More smoke... less bang

[arrrg]

I am looking to reduce complaints when I fire my line gun with a 2.5 inch bore. Are there any loads that will give me smoke and flame with less boom. Due the the guns age I have already give up any thought of projectiles or wadding over the powder charge, but it can still be heard for great distances though.

[flagman1776]

Delete. 

[little seacoast]

If more smoke and less boom is the goal, try Pyrodex instead of black powder.

[keith44]

NOT a recommended practice with larger cannons, but perhaps loose powder without packing the charge. 

[GGaskill]

You might try less powder but adding an inert material like flour in front of the powder.  Keep in mind you are experimenting now and some experiments will not provide the desired results.  They are not failures, though, as they identify ideas that do NOT work.

[Victor3]

 I'm surprised you're getting much noise without a wad in such a large bore. ~2oz of loose FFFFg with no wad in my 3" mortar gave a satisfying "whumph" (no bang) with lots of smoke and flame. Using FG wasn't near as impressive and I could hear unburned powder raining down on the ground.

[Cannoneer]

Around 4-5 years ago I had occason to use a BP substitute called "American Pioneer", and not only did it make less of a bang, but it made even more thick white smoke than real BP.