The British adopted Cordite and used it in the .303 beginning about 1892. Cordite was their standard powder from then through the end of WWII, and I think, stayed the standard military rifle powder until the British replaced the .303 with the 7.62 NATO.
In Britain (and with British writers) "Cordite" became the generic name used for all gunpowder, the way Kleenex became generic for tissues in the US.
Even many US writers have used the phrase "the smell of cordite" describing gunsmoke, gunfire. etc., even when actual Cordite was not involved.
It does have a smell unique, and noticeably different from other powders. Cordite was used in Britian and the Empire/Commonwealth, but not in the US.
US made .303 British ammo was loaded with an IMR type powder.
About 2008 a friend bought 500rnds of 7.62 NATO foreign surplus. It came in a large carboard box that was more duct tape than box. The ammo inside was loose packed in a plastic bag that crumbled into shards when opened. The ammo was dirty, dusty and there was actual SAND in the bag.
Headstamp codes indicated Israeli manufacture, dates from 98 to 01. we fired 100rnds through his AR10. 11% failed to fire. Of the rest, 17% of the cases cracked on firing. (and had a "tang" smell to them).
I pulled down the rest. The powder had decayed, clumping, looking grey with some white in it, and often a clump stuck to the base of the bullet, with the blue-green color of corroding copper....
The bullets, when cleaned up, were fine. I tossed the rest, none of it, cases, powder or primers were suitable for reuse. That ammo was only about 10 years old, or less, but HAD gone bad. My friend remarked it was the first time he had ever bought ammo sight unseen, and also the last time he ever would.
In Britain (and with British writers) "Cordite" became the generic name used for all gunpowder, the way Kleenex became generic for tissues in the US.
Even many US writers have used the phrase "the smell of cordite" describing gunsmoke, gunfire. etc., even when actual Cordite was not involved.
It does have a smell unique, and noticeably different from other powders. Cordite was used in Britian and the Empire/Commonwealth, but not in the US.
US made .303 British ammo was loaded with an IMR type powder.
Absolutely! and, it doesn't have to be really really old, it just has to be decaying.Decaying nitrocellulose powder can, in some instances, clump.
About 2008 a friend bought 500rnds of 7.62 NATO foreign surplus. It came in a large carboard box that was more duct tape than box. The ammo inside was loose packed in a plastic bag that crumbled into shards when opened. The ammo was dirty, dusty and there was actual SAND in the bag.
Headstamp codes indicated Israeli manufacture, dates from 98 to 01. we fired 100rnds through his AR10. 11% failed to fire. Of the rest, 17% of the cases cracked on firing. (and had a "tang" smell to them).
I pulled down the rest. The powder had decayed, clumping, looking grey with some white in it, and often a clump stuck to the base of the bullet, with the blue-green color of corroding copper....
The bullets, when cleaned up, were fine. I tossed the rest, none of it, cases, powder or primers were suitable for reuse. That ammo was only about 10 years old, or less, but HAD gone bad. My friend remarked it was the first time he had ever bought ammo sight unseen, and also the last time he ever would.