Author Topic: Billiard Ball Ammo (Read 1889 times)

AnarchyPrep · « **on:** October 22, 2009, 11:30:29 AM »

I have a BP cannon that is just over 2.25 inch bore. Billiard balls are 2.25 inch diameter. Has anyone ever used a billiard ball? At 5.5 ounces, they may be kinda light but wondered if anyone had any experience with them.

RocklockI · « **Reply #1 on:** October 22, 2009, 12:17:00 PM »

They work just fine

RocklockI · « **Reply #2 on:** October 23, 2009, 09:03:58 AM »

I have taken over the bronze foundry computer while Mike and Gary are out getting last minute supplies. I personally witnessed Gary's billiard ball mortar by SBR put a ball out to 450 yards with only two oz. of FFg. They seem to drift a lot less than golf balls too, another benefit. They are very uniform in size too, given their primary purpose, just the quality we need when we use them as munitions.

They are Excellent Projectiles and inexpensive if you can find them used.

Tracy

AnarchyPrep · « **Reply #3 on:** October 23, 2009, 10:25:15 AM »

Thanks a bunch for the feedback. My little mountain howitzer will be more fun than shooting racquet balls now I think. It was the only other 2.25 in ball I found. I will need to cut back on the powder to find the appropriate charge to use but hoping to drive them pretty far out on the lake front I live on. I float targets on the water with an anchor weight to hold them steady. It could get expensive in that you dont get to use them again!

intoodeep · « **Reply #4 on:** October 24, 2009, 04:40:14 AM »

AnarchyPrep,

With a 2.25" bore it sounds like you have a 1/2 scale Mt. Howitzer. Did you build it? Do you have any photos to share? I'm sure evryone would enjoy seeing it.

AnarchyPrep · « **Reply #5 on:** October 26, 2009, 04:19:31 AM »

I will try and get a picture uploaded but dont have any right now. It is home made 1/2 scale. Tube is high tensile pipe with pinned and welded end cap and welded on a trailer hitch ball for cascabel. My own interpretation of what the carriage would look like from pictures. Wall thickness on the tube is 1 inch. Pretty stout and have tested with 1/2 pound 1F with juice can filled with concrete but dont wont to use that for targets. Billiard balls sound just about perfect. Searching for a full scale Mountain Howitzer for reenactment use. Any leads appreciated.

Double D · « **Reply #6 on:** October 26, 2009, 09:05:17 AM »

Quote from: AnarchyPrep on October 26, 2009, 04:19:31 AM

Tube is high tensile pipe with pinned and welded end cap and welded on a trailer hitch ball for cascabel. but dont wont to use that for targets. Billiard balls sound just about perfect. Searching for a full scale Mountain Howitzer for reenactment use. Any leads appreciated.

Alarm Bells go off!!!!

Weld seam tubing is not recommend for cannon barrels, but can be used.

Pipe is never recommend for cannons barrels.

Maximum safe load for 2.25 inch bore is 4.50 grains of Fg. 8 oz is major overload.

AnarchyPrep · « **Reply #7 on:** October 26, 2009, 11:52:18 AM »

I tend to agree on your alarm. My standard load is 3-4 oz at present. A little more for noise loads but not a lot more. I know I pushed it pretty well on the proof load but I had to know whether it would hold up or not. I really do appreciate the critiques tho cause I am not even close to an expert on these things. I have had many Strong type signal cannon in 4, 8 and 10 gauge and have a couple of custom 10 gauge cannon but really wanted a muzzle loader and now a full sized one. Thanks for the heads up.

rio grande · « **Reply #8 on:** October 26, 2009, 02:17:26 PM »

They work real good...
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/weird-news/article_eb34e78a-b1e0-11de-87e8-001cc4c002e0.html

Standing on her roof, a 27-year-old woman thwarted an attempted burglary last week when she pelted two men at the front of her home with billiard balls.

"I made it to the back door, climbed a tree and onto the roof," Paula Ollie said. "I went to the front of the house and yelled 'Death from above' and started throwing the pool (table) balls."

