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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)[reply]
