BUILDING THE CANNON ..............

Muzzle and breech loading black powder firearms. Military and sporting.
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Niner
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Re: BUILDING THE CANNON ..............

Post by Niner » Thu Jun 18, 2015 5:33 pm

Not as much bang as I would have expected and not any recoil to speak of.....but you are just shooting a wad and no ball ...right?
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Re: BUILDING THE CANNON ..............

Post by DuncaninFrance » Fri Jun 19, 2015 2:52 am

Niner wrote:Not as much bang as I would have expected and not any recoil to speak of.....but you are just shooting a wad and no ball ...right?
Right, 55 grains of ffg and 2 felt wads. I haven't been able to do any casting yet because of my right arm being so unsteady. :evil:
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Need twice the powder to get the same report with blanks

Post by NuJudge » Sun Jun 21, 2015 9:58 am

I've visited Fort Mackinac here in Michigan, and watched them fire the canon there. The gunners there use a small charge of powder for the noon gun. They tell visitors that when firing blanks, they would have to use twice as much powder to get the same report as a normal charge of powder and ball. I would guess it would be the same for scaled down guns.

I was surprised you did not include an elevation mechanism.

Nice job.
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Re: BUILDING THE CANNON ..............

Post by Niner » Sun Jun 21, 2015 10:56 am

NuJudge, they used the wedge... Don't think there were any elevating screws on this model gun. They were line of sight and close range. Not much need to correct the elevation. They used mortars for high angle needs.
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A french 16 pounder of about the same time as the model Duncan made.
A french 16 pounder of about the same time as the model Duncan made.
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Re: BUILDING THE CANNON ..............

Post by DuncaninFrance » Sun Jun 21, 2015 11:30 am

Exactly right Robert. The screw elevation system on cannon probably started with Field Guns and moved to ship weapons once they became rifled..
Duncan

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Re: BUILDING THE CANNON ..............

Post by Niner » Sun Jun 21, 2015 12:41 pm

On a ship at sea in a gun battle the pitch and yaw of the ship caused by the waves probably had more to do with elevation than any other factor anyway... I'd imagine.
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Re: BUILDING THE CANNON ..............

Post by DuncaninFrance » Thu Jun 25, 2015 3:29 pm

I found this idea on YouTube, posted by a Frenchman and thought it was rather good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOPRGxL-MvM
Image
Image
Image

The board is 80cm long, 17.1cm wide and 16mm thick. The guides are 10mm thick and the outer edges 12cm apart.
I am hoping to be able to cast some .69 ball tomorrow and fire some test shots out into the Gironde to see how far they travel................ :roll: :roll: :roll:
Duncan

What contemptible scoundrel has stolen the cork to my lunch? -- W.C. Fields
"Many of those who enjoy freedom know little of its price."
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Re: BUILDING THE CANNON ..............

Post by Niner » Thu Jun 25, 2015 4:54 pm

The only way to know what kind of recoil you are going to get is to fire the cast ball and see. I'll be interested in reading the results.
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Re: BUILDING THE CANNON ..............

Post by Niner Delta » Thu Jun 25, 2015 5:01 pm

Looks like it will be fun, we'll need some VIDEO............ :mrgreen:
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Re: BUILDING THE CANNON ..............

Post by joseyclosey » Fri Jun 26, 2015 3:33 am

A couple of the cannoneers at my club use a similar set up Duncan, they work great.

Joe
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