Gunpowder use per Cannon artillery?

In some countries, usage of artillery was hindered by the supposed "waste of gunpowder" each shot fired had. So I was wondering how much gunpowder was used per cannon shot in European countries, such as France or England. How much, for example, would a Canon de 4 de Vallière use per cannonball? thanks!:D
 
bump bump. are the specifics for gunpowder usages quite unknown?

http://www.americanrevolution.org/artillery.html

Iron guns were stronger and therefore could withstand bigger charges of gunpowder; most recommendations for the loading of iron cannon called for a powder charge of one-third the weight of the round shot for the gun. The recommendation for bronze guns was restricted to a charge of only one-quarter of the shot weight. Thus, iron guns could usually achieve a greater range than their equivalent in bronze; an iron six-pounder could fire 1500 yards, while a bronze six-pounder could do 1200 yards.


But that could still add up to a considerable amount of gunpowder burned up, even if most field guns in this period are 4 and 6 pounders.

http://xenophongroup.com/mcjoynt/yrtnarty.htm

As this notes, intended range is also a consideration - you'd use less powder for a closer range shot.
 
http://www.americanrevolution.org/artillery.html

Iron guns were stronger and therefore could withstand bigger charges of gunpowder; most recommendations for the loading of iron cannon called for a powder charge of one-third the weight of the round shot for the gun. The recommendation for bronze guns was restricted to a charge of only one-quarter of the shot weight. Thus, iron guns could usually achieve a greater range than their equivalent in bronze; an iron six-pounder could fire 1500 yards, while a bronze six-pounder could do 1200 yards.


But that could still add up to a considerable amount of gunpowder burned up, even if most field guns in this period are 4 and 6 pounders.

http://xenophongroup.com/mcjoynt/yrtnarty.htm

As this notes, intended range is also a consideration - you'd use less powder for a closer range shot.
I'll give you a Korean equivalent- the Chunja-chongtong.
Each round (arrow-shaped) was about 66 pounds, used 1 kg of gunpowder and flew 1020 yards.
Would that be considered weight-efficient? Or would the Americans be using better quality gunpowder? thanks. :D:D
 
I don't have the foggiest idea what quality gunpowder the Koreans used for comparison - or how standard gunpowder quality was there.

well, I thought giving the weight of the projectile and the distance the projectile went per weight of the gunpowder could help gauge the quality of Korean gunpowder...also, gunpowder production was monopolized and therefore very small in amounts; on each bag, the artisan would write their names on it so they could take responsibility if the gunpowder was good (or bad). I dunno if that answers your questions, but that is the basic stuff I could tell you at this moment about Korean gunpowder.
 
well, I thought giving the weight of the projectile and the distance the projectile went per weight of the gunpowder could help gauge the quality of Korean gunpowder...also, gunpowder production was monopolized and therefore very small in amounts; on each bag, the artisan would write their names on it so they could take responsibility if the gunpowder was good (or bad). I dunno if that answers your questions, but that is the basic stuff I could tell you at this moment about Korean gunpowder.

But we're comparing such different projectiles that I'm not sure what kind of comparison makes sense. Also, I can't read either of the links, so I can't comment on them.
 
It appears that the charge of powder was, for heavy cannon, one third of the weight of the cannon ball.

Other types of gun, a different proportion

Mortars , of course, the charge was varied depending on the range desired

this from A new and Universal Dictionary of the Marine, 1830. This is an American work.

Carronades were short range guns of large bore but light construction, hence the lighter charge weights.

CHARGE, (charge, Fr.) is the quantity of powder, ball, put into a gun to be fired at one time: the weight of the powder for service is usually one third the weight of the ball; but the allowance for 32 pounders is seven sixteenths of the same weight. The charge for battering guns is one-third of the weight; for case-shot one-fourth; that for carronades is usually one twelfth of the weight of the shot; the highest charge is one-eighth, and the lowest one sixteenth. See the article CANNON.
 
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