Need advice on first cannon purchase.

[AARCR]

I plan to buy a half size or larger cannon.  I will most lilely buy a barrel and build the carriage since I have both wood working and metal working tools and skills. I have 2 pair of wheels that are very nice. One set is 51" dia., the other set is 40".
I will not be a reanactor, I just want one for firing blanks and sometimes  with ammo at the local gun range.  
I am concerned about initial cost and also operating cost, that is powder and ammo.

I have so far looked at the Hern barrels. I like the looks of the Parrot, the 3" ordnance and the 12 pound Napolean.  

I am so new to this I really don't know what all I should consider before making a purchase. I would also like to see some other cannon in my area to help me decide.    I am in NW Wisconsin.

Can you fellows help me figure this out?

Thanks,AARCR.

[RocklockI]

Welcome , this is the place for cannons !

Do you have a crew ?

Gary

[Cat Whisperer]

AARCR -

WELCOME to the board!

Check with our sponsors to see what they make to see if that fits into your desires.

(All have stood the test of time - we are quite frank about issues of quality and safety!)

[Cannoneer]

Good to meet you AARCR, welcome.
I don't think any of our sponsors are making anything that big right now (one used to before he moved his shop), but there are more than a few members here who have Hern's barrels, and report that they're pleased with them.
Whichever model and scale you finally decide on, you can then get detailed carriage plans from AOP (Antique Ordnance Publishers), and scale your carriage to fit the barrel. The 10-pdr Parrott, 3-inch ordnance rifle. and 12-pdr field Howitzer are mounted on the No.1 field carriage, and those drawings are listed as No.12 on the AOP order sheet. AOP Drawings
I get my black powder from a free state (Indiana), but a lot of the guys buy their powder through mail order and they'll clue you in on the details.
If you're going to go with half-scale or larger you'll probably want to get a mould, so you can cast your own zinc projectiles.

ETA: Emended 12-pdr Napoleon to read 12-pdr field Howitzer.

[Zulu]

Good to meet you AARCR, welcome.
I don't think any of our sponsors are making anything that big right now (one used to before he moved his shop), but there are more than a few members here who have Hern's barrels, and report that they're pleased with them.
Whichever model and scale you finally decide on, you can then get detailed carriage plans from AOP (Antique Ordnance Publishers), and scale your carriage to fit the barrel. The 10-pdr Parrott, 3-inch ordnance rifle. and 12-pdr Napoleon are mounted on the No.1 field carriage, and those drawings are listed as No.12 on the AOP order sheet. AOP Drawings
I get my black powder from a free state (Indiana), but a lot of the guys buy their powder through mail order and they'll clue you in on the details.
If you're going to go with half-scale or larger you'll probably want to get a mould, so you can cast your own zinc projectiles.

BoomJ,
Isn't a 12 pounder Napoleon on a #2 carriage?  I'm sure it is.
AARCR,
What ever the case, Either carriage in any scale is extremely labor intensive if built properly.  A full scale carriage could easily take one year to build.  What great fun.
Zulu

[Cannoneer]

Are you certain you're sure?
Zulu is correct, AARCR; the second listing on the AOP sheet No. 20 has the plans for the No.2 carriage and the 12-pounder Napoleon barrel.

[AARCR]

Thanks for the replies. One of the things I hoped I could save on was ammo. Getting a cannon with a bore size that will shoot.... pop cans filled with concrete, or... vegetable cans or...?
I could cast balls and retrieve and reuse them I suppose but life is short and I have other fun stuff to do.

How about the amount of powder required?

Time to build the carriage is not a big concern for me. I have time in the winter and might have a local Amish gentleman familar with woodworking and wagon making help out.

More info is appreciated.
Thanks guys... AARCR

[Victor3]

 AARCR,

 This link shows maximum powder charges for various bore diameters...

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,89682.0.html

 Cannon grade powder is considered to be the best choice to use in large bore guns. Figuring $20/lb and a 2" bore, max charge of 6 ounces, you'd be spending $7.50 per shot. You can use much less though, especially when shooting light projectiles.

 Once you settle on a specific bore diameter, someone here can suggest an inexpensive projectile to fit it.

I plan to buy a half size or larger cannon. 

I am so new to this I really don't know what all I should consider before making a purchase.

