Author Topic: Local Cannon News (Read 1861 times)

rifleshooter2 · « **on:** September 04, 2009, 01:56:43 AM »

This guy really needs some safety lessons. Also there is no way this cannon shot an 8 pound ball. The balls they showed in the video were only about 2 inches in diameter.

http://kdka.com/local/cannon.damages.home.2.1162346.html

Andy

dan610324 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 04, 2009, 05:53:03 AM »

it sure was the smallest 8 pdr I ever seen
but any way this sort of news gives the hobby a bad reputation

carronader · « **Reply #2 on:** September 04, 2009, 10:27:08 AM »

By no means am I attempting to defend this lunatic...........but don't you see how the media hype this into almost a murder attempt . it goes from cannon ball to shell from the police, this is how UK has systematically taken away the rights of shooters and attacked fieldsports of all descriptions.This man needed educated perhaps something you guys should be discussing.

dan610324 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 04, 2009, 10:56:07 AM »

it aint only uk that have hard restrictions
here in sweden its illegal to fire a live round with a cannon
only blanks are alloved

RocklockI · « **Reply #4 on:** September 04, 2009, 01:57:40 PM »

another story said 2lbs .

looks like the good ol days are closing in ,,,,a guy cant even fire off a ball down his own street ......anymore

Cannoneer · « **Reply #5 on:** September 05, 2009, 01:37:24 AM »

Gump-like!

JeffG · « **Reply #6 on:** September 05, 2009, 01:52:01 AM »

Another report of the same incident, now you can see the mistake, a ricochet....it wasn't a suburban neighborhood. Safety first!!

Pa. man fires cannon, hits neighbor's house

Fri Sep 4, 9:51 pm ET
UNIONTOWN, Pa. – A Pennsylvania history buff who recreates firearms from old wars accidentally fired a 2-pound cannonball through the wall of his neighbor's home. William Maser, 54, fired a cannonball Wednesday evening outside his home in Georges Township that ricocheted and hit a house 400 yards away. The cannonball, about two inches in diameter, smashed through a window and a wall before landing in a closet. Authorities said nobody was hurt.

State police charged Maser with reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.

No one answered the phone Friday at Maser's home. He told WPXI-TV recreating 19th century cannons is a longtime hobby. He said he is sorry and he will stop shooting them on his property, about 35 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

Cannoneer · « **Reply #7 on:** September 05, 2009, 05:47:20 PM »

Here's a video of the story. That barrel seems thin, front heavy, and also looks like its made of cast iron; I hope its got a DOM steel liner.

Pennsylvania Panic

subdjoe · « **Reply #8 on:** September 06, 2009, 07:07:19 AM »

And yet another story about it:

http://www.wpxi.com/video/20716250/index.html?taf=burg

dynomike · « **Reply #9 on:** September 06, 2009, 07:20:34 AM »

I wonder what the ball was made of? I dont think lead will riochet that far.

GGaskill · « **Reply #10 on:** September 06, 2009, 08:17:38 AM »

Actually, lead ricochets very well since it is slippery and only slightly deforms when it gets a glancing blow. I have seen lead shot from my rifled gun bounce off the surface two or three times on its way to 2000 yards.

thelionspaw · « **Reply #11 on:** September 06, 2009, 08:44:20 AM »

01). It wasn't, "Criminal Mischief"; because there wasn't any intent.

02). "Disorderly Conduct" is about as valid in this case as "Felonious Mopery" would be.

03). There is no more validity in confiscating spare shot, than there would be in matches.

04). If that's a "suburban neighborhood", then my dead-end dirt road is a highway.

05). My 2.5 is 3 lbs lead and 2 lbs iron.

rc

Victor3 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 06, 2009, 11:50:28 PM »

He said he was sorry. Aint that enough?

KABAR2 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 07, 2009, 05:17:05 AM »

Quote from: thelionspaw on September 06, 2009, 08:44:20 AM

01). It wasn't, "Criminal Mischief"; because there wasn't any intent.

02). "Disorderly Conduct" is about as valid in this case as "Felonious Mopery" would be.

03). There is no more validity in confiscating spare shot, than there would be in matches.

04). If that's a "suburban neighborhood", then my dead-end dirt road is a highway.

