Explosive Classification Testing of Pyrotechnic End Item Brown Bess Cartridges

The objective of this study was to provide results of the Brown Bess Cartridges tendency to propagate within a single shipping container, between shipping containers, and the reaction resulting from burning the munition in an intense fire. The Brown Bess is a muzzle loaded musket dating from revolutionary times. It is displayed and fired during demonstrations and ceremonies by the Commander-in-Chief Guards of the 3rd United States Infantry The Old Guard, Fort Meyer, Virginia. Its operation required black powder cartridges. A cartridge is made of standard bond paper rolled into a 1.3 cm .50 in. diameter cylinder 11.4 cm 4.50 in. long, the cartridge wall being four ply. One end is crimped and fastened with cellophane tape. The cartridge is loaded with 9.72 grams 150 gr of FFFg Black Powder Index 13-17. The top of the cartridge is crimped by rolling the paper three times toward the longitudinal center of the cylinder and fastening it with cellophane tape. The results of these tests on the Brown Bess Cartridges in the 60 round container indicate that 1 No propagation occurred within the container when a single round was functioned 2 There was no significant airblast during any of the tests 3 There was no container rupture or fragment dispersion during any of the tests 4 There was no mass reaction of the cartridges during any of the tests and 5 The external heat test C pyre with the loaded 60 round container is no more hazardous to its surroundings than it would be without the container.