Cannons
- Thread starter SquirrelNuts
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AechKay
Member
Only prey bitch about size 
shooting time
Member
I found a piece of steel pipe about 28" long with a bore a little bigger than a golf ball with about 1 1/2 walls and made a cannon out of it.I found some steel wheels and welded a spindle from a truck axle on the rear drilled a fuse hole.I use a 35mm film cannister full of black powder for a charge and shoot golf balls and anything else i can stuff in it.It makes as much noise as a big cannon.I sometimes shoot golf balls onto the golf course across the road from me it makes me laugh to think of what the golfers must think when they find a charred ball on the course!
Camp David
member
SquirrelNuts said:
Minor Point: Cannon is a plural noun: No "s" necessary to form plural. Cannon is both singular and plural!
Major Point: Several manufacturers build and sell full-scale repro cannon for reenactors. Try=>
http://www.cannonltd.com/
http://www.buytheworld.com/cat0-54-219.html
http://www.brasswithclass.com/
Regs on Cannon: You bet! Check local ordinances... I doubt your neighbors will appreciate waking them up with concussion waves on windows!
Favorite Cannon Story: Just before driving to CW reenactment near Antietam, MD, buddy in cavalry calls me up wanting to know if I can take his 12 pd Napolean to Living History event since he was sick... OK... four of us manhandle cannon into back of my pickup truck, cover it with tarp and head out to event... Stop at rest area on way for a Coke... police blue lights in back... policeman walks up to window and wants to know what I have under tarp... I tell him: "12lb Napolean Cannon" and he says "Don't be a smartass, what you got?" After about 5 minutes explanation I am on my way!
Javelin Man
Member
ordnance
My neighbor builds cannon and carriages. He can be reached at www.gillmorordnance.com We have done many reenactments together and he builds cannon for hollywood producers. His field howitzers are used in Tom Cruise's movie, The Last Samurai. Lots of hoops to jump through to ship them to New Zealand!
I've read several reports of people building a cannon with a pipe and welding a plate of steel on the back. The reason I read these reports is because Murphy's law takes over and kills the person shooting it. One time, the shooter ran across the street and hid, but the plate still bounced across the street and found him. Another shooter got it about the same way. In both cases, the plate was welded on pretty well, but it wasn't enough.
A 1/4 pound of powder makes a good boom. We usually use 6 ounces with the occasional double charge. A little steel wool after the charge makes a great night firing! Platinum foil produces a strange red cloud at night. A small round of flour after the charge makes a sharper report. No need to pound the powder charge in as it will burst the bag with the possibility of the powder finding a hot spark.
Be careful.
My neighbor builds cannon and carriages. He can be reached at www.gillmorordnance.com We have done many reenactments together and he builds cannon for hollywood producers. His field howitzers are used in Tom Cruise's movie, The Last Samurai. Lots of hoops to jump through to ship them to New Zealand!
I've read several reports of people building a cannon with a pipe and welding a plate of steel on the back. The reason I read these reports is because Murphy's law takes over and kills the person shooting it. One time, the shooter ran across the street and hid, but the plate still bounced across the street and found him. Another shooter got it about the same way. In both cases, the plate was welded on pretty well, but it wasn't enough.
A 1/4 pound of powder makes a good boom. We usually use 6 ounces with the occasional double charge. A little steel wool after the charge makes a great night firing! Platinum foil produces a strange red cloud at night. A small round of flour after the charge makes a sharper report. No need to pound the powder charge in as it will burst the bag with the possibility of the powder finding a hot spark.
Be careful.
Randy in Arizona
Member
Javelin Man said:
Sounds expensive! Where do you get it & what does it cost?
Javelin Man
Member
foil
Bob brought it back from New Zealand after shooting The Last Samurai. I thought it was unusual, but didn't ask where the FX guys got it.
Bob brought it back from New Zealand after shooting The Last Samurai. I thought it was unusual, but didn't ask where the FX guys got it.
Gordy Wesen
Member
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2003
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I like the ones that shoot golf balls.
EddieCoyle
Member
Do not use cast iron pipe!
I hate to be the turd in the punchbowl but....
When I was a little kid, a guy down the street had a cannon made out of cast iron pipe. He and his family had just moved into the neighborhood and he had a son a couple of years younger than me. He was firing the cannon on the 4th of July in 1969 or 1970. I wanted to go down and watch but my father wouldn't let me; he said it was too dangerous. After a couple of shots, we heard the sirens. The thing blew up and killed his son. Bad times. Very bad times.
Know your metallurgy before you attempt to build and fire your own cannon.
I hate to be the turd in the punchbowl but....
When I was a little kid, a guy down the street had a cannon made out of cast iron pipe. He and his family had just moved into the neighborhood and he had a son a couple of years younger than me. He was firing the cannon on the 4th of July in 1969 or 1970. I wanted to go down and watch but my father wouldn't let me; he said it was too dangerous. After a couple of shots, we heard the sirens. The thing blew up and killed his son. Bad times. Very bad times.
Know your metallurgy before you attempt to build and fire your own cannon.
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