What is the most powerful caliber legally available?

[BigBlock]

I've decided I want to build a cannon. I wand to build one based on whatever the most powerful round is that I can legally shoot. What would that be? I'm guessing the .50BMG...is there anything more powerful than that?

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I think the 50 BMG is the most powerful that can be owned without any "associated paperwork"...but I could be wrong.

After thinking about it...which is more powerful, 50 BMG or 700 NE?

I know the 50 has the long range advantage...what about muzzle energy???

To the OP...I doubt you'll be interested in the 700NE, I remember reading somewhere that 1 single round costs more than a couple of boxes premium 30-06 ammo.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I "googled" it...

The 700 NE can fire a 1,000 grain bullet at 2,547 fps for 14,374 ft.lbs. of energy at the muzzle. (makes my shoulder hurt just thinking about it)

The 50 BMG can beat it by a small margin, but only with certain bullets (Barnes)

750 grain Lapua bullet: 2,618 fps and 11,419 ft.lbs.
800 grain Barnes bullet: 2,895 fps and 14,895 ft.lbs.

I got that from Wikipedia...so if its wrong, blame them.

 

[frogomatic]

950JDJ. it's a cut off, necked down 20mm case. Fires a 3600 grain projectile at 2200 fps.

Rifles weigh in at 100-110 lbs(the muzzle brake alone is 18 lbs) Ammuntion is about $30 a cartridge. And strangely enough the ATF doesn't classify it as a DD.

 

[Number 6]

950JDJ. it's a cut off, necked down 20mm case. Fires a 3600 grain projectile at 2200 fps.

Rifles weigh in at 100-110 lbs(the muzzle brake alone is 18 lbs) Ammuntion is about $30 a cartridge. And strangely enough the ATF doesn't classify it as a DD.

A picture of said rifle.

http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/2200/2289.htm

 

[Kind of Blued]

... I don't understand what I'm looking at in that picture.

Honestly. I wish they had put a 1911 or something next to it for comparison. My brain will not compute...

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Big Block,

Looks like somebody beat you to it...if that ain't considered a cannon...nothing is.

 

[bullseye308]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.950_JDJ There you go. If you need something bigger you have a problem or need to be in artillery.

based on a 20mm Vulcan case shortened and necked down to accept the .950" bullet

SSK sought and received a "Sporting Use Exception" to de-regulate the rifles

The cartridge drives its aforementioned 3,600 gr (230 g) bullet at approximately 2,200 ft/s (670 m/s). This yields a muzzle energy of 38,685 ft·lbf

The .950 JDJ produces a colossal amount of energy by comparison. In a 110 lb (50 kg) rifle, this will develop well over 200 ft·lbf (270 J) of free recoil energy if an efficient muzzle brake is not used. This is far beyond the shoulder-firing capacity of nearly all humans, even without considering the difficulty of shouldering such a heavy rifle

I think that is what you are after. Nice squirrel gun.

 

[Hoplophile]

.950? Please, give me a break, 20mm is where it's at.

http://www.anzioironworks.com/MAG-FED-20MM-RIFLE.htm

What is this .950 of which you speak?

 

[Lightninstrike]

Holy crap. From Wikipedia about this beast.

Shooting should be done with a heavy "lead sled" or similar shooting rest, and the rifle should not be held to the shoulder unless the shooter is prepared for severe recoil and possible injury. The rifle scope should have significant eye relief to avoid injuring the ocular orbit.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Depends upon how you define "power".

Probably the 8 bore if you're talking momentum. Honorable mention to "12 ga from hell", .700 NE, and .950 JDJ.

50 BMG or .577 Tyrannosaur if energy.

Aren't 20mms regulated DDs? How does one get a DD exception to own them? Just like an MG - fill out the forms?

 

[paul]

A quick search will give you info on actual connons and artillery pieces which are readily available...
.50BMG, HA...
Try a 75mm or better.
p

 

[6Covered]

Go over to Blackbeard Outdoors under the Blackpowder Section. They have a section on Blackpowder Cannons and Motars.

They are good folks and helped me a bunch on my build.

Jon

 

[CoRoMo]

120mm

 

[everallm]

To give you an idea of size for the 969 JDJ, the teeny weeny, dinky little cartridge on the right is a .50 cal........

 

[gvnwst]

They need a loaded 950 cartridge in that pic too, for compairson. If the 20mm is not a DD, then it takes the cake, but other than that, the 950 does.

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

what does one hunt with that? and does it take care of field dressing the game for ya

 

[Tirod]

I've decided I want to build a cannon.

I think you answered your question. Would a 20 pounder do?

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

theres a site out there of a guy who deer hunted witha "mountaineer cannon" not sure if he was pulling our legs but its funny

 

[Duke of Doubt]

Cannons are different from rifles.

You see that little park across from the municipal office with the Civil War cannons in it?

Uh-huh.

 

[damien]

http://www.anzioironworks.com/MAG-FED-20MM-RIFLE.htm

Where do you buy 20mm ammo? I might just buy a round or two out of pure morbid curiosity. Heck, what kind of primer does 20mm cartridges take anyway?

 

[CypherNinja]

What is the most powerful caliber legally available?

You can own anything up to, including, and beyond a replica of the Paris Gun on a Form 1 or 4. Just fill out the form and mail your check to Uncle Sam.

EDIT: State laws vary.

 

[Hoppy590]

legally? you can probibly buy a B52 and some bombs if you have the paper work and the $$$

with out any special paper work. anything up to and including a diameter of .50 cal.
( anyone ever neck down a 120mm to .50 cal )

 

[Walkalong]

4 bore

 

[GregGry]

950 JDJ, that is absolutely insane. I would pay 50$ to see someone shoot one in person.