[Carthego delenda est]

Many authors still like to write “the smell of cordite filled the air” in their description of a small arms exchange.

In the early 90’s I came across some old .303 that was manufactured using cordite. Surprisingly, about 2/3’s of them still fired.

[T-Bone Texan]

Question, based on your unique experience: Does cordite have a unique smell, different than modern gunpowder?

[aomagrat]

In the late ‘80’s I came across some old .303 that melted the case head to the bolt of my rifle when fired.

[backwoods-engineer]

I cringe every time I read "cordite" in a book that isn't set in the 1800's. If you're reading "Wild Beasts and Their Ways," okay, that's cordite. But if the main character is shooting a Glock 19, uh, no.