The earliest form of propellant, reputed to have been made by the Chinese or Hindus before the remote beginnings of history. First used for guns in the 13th century. It is a mechanical mixture of potassium or sodium nitrate (“saltpeter”), charcoal, and sulfur with the most common proportions being 75:15:10. For sporting arm use, various granulations are available. These are designated fg, ffg, fffg, and ffffg, largest to smallest, respectively [14].
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