New to cannons

[Ketro88]

Hi;
Just joined the forum after reading many posts. I just bought my first black powder cannon and want to make sure I get the right equipment and take the correct safety precautions. I've been shooting metallic cartridge rifles and handguns for many years as well as shotguns. I also reload for handgun and shotgun.

Cannon - Not sure of brand
16 " barrel
3 1/2 " at muzzle
1 1/2 " bore (at muzzle)
13 1/2 from muzzle to back(?)

Based on research so far it seems that fg powder packed in heavy duty foil, fuses, two mops, which i can probably make, a stick or two to gently pack things and measure how far they are in the barrel, a wire brush to clean and some cleaning solution and a device to ream out the fuse hole are the basics, in addition to safety equipment - glasses, gloves etc.

Initially I won't be firing projectiles so I'll work on that later.
I have watched a few how to videos on firing and safety so I think I have that down.
What other things am I missing?
Any good books?
Thanks

[Double D]

You won't find any "brand" for the gun because it is someone's home made cannon.  It is not an exact replica of any specific cannon but is a representation of a period cannon.

If you look at the Stickies at the top of the board you will find one called safe loads and constructions.  Read the entire post.
 
Minimum safety standards established by the North South Skirmish Association call for a minimum of one caliber wall thickness over the chamber.

Caliber of your gun as you have listed is 1.5 inches. Wall thickness over the chamber of your gun needs to be 1.5 inches (one caliber) or 4.5 inches in diameter over the chamber.   Your gun as described does not meet NSSA minimum safety standards.

 

[Ketro88]

Thanks for the info! I've made it almost 70 years with all of my fingers and both eyes. I'd hate to break that streak.  My wife actually likes it in the living room. The women I bought it from said her late husband shot it often - just lucky. She has a few more for sale maybe I'll check some of them out.

[Ketro88]

One more question. Do you think it would be safe to use it as a noisemaker - no projectile? It seems there would not be near the pressure without a cannonball in it.
Thanks in advance.

[Double D]

It is your call on whether to fire this gun or not.

Noise requires pressure.   Loud requires more pressure.   You barrel might be just fine and, it might not.

One thing that might help is to determine what type of steel the barrel is made of. 

The minimum standard only addresses steel in general,  not a specific steel, a minimum standard, minimum strength steel.  There are stronger alloys  that would allow thinner walls.    For example the guideline for traditional gunbarrel or ordnance steel, 4140 is that walls of the chamber should be a minimum of 2/3 the diameter of the cartridge body. 

Check with you local metal recycling yards and see if they have an XRF analyzer and ask them to test your barrel.  Look up the characteristic of the steel and determine if the yield strength is sufficient for your intended use.  While they still existed The American Artillery Association advocated a minimum yield strength of 85,000 psi for muzzle loading cannon.  Se stickies above.

[northwoodneil]

Welcome Ketro, and welcome to the world of cannons. Double D is the man when it comes to cannons and I take his opinion very seriously. Cannons are a fun hobby but every time someone welds a plug into a piece of well pipe and hurts himself or others we all look bad. Sometimes our community  may seem strict or overly cautious but we just don't ever want to see another headline reading- Man with home made cannon injures party goers.

[Ketro88]

Got my XRF scan this afternoon. Looks like mostly iron with some alloy. I know as much about metal composition as cannons Many of the links in the stickies don't work but I'm still reading.

[Double D]

There is a missing element in the read out-carbon.  What is the percentage of carbon.

I get the gist of that analyzer.  The ones I has seen used give a more specific  ASTM number; 1018, 1144, 4140?

I am not sure what this steel is. On the plus side it is steel.  You need to find some one who can read the analyzer and tell you what kind of steel is.

I did look in Google and Machinery  Handbook.  I can find specific steels and look up their composition.  But working the other way looking at compositions, not so easy for me...my last metallurgy class was in 1985. 

George  is more knowledgeable on this, he will have far better input than I have.

[Double D]

I haven't forgot you.

I found this chart.

http://www.carbidedepot.com/formulas-aisi-sae.htm

[Ketro88]

Thanks! I'll compare it to my xrf analysis.