05). My 2.5 is 3 lbs lead and 2 lbs iron.

rc

Well this looks like they need to find something to charge him with, after all you didn't want them wasting their

Precious time and the tax payers money investigating this did you? It may also depend on how defensive or

argumentative he may have been with them, LEO's can come down hard on people with an attitude. Is is

right? No but they got the big stick. confiscating the lead balls could be construed as preserving evidence.

He should be glad he didn't live in New Jersey!

As far as this guy being a civil war buff...... the cannon looks more 18th than 19 th Century, the long arms

displayed were earlier, I think the news media need a tag line to begin with and named him a Civil War buff,

because they didn't know any better, as far as accuracy on the ball weight, that is typical, I have heard reports

in the past that give a persons age and it could range from 25 to 40 from three different reports. I trust the media

less than I trust what I read on some internet sites and you know how much trust you should have there.

Ex 49'er · « **Reply #14 on:** September 07, 2009, 06:47:15 AM »

Unfortunately those of us who are safe will be lumped into the same category with oafs like this by the uninformed media: "It's those cannon shooting nuts, again."

Double D · « **Reply #15 on:** September 07, 2009, 07:26:31 AM »

It's all about responsibility. If you discharge a cannon you are responsible for the results of that action...

That is the point I am trying to make everytime I take someone to task for firing what ever cannon or mortar they have so what ever projectile they are shooting goes out of sight. It's one of the cardinal rules of shooting. Know your backstop! What is in the trees or brush you are shooting into, is your projectile going over the hill and what is over that hill? Is there something down down range that can make your projectile go in a direction that is unsafe? You are responsible. Don't look for excuses if some is injured or killed or property is damaged.

thelionspaw · « **Reply #16 on:** September 07, 2009, 07:36:35 AM »

The only good charge is "Reckless Endangerment". They go for quantity; not quality. It's an, "end of the month" numbers game.

The evidence is the spent round. Unspent rounds are as relevant as a bar of soap. That's why I wrote what I did about his matches.

Here's the game plan: Listen fella; you plead to Reckless Endangerment and we'll drop the other two charges.

That makes it quick and easy.

rc

Double D · « **Reply #17 on:** September 07, 2009, 08:37:33 AM »

Depends what the other rounds were or what the Cops thought they were. A good investigator would have taken them for analysis.

But the real question why was he shooting in a direction that would result in an a riochet hitting the neighbors house, sounds a bit negligent to me. The Police work on probable cause, the Prosecuting attorney will decide what if any charges will be filed. Most likely none. The attorney's for his homeowners insurance will get a work out.

thelionspaw · « **Reply #18 on:** September 07, 2009, 09:07:21 AM »

From the photograph, the confiscated plain metal spheres, were plain metal spheres. A good investigator does not dress a case with irrelevant fluff because during a trial, that investigator can/would be made to look like an amateur and anything else that was presented, would/could be put in doubt in the mind of a juror. "Calhoun The Lawyer" could get him off.

Jurors don't want to be there and jurors get bored and want to get home to watch TV; so never make them feel that you are wasting their time with alot of crappola that just gets "thrown out".

Trust me!

rc

subdjoe · « **Reply #19 on:** September 07, 2009, 09:16:49 AM »

Kind of hard to know just what a riochet will decide to do. Look at that vid of the guy shooting his 50 BMG and having it come back and smack him on his ear muffs. I have a small chunk of metal in my left index finger from at an indoor range. Caught some splater from a guy shooting at the other end of the line.

KABAR2 · « **Reply #20 on:** September 07, 2009, 05:31:09 PM »

Unfortunately areas that would be considered "country" are building up, what we don't know is how long the neighbor's house has been there...
he may have been fine shooting where he was for years and a ricochet may never have bothered anyone, but the years pass and houses go up
he shoots and has the responsibility of unintended consequences.

We only have what the reporters give and a little bit from the LEO's we don't have the full picture, we do not know the terrian around his house, how far away the
neighbors house was, I am not defending his actions, I am saying we are making judgments without the full story. He may have been the safest fellow in the world
but a chunk of rock in the impact zone changed all that.

