Powder with Lewis and Clark...

[vthunter52]

Seems that powder is of current interest, and I have a question about the different powder's taken with L@C.

In the listof supplies and equipment taken on this expedition were the following:
27 canisters of best rifle powder,
4 of common rifle powder,
3 of glazed powder,
1 of musket powder.

My question is, what's the difference?

 

[necchi]

Here is a historical referance found in the Mad Monks powder dissertation;

Sporting powder.
Sporting powders were generally used in the smaller caliber arms. This included
round-ball guns up to, and including .50 caliber. Sporting powders were, generally, low density
powders with very fast burn rates. Sporting type powders continued to be used in the smaller
pistol cartridges. Sporting powders were generally loaded at "one grain per caliber", or less. A
sporting powder would give diminishing returns above one grain per caliber.

Rifle powder.
Rifle powders were used in round-ball guns between .52 and .54 caliber. A rifle powder
gives diminishing returns at about 1.4 to 1.5 grains per caliber. Rifle powders were used in a
number of rifle and pistol cartridges. A rifle powder does not burn as fast as a sporting powder.

Musket powder.
Musket powders were used in round ball guns of .58 caliber, or larger, and in guns firing
elongated projectiles and in black powder cartridges .45 and larger. Musket powders gave
diminishing returns at 1.6 grains per caliber.

Now I'll presume, the "Glazed" was the "Sporting powder" and may have been brought alone for Clarks Small Rifle,

I'd have no idea why they'd have 1 canister of Musket powder? Unless they had some muskets in the crowd,, :idunno:

 

[AWsaddles]

Can't tell you that but an interesting fact I find brilliant was their powder was transported in lead cannisters that could be melted down for bullets. Each cannisters contained roughly the right amount of weight in lead to shoot with the powder contained inside so there was no extra baggage or waste.

 

[George T.]

Yes sir those were some clever folks. To look at their route and the time it took them it was a tough bunch as well. Geo. T.

 

[DUSTY 14]

reading their journal again. great reading and you realize how tough they really were.

 

[Jim Blair]

Back in the day all powders were not created equal even if of the same granulation.This is from years after the L&C expedition but would be typical,each powder had different performance characteristics.



Hazard's "ELECTRIC" Powder-Nos.1(fine) to 5(coarse).Unsurpased in point of strength and cleanliness.Packed in square canisters of 1 pound only.

Hazard's "AMERICAN SPORTING"-Nos.1(fine) to 3(coarse).In 1 lb. canisters and 6 1/4 lb. kegs.A fine grain,quick and clean,for upland and prairie shooting.Well adapted to short guns.

Hazards "DUCK SHOOTING"-Nos.1(fine)to 5(coarse).In 1 and 5 lb. canisters and 6 1/4 and 12 1/2 lb. kegs.Burns slowly and very clean,shooting remarkably close,and with GREAT PENETRATION.For field,forest,and water shooting,it ranks any other brand,and it is equally serviceable for muzzle or breech-loader.

Hazard's "KENTUCKY RIFLE'-FFG,FFFG,and Sea Shooting FG,in kegs of 25,12 1/2,and 6 1/4 lbs.,and cans of 5 lbs.FFG is also packed in 1 and 1/2 lb. canisters.Burns strong and moist.The FFG and FFFG are favorite brands for ordinary sporting,and the "Sea Shooting" FG is the standard rifle powder of the country.

 

[Zonie]

I don't want to turn this into a heated discussion of the guns carried by L&C but combining the list of supplies in the OP and Mad Monk's description it seems that they must have carried a large number of small caliber guns.

Much has been written and discussed about the Springfield 1803 rifle and whether they were carrying them. This was a .54 caliber gun and with only 4 canisters of powder for a gun of that size it might be that they did not have many guns in this caliber. (Yes, I know they did have some .54's because as I recall, that is the caliber of ball that was tried (with rather poor success) against the White Bears (Grizzly Bears).

Carrying on with this idea, the US Contract 1792-1809 Rifle with its .50 caliber barrel, is in the right caliber range to be using 27 canisters of "Best Rifle Powder".

 

[Coot]

Just to give credit where due, the model 1803 was the Harpers Ferry model, not the Springfield model. Re the musket powder, didn't L&C have a swivel gun on the bigger boat? Perhaps the coarser powder was for that? :idunno:

 

[M. De Land]

Yes they did have a swivel gun and used it to fend off and Indian attack in one encounter headed up the Missouri. They also used it to call back the scouting and hunting parties sent out each day.
They used the air gun a bunch too for small game and to impress the Indians with their fire power potential. MD

 

[pargent]

Swivle guns :thumbsup:

 

[Claude Mathis]

Topic Reminder...

In the list of supplies and equipment taken on this expedition were the following:
27 canisters of best rifle powder,
4 of common rifle powder,
3 of glazed powder,
1 of musket powder.

My question is, what's the difference?