1" cannon What to shoot in it

[MR.GADGET]

So I Have Dom making me a 1" gun, those that have a 1" what are you shooting.

I don't have a 1" mold but one day will. I cast for a lot of other stuff.
Plan is for short range and just for fun.
Was thinking about making a slug or shooting Marbles, maybe bearings.

What else are you shooting and what is cheap and easy?
Remember It will all be short range and just for fun, making a good bang with smoke. Not going to just do blanks...
See no reason to burn powder without something going out the barrel....

[Double D]

So I Have Dom making me a 1" gun, those that have a 1" what are you shooting.

I don't have a 1" mold but one day will. I cast for a lot of other stuff.
Plan is for short range and just for fun.
Was thinking about making a slug or shooting Marbles, maybe bearings.

What else are you shooting and what is cheap and easy?
Remember It will all be short range and just for fun, making a good bang with smoke. Not going to just do blanks...
See no reason to burn powder without something going out the barrel....

First you need to know the actual bore diameter of the gun Dom is building you.  Ask him he will tell you.

If the bore diameter is actually 1 inch then you will need balls that are .975 diameter.  If the barrel is being made to use 1.00 dimaeter projectiles it's bore diameter should be around 1.025/1.026.  

You need the ball to be smaller than the bore to fit down the bore.  This difference is called windage and the rule of thumb guidance for cannons is 1/40 of bore diameter for windage.

I shoot cast lead balls in my one inch.  I have been shooting 1 inch bearings and I am not that comfortable with them.  I would not shot steel bearings with out a sabot.  

For larger guns I push zinc.  I would like to get a steel mould to try zinc at one inch.

I suggest you get the bore measurement from  Dom.  Then check with sponsors  HMR and  Classic Cannons, I believe  they both make moulds.  An aluminum mould will be just fine for lead.

[MR.GADGET]

Yep, thanks...

Been doing this stuff for years just not on here a lot. I shoot Full size cannons and Mortars.

Got an email in to Dom for the size he cuts it....

Was thinking about lead balls and maybe zinc. We cast both.
Was just thinking about marbles due to the fact that I know people that shoot them patched in other BP guns, why not a cannon if they fit....
I can also turn some from just about anything.
Also was looking at getting Steel bearings, and using a wood sabot or patch it.

[Double D]

I would stay away from patching in this size gun...do not ask question that will cause me to be come embarrassed...   I especially wouldn't patch a steel ball.

[Spuddy]

Can marbles be shot safetly out of cannons?  I had considered them once but didn't try them.

[Double D]

Yes Marbels can be shot but they bounce pretty good.

[GGaskill]

A 3 oz spherical sinker is a touch small but reasonably close.

[seacoastartillery]

     Based on our experience firing about 100, 15/16" dia. steel ball bearings, lots and lots of cast lead shot of .985" dia. and 20 cast zinc shot of .960" dia. we can safely tell you we WILL NOT be firing more steel ball bearings.  They are far too dangerous because of energetic bounce-back.  Lead shot is by far the easiest to produce in quantity and zinc would come in second for being accurate and less weight than lead, but slightly more hassle to cast.

     As far as marbles go, we would not fire them or suggest they be fired, because there are more you-tube idiots out there than you know.   They would want to start with 300 or 400 grains of FFFg BP rather than some historical pistol load.  Firing excessive loads with glass marbles is asking for a snoot full of powdered glass.  NO thanks, we will leave marbles to others.  If you do find yourself firing them, be sure the the wind is at your back so the the glass powder will blow away and NOT into your lungs!

     We have 7, 1" bore dia. cannons now and it is a great size with shot or bolts in rifled cannon.  Lots of fun can be had with this size cannon and without huge expenditure of powder.

Mike and Tracy

[Rickk]

Do-It makes a mold that will work nicely for cheap. I think the balls are .96 .

[Rickk]

look here...

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,97398.0.html

[Double D]

Austin, since you are a sponsor you are allowed to post prices....how much for these moulds?

[little seacoast]

By all means sign me up for a steel golf ball sized mold, no hinges needed.  One good turn deserves another, watch your mail for a set of AOP Parrot Rifle plans.
Best Regards, Pete

[RocklockI]

Can marbles be shot safetly out of cannons?  I had considered them once but didn't try them.

If you boil the marbals they will not bounce ...... I would guess that at cannon velocities they would shatter anyways ...... many years of 'wrist rocket' ....time .....speaking here .....way !

[Victor3]

If you boil the marbals they will not bounce ...... I would guess that at cannon velocities they would shatter anyways ...... many years of 'wrist rocket' ....time .....speaking here .....way !

 Really? Do they just break apart more easily upon impact after you boil them?

[Zulu]

Can marbles be shot safetly out of cannons?  I had considered them once but didn't try them.

If you boil the marbals they will not bounce ...... I would guess that at cannon velocities they would shatter anyways ...... many years of 'wrist rocket' ....time .....speaking here .....way !

I want to know how you discovered this.  Were you just sitting around one day and thought "Let's boil some marbles to see if it keeps them from bouncing"?  Did you try boiling in different liquids?  Koolaid?  Oil?  Campbell's Soup?  This ought to be a good story.
Zulu

[little seacoast]

DD this is a thing that dates back at least 50 years, probably longer. As kids, we heated glass marbles to produce internal crazing and a different look. They shatter on hard impact, but stay together well enough for playing marbles. We heated them in a frying pan and then dropped then in water.

[Double D]

LSC,

Why are you telling me something I did as kid, you trying to get me in trouble with my mom.      When the Marbles broke and splattered all over the kitchen, my mom always found out an yelled at me.  Always thought my sisters snitched me off.  Why would mom think I was responsible beside the fact my sisters didn't play marbles and my little brother wore diapers.... 

[little seacoast]

That'll larn ya not to cook um so well done.  And your ma knew you well enough without snitches.

[Cannoneer]

LS,
I first learned about this in an elementary school science class experiment; we heated the marbles in a frying pan and then dropped them hot into a bowl of ice water to demonsrtate what happens to mountain rock from weathering. After learning the lesson we used the same process for customizing our clear marbles.