Got a Real-World Weapon or Armor Question? Mk. IX

[Autolykos]

Wouldn't a AK-47 foul up if fired with black powder? Going to a smokeless powder is a non-trivial step that requires a fair bit of chemistry to do it right.

While nitrocellulose is definitely the better option for smokeless powder, for example a mix of powdered sugar and sodium (per-)chlorate, which can be made from table salt once you have electricity, would probably work as well. Still, pretty hard to discover by accident - but there are plenty other alternatives as well, and you only need to find one of them.

I was serious. I had sworn I've heard that somewhere.

I'm pretty sure it was in Rome:TotalWar, where this is one of the methods to fight elephants. I prefer massed archers and artillery because they are also useful for lots of other purposes, but the pigs are an option.