Double D · « **Reply #9 on:** October 26, 2009, 04:39:04 PM »

Quote from: AnarchyPrep on October 26, 2009, 11:52:18 AM

I know I pushed it pretty well on the proof load but I had to know whether it would hold up or not.

How did you determine that 8 oz. was the correct load for proof? Proof loads usually are not 200%. For rifle cartridges proof loads are only 125%.

AnarchyPrep · « **Reply #10 on:** October 27, 2009, 03:27:12 AM »

I know nothing about the technical aspects of "proofing" and I would be the first to admit it. My proof is to more than double what I think is going to be my standard load. I started out with small amounts and gradually increased to get the effect I wanted and when I was satisfied and convinced that the tube was holding up, I then doubled that amount for a test knowing that I would not get to that level again. I also used a quite heavy juice can with concrete also knowing I would not be firing something that heavy again. I guess I provided some proof for myself to gain a little comfort with the tube's strength. Not a very technically scientific process but I am now convinced that the tube is sound for what I want it to do. I work for an offshore drilling company and the tube is a section of pretty stout drilling pipe. The cap was fabricated by a pretty expert company welder who pinned it first. He shrink fitted the band overlap of the cap and then pinned and welded. I know its a gamble on seat of the pants technical qualifications but I think I took some pretty good precautions. Safety is very important in my Company and I personally take it seriously. I am not much of a risk taker and this may be the riskiest thing I have done to date. Next one is full sized and from a Company with a good history of success.

armorer77 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 27, 2009, 04:26:13 AM »

I you want to see crazy proof loads check out my " How to blow up a cannon " thread . Armorer77

Double D · « **Reply #12 on:** October 27, 2009, 05:03:09 AM »

Drill stem using isn't pipe at all, but seamless tubing and generally of the carbon steel such as 4140 or 4130. That is gun barrel classes of steels. Drill pipe may or may not be be seamless.

Welders can be the best in the world in their particular field, but know nothing about some other field of welding. Oilfield welders might have the skills to weld aircraft frames but not the knowledge specific to that field.

Of the different types of welding done, I would say the oildfield or pipeline welder would have to the best knowledge for what we are doing if you applied the correct engineering critera. Go to the Safe loads and cannons plans sticky at the top of our board and look for a link to the N-SSA safety rules, They have the criteria for minumum stnadards for cannons contruction. I suspect you are within the those guidlines, but you should check.

If you have used those carbon steel alloy's and the welder has followed the proper preheat process, before welding, then I don't think you double load hurt any thing. I would keep an eye on your gun for signs of damage for the overload.

How about posting some pictures

AnarchyPrep · « **Reply #13 on:** October 27, 2009, 05:41:53 AM »

Thanks Double D. I joined this site to learn more about BP cannons and I certainly have. I am a rookie at best and the info gained has already stopped me from some things I was looking at doing. I have read the NSSA spec requirements and will heartily agree that my cannon is probably not "up to spec" but its a lot better than what I was going to do and what some amateur builders I've seen have done. Even some of the small (1 in bore) cannon and golf ball cannon I see for sale arent ones that I am going to trust. I inspect my little cannon each time I use it and I know that really isnt enough. Real comfort would only come with some inspection equipment we have but I dont have access to. I really admire all the knowledge on here but suspect that you only touch the surface of the BP cannon shooters at large. Most are probably just lucky they havent done themselves serious harm yet. All this is why my next cannon will be from a reputable builder that knows what they are doing. $5-8,000 is a lot for someone like me to spend on a barrel but I want to do more than just 4th of July shoots at my lake front. I am already stressed about the cost of a replica carriage. I will post pictures of my cannons when I take some! Pictures and videos have not been on my radar scope, but maybe this weekend I'll get some. Thanks again for yours and all the other responses. Great to know there is a lot of expertise out there to help out us rookies! (Hard to call yourself a rookie at my age, but a man has to know his limitations!)

Double D · « **Reply #14 on:** October 27, 2009, 07:26:05 AM »

Quote from: AnarchyPrep on October 27, 2009, 05:41:53 AM

I really admire all the knowledge on here but suspect that you only touch the surface of the BP cannon shooters at large. Most are probably just lucky they havent done themselves serious harm yet.