The Log Cabin Shop had a small cannon out in front of the store, when things were slow they would go out and shoot it across a farm field into a wooded berm
one day a little old lady walks into the store and drops a blackened concrete filled juice can on the counter and says " I was working in my garden yesterday and this
landed about 3 feet from me" she lived over a mile from the wooded berm. That was the end of shooting the cannon when things were slow. Thankfully no harm done.

the best that can be learned from these happenings is BE SURE OF YOUR BACK STOP and try to eliminate anything that might cause a ricochet.

thelionspaw · « **Reply #21 on:** September 08, 2009, 01:24:53 AM »

I've been thinking about launching music roll "toot-da-do-taas" (terlit paper tubes), cut to 2" and filled with plaster of paris as a safer bet against ricochet with my golf ball cannons. It's bio degradable (I'm a Tree-Hugger-Conservationist-Socialist-Whatever)

and they won't rebound like conventional alternatives. $:-\$

Any ideas (and be polite)?

n.b. I also own 2 Jap cars

rc

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #22 on:** September 08, 2009, 03:07:35 AM »

Quote from: thelionspaw on September 08, 2009, 01:24:53 AM

I've been thinking about launching music roll "toot-da-do-taas" (terlit paper tubes), cut to 2" and filled with plaster of paris as a safer bet against ricochet with my golf ball cannons. It's bio degradable (I'm a Tree-Hugger-Conservationist-Socialist-Whatever) and they won't rebound like conventional alternatives. $:-\$
Any ideas (and be polite)?
...
rc

Why not just launch the meadow-muffins as is. Splat or powder when they hit AND that's about as organic as one CAN get.

thelionspaw · « **Reply #23 on:** September 08, 2009, 03:48:43 AM »

NG! I sold the horse; hence no meadow muffins and the beef cattle went too; hence no cow pies. The pies were only good as discus anyway:P Juh ever try it

Now! What about my idea $:-\$

Ex 49'er · « **Reply #24 on:** September 08, 2009, 05:56:25 AM »

I wonder if there are any Rx pill containers that are golfball size? Would they breakup or hold together? Just my 2 cents worth.
I have 2 inch and 2.25 inch.
I also have some tops from soap cartridges for dispensers at work that measure 1.675.

KABAR2 · « **Reply #25 on:** September 08, 2009, 06:35:16 AM »

Quote from: Ex 49'er on September 08, 2009, 05:56:25 AM

I wonder if there are any Rx pill containers that are golfball size? Would they breakup or hold together? Just my 2 cents worth.

I don't think so but I will measure them when I get home between my wife's meds and mine we probably have every size known
to man.

thelionspaw · « **Reply #26 on:** September 08, 2009, 06:42:28 AM »

Cannoneer · « **Reply #27 on:** September 08, 2009, 07:34:03 PM »

Rich,

This is all conjecture on my part, seeing as I've never fired a plaster projectile, but while I'd think it would be less dangerous than iron, or lead if it hit an object head (I think it would just crumble) on; if it hit something hard at an angle, wouldn't it possess the same odds of ricocheting off that object, and traveling on to possibly cause harm to someone, or damage something?
Rather than trying to find a safe projectile, I'll stick with the old firearm's safety rule: "Be sure of your target, and what's behind it."

KABAR2 · « **Reply #28 on:** September 08, 2009, 08:28:27 PM »

Well it made it to the local radio station here in Virginia Beach, they were talking about an artillery enthusiast
who fired a cannon and hit his neighbors house this was on some sports talk channel that someone else was listing to
they asked me about it knowing I am into artillery. So now it is making the national circuit. I tried to call the local station
without success.

Victor3 · « **Reply #29 on:** September 09, 2009, 01:44:55 AM »

Quote from: thelionspaw on September 08, 2009, 01:24:53 AM

I've been thinking about launching music roll "toot-da-do-taas" (terlit paper tubes), cut to 2" and filled with plaster of paris as a safer bet against ricochet with my golf ball cannons. It's bio degradable (I'm a Tree-Hugger-Conservationist-Socialist-Whatever) and they won't rebound like conventional alternatives. $:-\$

Any ideas (and be polite)?

n.b. I also own 2 Jap cars

rc

While I agree about being sure of your backstop, adding an extra layer of safety by using some kind of frangible projectile couldn't hurt.

Frangible bullets seem like a good idea for some uses...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glaser_Safety_Slug

Using a plastic cup (closed end on top of the charge) filled with bird shot/beeswax should stay together in flight but lose a lot of mass as soon as it deformed/split upon impact.

You couldn't rely on it to prevent a ricochet, but it should be somewhat safer down range than a solid chunk of metal.