 Even a 1/2 scale field cannon is quite a handful (that's probably why Gary asked if you have a crew). You'll need to think about how you're going to transport it, how many places near you have enough range and will allow you shoot it, where to store it, etc. Aside from the barrel and carriage, you'll need to make or buy various tools. If you get a cast/lined barrel (like a Hern) you'll have to make and install a vent liner. You'll need to think about what type of ignition you'll use; friction primers are another expense if you want to use them.

 So, lots of things to consider. Learning how to use it safely is the #1 consideration.

 Personally, I don't recommend that someone new to cannons start out with one as large as you're looking at. If you begin with something smaller and later find out that cannons are not your cup o' tea, you haven't invested near as much time, sweat and cash. Smaller, less expensive guns are generally easy to sell, and you can always move up to a bigger one later.

[Double D]

Here's how the Artilleryman got started.  He worked his way up and has even been in the movies-Artillery Games and Master and Commander.  Start small an work up.

I started out with the 12 inch, .58 cal. working model first.  Bought a 1/3 scale "sea service" 12 pdr. barrel from South Bend and made a naval carriage for it as my second project.  Sold it and the third project was the 1/2 scale Napoleon.  Fourth project was the full scale Parrott, fifth the Napoleon, and sixth project was the Ellsworth.

I suggest before you get too involve with a big cannon, that you take a drive around the lake  to Grayling MI and see the full scale guns in action.  Drop Artilleryman an email or PM and ask him when the next shooting event is in the area.  I sure he will help you find a place to watch them shoot.

We are not trying to talk you out of a big gun.  We are trying to make sure you understand what is involved before you get started.

I can tell you this.  Right now at this point in my cannon shooting career, at age 62 there is no way I want a cannon bigger than my 160 lb 6 PDR confederate pattern Coehorn.  Now were I at this point in my cannon shooting career and age 42, I would be working for a bigger cannon. 

Where I live now just makes a larger cannon a problem.  Where I live 15 years ago, I would be shooting a big cannon in the back yard.

Consider the totality of circumstance before you make your decision.  What ever your decision we'll do all we can via the board to help you. Just ask. 

We will nag you for one thing...pictures.  Finished pictures of smoke and fire we must have.  But we also like progress pictures showing pile of woods and metal chips,  Wood clamps and welding beads are all tings we like to see. Construction methods are alsways welcomed as we will take these ideas and use them ourselves.  If you get stuck on a process ask a question here.  We'll provide with  you with ideas so you can come up with a solution.  Others visiting here may have similar issues and you may be helping them by asking the question.

About questions, there is only one dumb question!  That is the one you don't ask.     

[AARCR]

Thanks for the info. How do I PM Artilleryman? I'd love to go see them shoot and could probably learn a whole lot in a short time. 
I am now thinking of no larger than 1/2 scale.
Most of the less than full scale ones that Hern sells are 2 1/4 inch bore.
Is there some sort of cheap amo that fits that size bore?

I made a small, 1/2 " bore , cannon in high school shop class and used to shoot that quite a bit.

That gives you an idea of my age, making a cannon in high school!

Also used to use dynamite some on the farm so I do have a healthy respect for exploding things.

I'm  very pleased that you fellows are so helpful to a newcomer. It IS much appreciated.

[Double D]

At the top of the page is a banner and one of the options listed on the banner is Messages.  Click on that.  You message window will open.

On the left side will be options. Select new message.  In the to: box type in Artilleryman

Type your message and hit send message at the bottom of the box.

You also send PMs by clicking on the icon under a users name at the left of a post.

There are lots of features you can use here on GBO.  Just move your cursor arrow over the icons and hover there and small pop up will tell you what the icon does. If you arrow changes to a hand that means you can do something by clicking.  That works with picture in posts also.  Move your cursor over the pictures in a post.  If it changes to a hand that means the picture might really be a pick for a video.

[Victor3]

Most of the less than full scale ones that Hern sells are 2 1/4 inch bore.
Is there some sort of cheap amo that fits that size bore?

 Billiard balls and some of the new small size aluminum beverage cans are 2.25". Sometimes beat up billiard balls can be found cheap on ebay. I've also seen wooden balls for not too much money if you wanted something really light.

 Keep in mind that the bore needs to be slightly larger than the projectile diameter. This clearance is called "windage" in cannon lingo. I don't know if Hern's bores are exactly 2.25" or not.