Just ordered a carronade with 1.5 inch bore from Hern

[rsvkeith@yahoo.com]

Greetings all,

      I am new to this forum and need some advice. I just ordered a Hern Iron Works Carronade with a 1.5 inch bore. I plan to use it to start sailboat races here in Texas but since I live way out in the country I would also like to play alittle bit (okay, alot) with this thing and was wondering where I should turn for info on safety procedures, cleaning procedures, loads for blanks, loads for round ball loads, grape shot loads and where to order proper sized molds?

I would appreciate any and all advice!

Thanks,

Keith

[Artilleryman]

Start with looking at the post at the top of the forum.  There is a wealth of information there. 

[Double D]

You've come to the right place.  And everything you need is right here.   Go through the stickies at the top of the board and you will find most if not all your answers. 

For a book get a copy of Matt Switlik's "The more complete Cannoneer.  You will find him listed at the top of the Sticky Post Where to find Blackpowder Cannons and shooting supplies. 

Safe Loads and Cannon plans has loading info.

Your Hern Cannon is going to need a vent liner and you will find information on vents listed in Switlik's book.

Check with the board sponsors for a Mould.  You will find them here GBO Blackpowder Mortar and Cannon Board Sponsors

[rsvkeith@yahoo.com]

I know I will need to drill the vent, but I am unfamiliar with the term 'Vent Liner". Can you explain that a little further?

[Double D]

Your Hern cannon is made by casting metal around a steel liner tube that becomes the bore. You will drill a hole through the outside of the barrel into the bore  for a fuse hole or in cannon speak a vent.  If that was all you did and you fired your gun after a period of time there is a very good chance that corrosion could start in the vent where the cast metal and the liner tube met.   In the orginal guns there was an issue with erosion in the vent from firing.  To deal with the problem original guns had the vent threaded and a copper vent liner was screwed into the vent.  We can use this technology to deal with liner seam corrosion issue by making a vent liner.  Most make the the vent liner from a piece stainless.  For details on what a vent liner looks like see Switliks book.

[Cat Whisperer]

Keith -

WELCOME to the board!

You've got the process down pat - general questions, more specific questions.

Next we want to see pictures of the process you're going through and pix of SMOKE!

[Tropico]

Next we want to see pictures of the process you're going through and pix of SMOKE!

  Yes Please post pictures ! I thought about getting that gun a few times., this thread looks interesting.

[rsvkeith@yahoo.com]

Just let me say that my cannon range is a back deck overlooking a 15 acre lake with an earthen dam about 60 feet high. Distance from deck to base of Dam 600 meters. This is where I plan to shoot the carronade. I'll take lots of pics and post them when that happens!

[jeeper1]

That sounds like a safe place to shoot. And yes pictures are important