black powder or smokeless

[Knuckles McDaniel]

ok how can you tell if a cartages gun uses  black powder or smokeless powder
If you just recieved the gun and dont have shell for it yet?
I am aquiring two weapons . a S&W model 3  and a webley  RIC

[Dick Dastardly]

Howdy Knuckles McDaniel,

Since those are not new guns, and if you aren't sure of their condition, I'd make my first stop with 'em at my friendly gunsmith.  Have 'em checked for stuff like headspace and general condition and functionability.  Whilst yer at it, ask him which powder these particular guns were made to digest and what the pressure limits are.  He will have, or get, the answers for you.

Since both of those guns were made for more than a few years they are likely to have started out back in the bp era and continued into the heathen smokeyless era.  The guns themselves may have had changes made by the manufacturer to address this.  Only with good references to serial numbers can year of manufacture be determined and from that what powder the guns were made for.

Ok, this is gettin' longer than I like, but you are part of the equation.  If you are competent to do the above determination yourself, do it.  If not, I wouldn't take anything you get on this, or any other, wire as certification of safe condition for any load.  In other words, it's your hands around the gun and your face in back of it.  Play it safe and have fun.

DD-DLoS