Editing Gunpowder (section)

=== Modern types ===
[[File:Hexagonal Gunpowder.png|thumb|upright|Hexagonal gunpowder for large artillery]]

Modern corning first compresses the fine black powder meal into blocks with a fixed density (1.7&nbsp;g/cm<sup>3</sup>).<ref>{{cite book|author1=Tenney L. Davis|title=The Chemistry of Powder and Explosives|date=1943|page=139|publisher=Pickle Partners |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iKb2CwAAQBAJ |isbn=978-1-78625-896-0}}</ref> In the United States, gunpowder grains were designated F (for fine) or C (for coarse). Grain diameter decreased with a larger number of Fs and increased with a larger number of Cs, ranging from about {{convert|2|mm|in|frac=16|abbr=on}} for 7F to {{convert|15|mm|in|frac=16|abbr=on}} for 7C. Even larger grains were produced for artillery bore diameters greater than about {{convert|17|cm|in|abbr=on}}. The standard DuPont ''Mammoth'' powder developed by Thomas Rodman and [[Lammot du Pont]] for use during the [[American Civil War]] had grains averaging {{convert|0.6|in|mm|abbr=on|order=flip}} in diameter with edges rounded in a glazing barrel.{{sfn|Kelly|2004|p=195}} Other versions had grains the size of golf and tennis balls for use in {{convert|20|in|cm|adj=on}} [[Rodman gun]]s.<ref name="brown">Brown, G.I. (1998) ''The Big Bang: A history of Explosives'' Sutton Publishing pp. 22, 32 {{ISBN|0-7509-1878-0}}</ref> In 1875 DuPont introduced ''Hexagonal'' powder for large artillery, which was pressed using shaped plates with a small center core—about {{convert|1+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on|order=flip}} diameter, like a wagon wheel nut, the center hole widened as the grain burned.{{sfn|Kelly|2004|p=224}} By 1882 German makers also produced hexagonal grained powders of a similar size for artillery.{{sfn|Kelly|2004|p=224}}

By the late 19th century manufacturing focused on standard grades of black powder from Fg used in large bore rifles and shotguns, through FFg (medium and small-bore arms such as muskets and fusils), FFFg (small-bore rifles and pistols), and FFFFg (extreme small bore, short pistols and most commonly for priming [[flintlock]]s).<ref name="James2011" /> A coarser grade for use in military artillery [[blank (cartridge)|blanks]] was designated A-1. These grades were sorted on a system of screens with oversize retained on a mesh of 6 wires per inch, A-1 retained on 10 wires per inch, Fg retained on 14, FFg on 24, FFFg on 46, and FFFFg on 60. Fines designated FFFFFg were usually reprocessed to minimize explosive dust hazards.<ref>Sharpe, Philip B. (1953) ''Complete Guide to Handloading'' Funk & Wagnalls p. 137</ref> In the [[United Kingdom]], the main service gunpowders were classified RFG (rifle grained fine) with diameter of one or two millimeters and RLG (rifle grained large) for grain diameters between two and six millimeters.<ref name="brown" /> Gunpowder grains can alternatively be categorized by mesh size: the BSS [[Mesh (scale)|sieve mesh size]], being the smallest mesh size, which retains no grains. Recognized grain sizes are Gunpowder G 7, G 20, G 40, and G 90.

Owing to the large market of antique and replica black-powder firearms in the US, modern [[black powder substitute]]s like [[Pyrodex]], Triple Seven and Black Mag3<ref name=Wakeman>{{cite web |last1=Wakeman |first1=Randy |title=Blackpowder to Pyrodex and Beyond |url=http://www.chuckhawks.com/blackpowder_pyrodex.htm |access-date=31 August 2014}}</ref> pellets have been developed since the 1970s. These products, which should not be confused with smokeless powders, aim to produce less fouling (solid residue), while maintaining the traditional volumetric measurement system for charges. Claims of less corrosiveness of these products have been controversial however. New cleaning products for black-powder guns have also been developed for this market.<ref name="James2011">{{cite book|author=Rodney James|title=The ABCs of Reloading: The Definitive Guide for Novice to Expert|year=2011|edition=9|publisher=Krause Publications|isbn=978-1-4402-1396-0|pages=53–59}}</ref>