electric firing

[clum sum]

May not be a new topic but  I can't find anything on this topic. Can you and how do you fire a conon with elecrticty?

[flagman1776]

I found the book... 
I have looked through the book "Caseless Ammunition For Small Arms" by George B. Dmitrieff (1994)...  Much of it is over my head but I don't see any ready made solution though several experimental electrical ignitors are shown & explained. 

[Soot]

I guess a model rocket ignitor would work.

[Rayfan87]

The ignites do work, but you have to wrap them up so the wire doesn't touch the barrel and they are expensive. You're looking at $6 for a pack of 6 and you'll be lucky to get two shots out if each one.

[GGaskill]

One thing you can try is to make the igniters from #30 insulated wire and solder them to a couple of #18 pieces of wire.  Then insulate the joints with paint.  Using heavy lamp cord with aligator clips on the ends, connect to the igniter at one end and briefly to a 6V lantern battery at the other.  The #30 wire will glow red hot and ignite the powder.  Individual pieces of #30 won't last very long but it is cheap.

[RocklockI]

Estes igniter inside a balloon full of powder, run the wires out the muzzle ....

[Double D]

I would just just prime the vent with FFFFg and put the igniter on top of the vent on the out side the barrel taped down over teh FFFFg.

[shred]

Nichrome wire gets red hot when current is passed through it.  A little loop of that and a nicad battery or other high-current source and you're all set.  If they're reasonably well made, one of those in 'glow plug' form can last many dozens of shots.

[MR.GADGET]

I was told that remote and electric on any kind on guns, mortars, canons was in the Class III level just like cased and primmed rounds over 50 cal.
Can someone correct me or have more info on it.
 
I always though about it, and wanted to play with some but ATF told me caps, friction primers, and fuse only.

[Cat Whisperer]

That is an issue that BAFTE on which will render the correct oppinion.  I.e.: ask them, get a good answer.  AND get it in writing!

Electric ignition dates back to early to mid 1800's ....

[Cannoneer]

Search 'electronic fireworks ignition' on YouTube, and you'll find a mother lode of tutorials.

[Double D]

I was told that remote and electric on any kind on guns, mortars, canons was in the Class III level just like cased and primmed rounds over 50 cal.
Can someone correct me or have more info on it.
 
I always though about it, and wanted to play with some but ATF told me caps, friction primers, and fuse only.

Depends on which electric ignition you are talking about.  For clarity as CW said write ATF fully describing what you have  in mind and ask them.

for our purposes here on the board, any electric ignition of a pre 1899 type is acceptable for discussion.

[jamesfrom180]

http://www.cannonfuse.com/projects/7.asp

This site is listed under the cannon links already.  This method is used professionally.  This is not an endorsement of this method. 

[michaelfreeland]

A Great Topic !
HOW you do it is with an Electric Match. They are made for the fireworks industry, and you can buy them online @ eBay, or PM me and I can get you some. 'E -Matches", as they are called, are two 22ga wires that are typically 3M long, and terminate in a 4MM square x 1MM thick mount for a super-fine nichrome wire that spans a tiny fork. The end is dipped in Nitrocelluose Lacquer, then a sealant.The end is the size of a strike-anywhere match. Every major fireworks show has hundreds of these, and in bulk they are about 55 cents each. 3 Volts will fire them nicely, and they fit down a vent hole like magic.
I like them for cannon firing because they give complete control over ignition like a pull fuse igniter, but cost less, and there's no physical movement to change the point of impact with a smaller cannon. I fire mine with a modified claymore clacker, and it works like a charm. I don't have an ATF opinion letter on these, but if someone does, please post the response.

[Victor3]

 I've played around with this idea recently. Using fine (~.010" dia) copper wire, some Duco cement (nitrocellulose based glue) thinned with acetone and powdered BP, I was able to make working pseudo-Estes igniters for my Son's rockets.