Newby needs advice !!

[soimcrazy]

I have just ordered my first cannon- http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=010&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=200052910498&rd=1&rd=1
its small, but its a start.
A co-worker has a similar size cannon that he built himself. He uses it on New Years and July 4th to make noise. He said that he uses FFF powder and recommeded I use the same. I cant remember how much powder he said he uses, but he packs it tight and uses some toilet paper for wadding. He said that it is important to have it tight.

--my questions: 
All I want to do is make noise and startle the neighbors . I bought a can of the FFF Goex powder...is that powder OK?
How much should I use?  I dont have any means of measuring the weight/grains, so I will have to use something like a tablespoon or measuring cup.
I wont point the cannon directly at any houses, but at what elevation should I point the cannon so to cause the most percussion and rumbling??

                                    THANKS..and happy holidays !!

[GGaskill]

This cannon is made from 4140 hex stock steel.This is a salute cannon great for parties and holidays.It is extremely loud.It is 11 1/2 inch long,1 3/4 inch wide,9 1/2 inch chamber with a 3/4 inch bore.

His description leaves one wondering what exactly the barrel dimensions are.  Is the 9 a typo?  Or does he mean the tube is 9.5" long with a .75" bore?  Is the 1.75" width of the barrel or the whole thing, carriage included?  A .75" bore should have a 2.25" outside diameter chamber since one can never be sure that a device like this will never be fired with a projectile, notwithstanding eBay's silly rules.

So for us to give useful help, we need to know the barrel diameter and the bore diameter.

I consider FFFg powder to be too fine; FFg, or better Fg, would be my recommendation.  Look in the stickies at the top of the forum for loading procedures.  The charge should be firmly rammed but not more than once and not pounded tight.  I wouldn't use more than one square of dry TP as a wad.  If you use the recommended aluminum foil powder bag, you really don't need a wad.

Also, since you don't say where you live, check the local laws before getting too carried away with this.  The socialist republic of Massachusetts has strict rules about firing a cannon if you live in that benighted state.

[soimcrazy]

I think he means the whole cannon is 11.5" and the bore is 9.5" deep.
I'm located in Virginia. I'm really not sure what the law is but I'll only fire this off once and then put it away.

As far as the powder. How much FFF should I use?

[Rickk]

I live in Massachusetts.

Yup, the Fire Marshall decided to regulate cannons, but no one ever defined what a cannon is.

A muzzleloading shotgun is not a cannon, so they do not regulate those. .75 sounds about like 12-ish gauge to me.

[jeeper1]

I'll only fire this off once and then put it away.

Make sure you clean it real well first, BP is very corrosive.

[GGaskill]

As far as the powder. How much FFF should I use?

Use FFFg for blank loads ONLY!  I am a believer in "square" charges, meaning a 3/4" bore should have a charge that is 3/4" long.  I don't know what that means in grains weight so it would be a good idea for you to find a clear pill bottle 3/4" in inside diameter and pour enough FFFg into in to be 3/4" deep, and then weigh it and tell us how much it weighs.

[Artilleryman]

Soimcrazy, I noticed that you said that you don't have any means to weigh your powder.  If you are going to be in this hobby you should invest in a scale, or at least be able to borrow one so that you know exactly what type of charge you have.

[soimcrazy]

what kind of scale would be sufficiant?

[jeeper1]

I use a magnetically dampened scale from my reloading equipment.
If you don't reload, do you know someone who does? Maybe they could help you make a scoop to hold a specific amount of BP then you wouldn't need a scale.
I vaguely remember reading some time back about making a scoop out of a piece of copper tubing and an endcap.
Or you could get a cheap scale such as this http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=712103 or this http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=179980
 realizing it will take more than one measured load of the scale to get what you want for a single shooting load.
FWIW, a pound of powder is 7000 grains of weight and a one ounce charge is 437.5 grains.

[GGaskill]

You can safely load black powder with a volumetric measure because a little variation is not going to make much difference, unlike an extra grain of powder in a maximum smokeless cartridge load.  But you do need a scale to calibrate your volume measures.  A good choice, if you can find one, is a used three beam balance from a school chem lab.  They are calibrated down to tenths of a gram (1.543 grains) which is enough precision for measuring black powder cannon charges, and will weigh over a pound, which is lots more than you need but you will find a use for it.  You will have to convert back and forth from metric measurements, though.



Here is one place to buy them.

Here is a cheaper source.  This one has the extra weights that allows weighing up to 2.6 kg.

[Artilleryman]

I use the type described by GGaskill. 

[Cat Whisperer]

soimcrazy -

WELCOME to the forum! 

Scale - recommend something that is a) accurate and b) repeatable.

I have both the triple beam balance and the reloading scale by Lyman.  (There are other good brands as Ohaus, RCBS and others).  Ebay lists them every day.

You might want to involve your neighbors by inviting them to the celebration - not fun to have a neighbor PO'd at you.

I agree with George - FFFg is a mite fast, try FFg or Fg with that long a barrel - keep it safe.  (Although IF the inside is designed right, 4140 is good metal to use.)

Where in VA?  I'm in Pulaski and there are other folks at the other end of the state and in NC.

[soimcrazy]

Where in VA?  I'm in Pulaski and there are other folks at the other end of the state and in NC.

I'm just outside of Petersburg, in Dinwiddie.

[Cat Whisperer]

Hmmm.  We get down to Ft Lee every once in a while ....