This statement establishes that you are very intilligent!!!

Double D · « **Reply #15 on:** October 27, 2009, 07:46:41 AM »

Unless you realy need a full size gun you do not need to spend that much money. Go to our sponsors websites and look at what they have to offer. Some pretty nice shooting cannons there to cover the full range of wallet depth

Then look at the posts here on the board of pictures of the cannons those folks build. Also look at the cannons some of the folks have built. I think you can find a cannon to meet your wants and needs pretty reasonable. Here is a link to the Montana cannon shot we held this year. http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,159589.420.html This link will tak you to page 15 where the pictures section start. You will see a wide variety of cannons the fellows brought to the shoot. Keep in mind every single one of these cannons is 1/2 scale or maller...every one.

I currently have 5 cannons, soon to be 6 and maybe 7.

Three I built myself, one was made by a friend in South Africa. One was made by sponsor Dominick Carpenter. I have one in process at Brooks USA, that is from the preliminary pictures absoulutely awesome. Number 7 will be a golf ball mortar for me built by me.

AnarchyPrep · « **Reply #16 on:** October 27, 2009, 09:49:21 AM »

I am no where near as talented as ya'll on this board. I was over my head with the one I built. I really want to join the artillery unit of the local reenactment group and that requires some authenticity on a full scale level. They will not accept the 1/2 scale cannon. The cannon also have to meet the NSSA specs as I understand it. Locals have some really nice napoleons and parrots way out of my league both on price and weight. I'm really interested in a full scale mountain howitzer. Big enough but not nearly as heavy as the biguns. There are even a couple of actual CW pieces. I really appreciate all the counsel and advice, it really helps a newby like me.

Double D · « **Reply #17 on:** October 27, 2009, 12:38:43 PM »

I think we have a few folks that are involved in real gun shooting here that supply you with additioal info also.

dominick · « **Reply #18 on:** October 27, 2009, 02:12:01 PM »

Quote from: AnarchyPrep on October 26, 2009, 04:19:31 AM

... Wall thickness on the tube is 1 inch. ...

A tube with that thick a wall is either Hot Formed Seamless or Cold Drawn Seamless.

AnarchyPrep · « **Reply #19 on:** October 28, 2009, 03:00:21 AM »

Hi Dom, does that bode well or bad? I dont know if thats a good thing or a bad thing?

Double D · « **Reply #20 on:** October 28, 2009, 03:26:24 AM »

It's excellent, welded seam tube can be a long term ticking time bomb.

little seacoast · « **Reply #21 on:** October 28, 2009, 04:50:20 AM »

Hi Anarchy, In regards to a full sized cannon, I suspect it's more fun to know someone that owns one than to own it yourself. I build telescopes for myself and others and there is a definate threshold in size where it becomes a real commitment in effort, time, and money. I have settled on a 15" aperature (bore)
scope as my largest although I've made them to 30". It's easy to get more than you have space to store, time to transport and set up, and energy to deal with. Any folks in your area willing to accept new crew members? Regards, LS

AnarchyPrep · « **Reply #22 on:** October 28, 2009, 05:48:21 AM »

Thanks Little Seacoast, I am trying to line up a slot on a 10lb Parrot right now but there is a waiting list. The unit has no Mountain Howitzers so thats kinda what I thought I could acquire and add to their representative artillery.

RocklockI · « **Reply #23 on:** October 28, 2009, 06:21:26 AM »

maybe if you get MH you can scraf some crew thats waiting on the parrottwaiting list ?

little seacoast does have a point though twice ths size on a barrel 8 times the weight .

i kinda was wishin i could have bought a bigger parrott . till it arrived barrel 58 pounds total weight 140 .

it;s the biggest thing i'd ever want to laod and set up alone

then theres all the 'stuff' that goes with it .

i owned a 6 inch relector tele once .....it was all fun except for getting it in and out of the house .

we did see shoemaker-levy commets hits on jupiter . your mirrors are 15"dia !! , your cannons are full scale !

i admire your attitude

sounds like you know what you are getting into .

gary