Kaboom - cira 1961 or so

[0reo]

Has anyone considered having the bore chrome lined to protect against chemical deterioration of the metallurgy?

[GGaskill]

The easiest thing to do is to be sure to sponge after each shot (including the last one) with a damp sponge to remove as much ammonia as possible and to thoroughly clean before putting the gun away.  And an extra cleaning a day later wouldn't hurt.

[dan610324]

chrome or nickel plating the bore could be a good idea if you use patched balls
othervise I guess it would wear out quite easy , the normal thickness when electroplating is very very thin

annealing is an odd idea , absolutely a new idea for cannons
but it might be a good one , could also be bad
maybe heat an iron rod red and put it inside the bore and let it cool there
I guess that its from the inside it should be done if it should be done at all

the problem with this cannon is that we dont know the alloy and not what happened with it prior to the explosion .

brass cartridges expand quite a lot when fired and get rezised in a cold condition so it will get harder and harder for each time
all copper alloys get harder from a cold mechanical treatment such as forging or bending

but how much can it take before any catastrophical failure ??
I dont know

there is a lot of bronze cannons that fired many thousands of rounds without any problems
so Im not sure if we should start to do anything as we dont know enough about that barrel
maybe it was fired many times with smokeless powder when it was new , who knows .

it can only be speculations , but if we knew for sure what alloy it is we could maybe come a little closer to the ansver .

[0reo]

Chrome lining the bore wouldn't wear out.  Consider all the AR15 barrels out there that are chrome lined specifically for the purpose of protecting the bore.  Those rifles fire copper jacketed bullets exceeding 3000fps using smokeless powder.  I would think the conditions inside a black powder cannon would be a walk on the beach by comparison.

[dan610324]

modern barrels is coated with hard chrome , the same as used in aluminum engine cylinders , or nicasil
it could work in a muzzle loading barrel also
but for larger diameters shooting cast iron balls I guess it would wear out fast , maybe not so many here who does that   

in small calibers shot with patched balls I guess it would be the perfect solution to protect it from corrosion

how many is it here who actually have problems with corroded bronze barrels ??

brass barrels would most probably easier get corrosion damages as they can have as much as 30% zinc in the alloy 
I guess that most of you know that zinc corrodes quite much if its in contact with salt
one of the parts in the residues is salt from the saltpeter in the powder
so that make brass far more sensitive for problems from corrosion

why do you think they used bronze instead of brass in old cannons ??
bronze is not as brittle as brass , and its less sensitive for corroding

brass is cheaper to make than bronze , so if it would be as good as bronze in cannons they would of course have used it .

an good example is to look at a blundebus , the barrel is bronze and the stock buttplate and triggerguard is brass .
why do you think ??

[Cat Whisperer]

I would think not.  This was a one-of-a-kind anomily. 

Too many unknowns - particularly in loading.

BUT metal work-hardens when it is stretched.  To make accurate dimensional measurements (cheap, easy to do) might have value.

Hmmm.  Research topic for some later date....

[KABAR2]

CW,

I am hoping this is not becoming a trend....... first this and then the M1917..... your not allowed to have another blow up for at least 20 years. 

[dan610324]

its 50 years between the last two , so lets hope there will be 50 more until the next

[Double D]

It is my intention to go out in a cannon blast...I want my ashes shot out of my cannon...The wife says this can be arranged.  I suggested the first step be a natural death and she walked away mumbling.

[Cat Whisperer]

CW,

I am hoping this is not becoming a trend....... first this and then the M1917..... your not allowed to have another blow up for at least 20 years. 

Thanks, considering the cannon was when I was about 14, you'll understand why for several years I KNEW I'd not live to see 21.  

But the closest I've KNOWINGLY faced living for only another minute or two was about 3 weeks ago.  Choked on an orange slice.  OK, now that I can't breathe, what am I going to do for the next minute and a half?  No question, clear choice, no discussion - stood up and bent down to do my own Heimlich maneuver - AND IT WORKED!  Now I understand WHY folks tell kids not to take such big bites!  Hmmmph - took me 63 years.

Some of US are slow learners.  Of that group some of us survive.

[dan610324]

do you know what part of it she was mumbling about   

[Double D]

do you know what part of it she was mumbling about   

That's the problem, yes I do...

