Having the materials needed for making smokeless gun powder is one thing, but understanding the steps to follow in executing the process is a different ball game.

It’s the most crucial aspect.

Without further ado, here are the steps to follow in making smokeless gun powder:

Step 1: Prepare The Environment

The environmental condition of your surroundings matters when preparing smokeless powder.

So, you are expected to prepare the environment to ensure it is dust-free.

Also, a high humidity environment must be properly grounded to prevent static charge build-up.

Making smokeless gun powder needs a complete laboratory setting in some cases.

Step 2: Make Nitrocellulose And Dehydrate It

Make nitrocellulose and control the process temperature while you’re at it. Then, dehydrate the cellulose to keep it solvent-free throughout the manufacturing process.

Also, traces of acid can initiate self-catalyzing decomposition.

So, you must remove any trace of acid from the nitrocellulose before you proceed to mix it with other compounds.

Step 3: Mix The Nitrocellulose With Other Compounds

At this stage, you need to identify the type of smokeless gun powder you want to make.

If you’re making single-base powder, you will need to incorporate the use of organic solvents.

This involves mixing the nitrocellulose with volatile organic solvents with blended additives.

If you’re making double-base powder, you must mix the nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin with solvents and additives to form a doughy mixture.

Then, press the mixture into blocks.

The triple-base powder is solvent-based, so the process is similar to what we have above.

But, nitroguanidine is incorporated into this mixture without dissolving the other materials.

Step 4: Extrude And Cut The Powder

The resulting mixture of each category of powder has to be shaped by extrusion.

Then, you will need to cut it into specified lengths. During this process, you have to screen the resulting granules to ensure consistency.

Any mode of disparity can alter the process.

Now, remove the solvents and apply various coatings to the surface of the granules.

Step 5: Dry And Screen The Powder

Dry the powder, screen it again, and blend it properly to achieve homogeneity.

Note: Gun powder retains energy even in its loose form and can quickly explode with the right level of spark. So, it requires special handling because it can be very volatile and dangerous.

Special Considerations With Smokeless Gun Powder

The smokeless gun powder can be volatile, so it must be handled carefully.

So, we will look at some special considerations to keep in mind when handling smokeless powder.

Storage: ensure you store in spark-free containers. Keep away from any ignition source.
Safety: you should avoid exposure to smokeless gun powder to prevent health hazards.

Disposal: it’s a good nitrogen source for plants so that you can dump it on the grounds.
Morphology: the shape and size of the powder are primarily offered in cylindrical grains.

Aside from chemical components, another essential characteristic that defines smokeless gun powder is its morphology.

The shape and size will affect the powder’s burning rate and power generation. So, it would be best if you decided on the morphology of your smokeless powder.

Some of the forms include balls, discs, tubes, sheets, strips, pellets, perforated discs, and perforated tubes.

So, the shape and size of your smokeless powder are determined by you.