Cannon

MaxHeadSpace · December 14, 2008, 11:20 PM

1" bore. 500 gr. Fg.

Tube is seamless, forged (drawn over mandrel) steam tubing. 3/4" wall. Breech plug is pressure fit welded, bead fillet weld, flush to touch-hole 2" deep.

1.125" dia. trunnions, jigged and welded.

Carriage is salvaged red oak from an old desk.

Wheels are some sort of hard plastic stock I found at the local marine supply. They just happen to be machine faced and uniform width with centers located for boring to fit axles.

1/2" steel axles from round stock, drilled for cotter pins.

Trunnion caps are 1/8" X 1" mild steel strap, cold hammered to shape. (That was tricky!)

Quoin rails are 1/8" angle iron.

Stainless eye screws w/ annodized washers, brass rings.

Mostly we shoot "salutes" with blanks, but it shoots 3 oz. lead "cannon ball" sinkers (From the marine supply), C-cell batteries, nuts/bolts, nails, coarse gravel, ball bearings . . . Smooth bore and not prone to bore bruises.

Andy1985 · December 15, 2008, 01:49 PM

When I was a kid in Boyscouts, one summer I took part in a mountain men experience camp. Every day we were woken up at 6 am to the sound of a small cannon just like that.

Your pics just brought back some good memories, learned to shoot blackpowder that summer. Nice cannon!

rem870hunter · December 15, 2008, 02:39 PM

nice cannon. what is the range and accuracy of the cannonball sinkers?

grymster2007 · December 15, 2008, 02:58 PM

Nice canon! Bet that puts a

on yur mug!

I think I'm going to need to make one when I retire.

MaxHeadSpace · December 15, 2008, 05:18 PM

Never have fired it for "range/accuracy." We did shoot it at a pallet we fixed up from the John Deere shop -- 2 X 4 laid like "brick work" staggered on the pallet, three deep -- About five inches when you figure for planing and finishing on a 2 X 4.

It blows a big hole, and takes a lot of the board along with it. Overlaid boards tend to break out the others around it.

Makes a big ditch in the dirt berm backstop.

But mostly it's a "salute cannon." And sits on the coffee table, because it's like decor.

rem870hunter · December 15, 2008, 07:09 PM

nice

robhof · December 19, 2008, 04:38 PM

I have a 3/4" bore cannon that my brother and I built as a scout project, many years ago. We bought the barrel from Dixie Gunworks for $15, also bought a 69cal scissors mold at same time. With 12Ga wads for sabots and measured 150gr loads, we could fire into a trashcan lid about 18" consistantly at 50yds, once we got on target. We found the 69cal ball very inaccurate without a sabot; too loose I guess. They're great fun and a hoot for holidays. The barrel is 14" and is cast iron. I'll try to post a picture when I get my camera back.

December 14, 2008, 11:20 PM	#1
MaxHeadSpace Junior member Join Date: December 8, 2008 Posts: 129	Cannon 1" bore. 500 gr. Fg. Tube is seamless, forged (drawn over mandrel) steam tubing. 3/4" wall. Breech plug is pressure fit welded, bead fillet weld, flush to touch-hole 2" deep. 1.125" dia. trunnions, jigged and welded. Carriage is salvaged red oak from an old desk. Wheels are some sort of hard plastic stock I found at the local marine supply. They just happen to be machine faced and uniform width with centers located for boring to fit axles. 1/2" steel axles from round stock, drilled for cotter pins. Trunnion caps are 1/8" X 1" mild steel strap, cold hammered to shape. (That was tricky!) Quoin rails are 1/8" angle iron. Stainless eye screws w/ annodized washers, brass rings. Mostly we shoot "salutes" with blanks, but it shoots 3 oz. lead "cannon ball" sinkers (From the marine supply), C-cell batteries, nuts/bolts, nails, coarse gravel, ball bearings . . . Smooth bore and not prone to bore bruises. Last edited by MaxHeadSpace; December 14, 2008 at 11:40 PM.

December 15, 2008, 02:39 PM	#3
rem870hunter Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 2007 Location: N.J. and trying to decide what state to move to. Posts: 973	nice cannon. what is the range and accuracy of the cannonball sinkers? __________________ BEAR Bows,Remington shotguns,Marlin rifles

December 15, 2008, 02:58 PM	#4
grymster2007 Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: In the oak studded hills near Napa Posts: 2,203	Nice canon! Bet that puts a on yur mug! I think I'm going to need to make one when I retire. __________________ grym

December 15, 2008, 07:09 PM	#6
rem870hunter Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 2007 Location: N.J. and trying to decide what state to move to. Posts: 973	nice __________________ BEAR Bows,Remington shotguns,Marlin rifles

December 19, 2008, 04:38 PM	#7
robhof Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2007 Posts: 712	robhof I have a 3/4" bore cannon that my brother and I built as a scout project, many years ago. We bought the barrel from Dixie Gunworks for $15, also bought a 69cal scissors mold at same time. With 12Ga wads for sabots and measured 150gr loads, we could fire into a trashcan lid about 18" consistantly at 50yds, once we got on target. We found the 69cal ball very inaccurate without a sabot; too loose I guess. They're great fun and a hoot for holidays. The barrel is 14" and is cast iron. I'll try to post a picture when I get my camera back.

December 15, 2008, 01:49 PM	#2
Andy1985 Member Join Date: February 4, 2006 Posts: 17	When I was a kid in Boyscouts, one summer I took part in a mountain men experience camp. Every day we were woken up at 6 am to the sound of a small cannon just like that. Your pics just brought back some good memories, learned to shoot blackpowder that summer. Nice cannon!

December 15, 2008, 05:18 PM	#5
MaxHeadSpace Junior member Join Date: December 8, 2008 Posts: 129	Never have fired it for "range/accuracy." We did shoot it at a pallet we fixed up from the John Deere shop -- 2 X 4 laid like "brick work" staggered on the pallet, three deep -- About five inches when you figure for planing and finishing on a 2 X 4. It blows a big hole, and takes a lot of the board along with it. Overlaid boards tend to break out the others around it. Makes a big ditch in the dirt berm backstop. But mostly it's a "salute cannon." And sits on the coffee table, because it's like decor.