[GGaskill]

Regarding chrome plating the bore of a brass cannon, I think that even if hard chromed, the process would be unsuccessful in preventing stress corrosion cracking because the underlying brass would stretch from firing and crack the chrome layer.

[dan610324]

DD

maybe you should remove your wife as the beneficiary of your life insurance and put your children there instead   
then you might sleep better at night 

[Cat Whisperer]

DD

maybe you should remove your wife as the beneficiary of your life insurance and put your children there instead   
then you might sleep better at night 

Why not?  I don't think he's got a death wish.

But, seriously, Katherine and Darlene are two of the best!   

[KABAR2]

Regarding chrome plating the bore of a brass cannon, I think that even if hard chromed, the process would be unsuccessful in preventing stress corrosion cracking because the underlying brass would stretch from firing and crack the chrome layer.

Agreed I have seen hard chromed military barrels where the chrome was flaking granted they would get more abuse
than the cannon barrel but I don't think it is the answer.

[Cat Whisperer]

My 4.55" mortar (in avitar) is Armalite (industrial hard chrome plated) inside and out.

Would I do it again?  NO.

Has it made a difference?  Yes, in that it is VERY easy to clean.  Don't know about micro cracks.

Mortar is made of 4140.  (Overkill - perhaps because of the preceding evidence.)

[Double D]

Tim, Armalloy, Armalite are those little plastic guns made by  Mattel. 

[Cat Whisperer]

Tim, Armalloy, Armalite are those little plastic guns made by  Mattel. 

NOT!

That was the rumor about the M16 - stocks made by Mattel.  Regardless, when I saw the 350 yard target drop (kneeling positon) I KNEW it was a good shootin' iron.

[Max Caliber]

Never cared for the plastic guns. I like single shot rifles made with black walnut and carbon steel.

[GGaskill]

Never cared for the plastic guns. I like single shot rifles made with black walnut and carbon steel.

I have and like both.  Depends what you are using them for.  My Sharps or Browning 78 would be totally useless for an NRA High Power Rifle match where my AR space gun is supreme but the AR doesn't do metallic silhouette rams at 500 meters (it will hit them but not knock them down.)

[RocklockI]

Tim, Armalloy, Armalite are those little plastic guns made by  Mattel. 

NOT!

That was the rumor about the M16 - stocks made by Mattel.  Regardless, when I saw the 350 yard target drop (kneeling positon) I KNEW it was a good shootin' iron.

Never made by Mattel , CW you are correct they are good shootin irons .....just have learn them .....Parris Island will get you started right off !

Gary

but getting started right off isn't for every one 

We shot them at 600 meters and scored hits . People have told me "yea but it's only a .22 Mag . at that range" .

I never did figure out the upside of being drilled by a .22 Mag. ....specaly if you still got 600 meters to close on the enemy .    I'm funny like that ......I love M1 Carbines too .

Gary

 

[Cat Whisperer]

    

[RocklockI]

Gary,
Post pictures of your blown up gun.  We'd like to see them.
Zulu

Here they are Zulu






Live and learn 
Gary

[Cat Whisperer]

 

Ow

Ow

Ow

Ow !!!!!!!

[Zulu]

WOW!
What's the story behind that one?
Zulu

[RocklockI]

My cousin Jim cast it at a casting class he took in @81'. He gave it to me it was rough as a cob .
Well back in 83' Tracy and I worked together and he took it and machined it to a very nice finish .

I blew it up with a proof load ...... not a believer in those anymore it is .75 caliber .

It never fails to start a conversation which always end up the same . I blew it up .

I'll never forget the look on Tracy's face when I showed it to him about three days after he finished it .

Thats the story

Gary

BTW I was some 30 yards away behind some tires it went BOOM ..zippppp ! A piece came back toward me when I hear that I knew she was a goner .

[Cat Whisperer]

Isn't it good to be ALIVE to tell of such things!

 

[Double D]

SAAMI/CIP proof loads are 125% of maximum working pressure with a standard projectile....is that what blew that up?

[Cat Whisperer]

SAAMI/CIP proof loads are 125% of maximum working pressure with a standard projectile....is that what blew that up?

It wouldn't take much more powder at all to do 125% of max working  PRESSURE since pressure goes up exponentially.