This one might still be available Moses wink
http://www.victorianweb.org/technology/military/7.html

Re: nitro powder in brass shells I tried to find a specific historical reference, but could not, and was hoping someone with expertise in BP shotshell loading might comment.
The usual statement is that brass cases had a greater internal capacity and required very different loading components. Both Bulk and certainly Dense Smokeless would not be compressed by the over-powder wads and combustion was incomplete. There may also be a theoretical risk of detonation/'pressure excursions'.

Smokeless Powder DDT has been...uh...vigorously debated here
http://www.trapshooters.com/threads/smokeless-powder-ddt.245629/

https://sites.google.com/a/damascusknowledge.com/www/home