Blackpowder Mortar and Cannon shooting FAQ's

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I am condensing some of the stickys at the top of our forum into one topic as a series of FAQ's.  Each reply will be a new FAQ.  Check here frequently for new things.

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#1 Are muzzleloading cannons classed as destructive devices
#2 Black Powder Mortar and Cannon Shooting Safety
#3 Determining Cannon Charge weights
#4 Making Cannon Cartridges
#5 Determining Windage
#6 Barrel liners
#7 Making a paper quill
#8 How to make a Powder Ladle
#9 How to make a Linstock
#10 Blank cartridges

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This from the FAQ's ATF website.

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#m28

M28) Are muzzleloading cannons classified as destructive devices? [Back]

Generally, no. Muzzleloading cannons not capable of firing fixed ammunition and manufactured in or before 1898 and replicas thereof are antiques and not subject to the provisions of either the GCA or the NFA. [26 U. S. C. 5845, 27 CFR 179.11]

PART 179--MACHINE GUNS, DESTRUCTIVE DEVICES, AND CERTAIN OTHER FIREARMS--Table of Contents
 
                         Subpart B--Definitions
 
Sec. 179.11  Meaning of terms.


    ...Antique firearm. Any firearm not designed or redesigned for using
rim fire or conventional center fire ignition with fixed ammunition and
manufactured in or before 1898 (including any matchlock, flintlock,
percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system or replica thereof,
whether actually manufactured before or after the year 1898) and also
any firearm using fixed ammunition manufactured in or before 1898, for
which ammunition is no longer manufactured in the United States and is
not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade.

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Here is a link to information we should all should be aware of before we start shooting mortars and cannons.  

These rules were created to promote safety when shooting cannons during competition. We can use the safety rules for our recreational shooting.  

These rules can also guide us in construction.

http://www.americanartillery.org/aaa/marty.html

http://www.civilwarnews.com/artillerysaftey.htm

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National Safety Rules and Procedures
for Shooting Muzzleloading Artillery, as adapted by the American Artillery Association March 2000

1. Powder charges should not exceed 2 oz. of Fg or 3 oz. FFA or Cannon Grade Goex powder per inch of bore diameter. No excessive charges. Use black powder only.

2. Prepare powder charges in advance using heavy duty aluminum foil. Baggies may be used inside the foil, taking care not to allow excess air in the baggies and removing excess plastic where unnecessary.

Artillery Safety A service of The Civil War News: New Black powder Regulations January 2003.

1. Maximum blank powder charges for properly constructed guns of 3-inch bore or larger should not exceed 2 oz. of Fg grade or 3 oz. of Cannon Grade GOEX black powder per inch of bore diameter. Maximum powder charge for bore of more than 2 inches and less than 3 inches should not exceed a total of 3 oz. Fg or 4 oz. Cannon Grade. Use reduced loads with projectiles. (See North-South Skirmish Association regulations for a guide to projectile weights and powder charges.)

2. Prepare powder charges in advance using light-weight plastic baggies with end twisted closed. Leave 2 inches of twist; cut off excess plastic. Fold twist to bag. Enclose bag in a triple layer of double-thickness heavy-duty aluminum foil (six layers total). Take care not to break plastic baggie. The bag prevents escape of powder dust and keeps granules from getting trapped under folds of aluminum to help insure complete burning. (Aluminum foil wormed out after firing often yields unburned powder although this may appear impossible to those familiar with smaller caliber guns.)


Moderator note:  These rules applies only to guns over 2 inch bore. For guns smaller than 2 inch see THE MORE COMPLETE CANNONEER compiled Agreeably to the Regulations of the War Department as published in "Artillery Drill" by George Patten, 1861 and Containing Other Observations on Antique Cannon By M.C. Switlik with selected excerts from other artillery manuals Appendix I.

Addendum For mortars the the diameter of the powder chamber is the considered the bore diameter.

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Click on this link to be taken to the post on loading  cannon cartridges

Loading Cannon Cartridges

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A review of this previous topic will provide you with the definition of windage The More Complete Cannoneer

Windage

“In preparing balls for smoothbore guns it is well to recall the standard which were once required for the difference between true bore diameter and the maximum ball diameter allowed for that caliber. The term windage is applied to this difference, and one common rule stated that windage should be one-fortieth the diameter of the bore. By this same rule, a 10 inch smooth bore would fire a ball ¼ inch smaller than the bore, and a two inch bore smooth bore would fire a ball .050 smaller than the bore.”

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Welded seam barrel liners.

Cannons made from castings should not be shot unless they have a properly installed seamless steel liner. Welded seam barrel liners have some inherent dangers you should be aware of before buying.

Click on this link to be taken to an explanation. Welded seam barrel liners[/u]

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How to make a paper quill

Rolling your own paper quills

Additional information on quills  and quill making can be found here:

more: quill

And

Paper straws for quills

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How to make a Copper powder ladle

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My somewhat improved linstock


Yet another linstock design...

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Excerpted from the Ten Basic Safety Regulations of the following organizations:

National Safety Rules and Procedures
for Shooting Muzzleloading Artillery, as adapted by the American Artillery Association March 2000

1. Powder charges should not exceed 2 oz. of Fg or 3 oz. FFA or Cannon Grade Goex powder per inch of bore diameter. No excessive charges. Use black powder only.

2. Prepare powder charges in advance using heavy duty aluminum foil. Baggies may be used inside the foil, taking care not to allow excess air in the baggies and removing excess plastic where unnecessary.

9. No wadding shall be used at any time. This includes firing blanks
While working on the update I also found that the there is a difference in the safety rules from the various Cannon shooting groups.

Artillery Safety A service of The Civil War News: New Black powder Regulations January 2003.

1. Maximum blank powder charges for properly constructed guns of 3-inch bore or larger should not exceed 2 oz. of Fg grade or 3 oz. of Cannon Grade GOEX black powder per inch of bore diameter. Maximum powder charge for bore of more than 2 inches and less than 3 inches should not exceed a total of 3 oz. Fg or 4 oz. Cannon Grade. Use reduced loads with projectiles. (See North-South Skirmish Association regulations for a guide to projectile weights and powder charges.)

2. Prepare powder charges in advance using light-weight plastic baggies with end twisted closed. Leave 2 inches of twist; cut off excess plastic. Fold twist to bag. Enclose bag in a triple layer of double-thickness heavy-duty aluminum foil (six layers total). Take care not to break plastic baggie. The bag prevents escape of powder dust and keeps granules from getting trapped under folds of aluminum to help insure complete burning. (Aluminum foil wormed out after firing often yields unburned powder although this may appear impossible to those familiar with smaller caliber guns.)

10. When blank firing no wadding should be used nor should be necessary for a realistic report.