Brass Cannon Gun powder

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David Gooding

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Admin: please remove if I have placed this post in the wrong place.

I have owned this cannon for two years after buying it from an Auction it is a beautiful example of a scaled down version of an authentic working cannon, it has the ability to shoot 1/2 lead projectiles which came with the sale, a brief description would be a decorative solid brass cannon hinged on a scaled down wooden frame supported by two spoked wheels with all the accessories chains, ram and cleaning rods and brass furniture to boot, it measures 1.5 feet long (in total) the cannon itself measures over 1foot long with a bore diameter of 1/2

I have never fired it as I have no idea if its safe to do so let alone finding a place to shoot it in the first place, I am however interested in knowing its potential and maybe someone knows more about it than I do, how far it shoots it accuracy (being its a smooth bore) how loud it is and any laws I need to abide by either firing it or owning one, as proof of I not firing it for the last two years it has a lead ball jammed some two inch's inside the bore from the muzzle and has been there since I brought it, and please, don't worry its safe it has no pressure behind the blockage

Thank you for looking
 
Well you won't be trying to fire it until you remove the stuck ball - please. If it has not been proof tested ( and it probably hasn't) then it was built with no safety control, probably as a decorative piece. If you fire it you are on your own, have a friend nearby in case of an accident. First step should be to have it checked over by a gunsmith for safety. It will only be safe with black powder and the gunsmith should be able to advise you regarding a load. Legalities? Well, it isn't hand held so it isn't a handgun, if you have a PAL check with the local authorities, if it was mine and it was deemed safe to fire I would shoot it anywhere such as a gravel pit, any range that would allow it, over a lake or the ocean or a safe place out in the bush. Many a homemade cannon has provided endless fun for countless people over the years.
 
Cannons such as you appear to describe, were sold in BC as recently as 2 or 3 years ago. I believe they are considered signalling devices and I think exempt from licensing and registration laws. If you decide to shoot it, think in terms of a handgun in terms of noise and safe backstops and such. The ones locally were shot with black powder and a patched .490 ball, but you need a qualified person to examine your gun and potentially give the thumbs up

cheers mooncoon
 
If the cannon is deemed safe and you do decide to shoot it I would just start out with a few light signal loads, just black powder and a wad with no projectile of any kind. I did that with my .45 cannon and it works really well. Signal loads are great fun. Everyone gets to watch the fuse burn down and the cannon go off with a big boom and the smoke cloud but you don't have the concern about a backstop for the lead ball.
 
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Ashcroft said:
Well you won't be trying to fire it until you remove the stuck ball - please. If it has not been proof tested ( and it probably hasn't) then it was built with no safety control, probably as a decorative piece. If you fire it you are on your own, have a friend nearby in case of an accident. First step should be to have it checked over by a gunsmith for safety. It will only be safe with black powder and the gunsmith should be able to advise you regarding a load. Legalities? Well, it isn't hand held so it isn't a handgun, if you have a PAL check with the local authorities, if it was mine and it was deemed safe to fire I would shoot it anywhere such as a gravel pit, any range that would allow it, over a lake or the ocean or a safe place out in the bush. Many a homemade cannon has provided endless fun for countless people over the years.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply, and concern, it is a rather neat ornament so keeping it jammed would I hope consider it decommissioned, I would have it given the thumbs up by a gunsmith and cleared of any blockage if I was inclined to fire it. I will at some point if I can find a place to safely test fire it
 
mooncoon said:
Cannons such as you appear to describe, were sold in BC as recently as 2 or 3 years ago. I believe they are considered signalling devices and I think exempt from licensing and registration laws. If you decide to shoot it, think in terms of a handgun in terms of noise and safe backstops and such. The ones locally were shot with black powder and a patched .490 ball, but you need a qualified person to examine your gun and potentially give the thumbs up

cheers mooncoon
Click to expand...

Thank you, I will make sure its is given a clean bill of health and tested properly in a safe location, its interesting you call it a signaling device, my location has an airport nearby and lakes in which to fire a projectile to clear runways of fowl
 
kc34 said:
If the cannon is deemed safe and you do decide to shoot it I would just start out with a few light signal loads, just black powder and a wad with no projectile of any kind. I did that with my .45 cannon and it works really well. Signal loads are great fun. Everyone gets to watch the fuse burn down and the cannon go off with big boom and the smoke cloud but you don't have the concern about a backstop for the lead ball.
Click to expand...

your post reminds me of the time I fired a single shot flintlock pistol... lol I fired at solid timber beam 10 yards away, it wasn't till after the smoke disappeared that I had the chance to see if I hit my target, It was a Company paid weekend of shooting sports and had the chance of firing something that was older than I, its owner claims it has been used in a duel and has cost the life of another, such is the history of England... sent shivers down my spine witnessing a hole in 6" of solid timber
 
I have one of those, has a brush, and a ram in little leather straps on each side of the carriage along with a teeny wood bucket right? They were imported from Asia en mass.

They shoot fine with a ball, and you don’t need much powder.

The cascabel is a threaded plug, complete with a very non-traditional hex for installation. Unscrew it and see if the thread fit is ok, because that’s all a gunsmith will be able to do.
 
It has some markings under the muzzle GL? The Cascabel is not threaded or if it is its really well hidden I think the powder and the ball is muzzle loaded, I will see if I can post a picture but may have open an online photo thingy lol
 
That is a very attractive decorative piece.
I doubt that it was ever intended to be fired. Heaven only knows which the brass casting is like - honeycombs, voids?
Personally, if it were mine, and if I decided that I really wanted to fire it, I would bore it out and install a steel liner.
 
David Gooding said:
Admin: please remove if I have placed this post in the wrong place.

I have owned this cannon for two years after buying it from an Auction it is a beautiful example of a scaled down version of an authentic working cannon, it has the ability to shoot 1/2 lead projectiles which came with the sale, a brief description would be a decorative solid brass cannon hinged on a scaled down wooden frame supported by two spoked wheels with all the accessories chains, ram and cleaning rods and brass furniture to boot, it measures 1.5 feet long (in total) the cannon itself measures over 1foot long with a bore diameter of 1/2

I have never fired it as I have no idea if its safe to do so let alone finding a place to shoot it in the first place, I am however interested in knowing its potential and maybe someone knows more about it than I do, how far it shoots it accuracy (being its a smooth bore) how loud it is and any laws I need to abide by either firing it or owning one, as proof of I not firing it for the last two years it has a lead ball jammed some two inch's inside the bore from the muzzle and has been there since I brought it, and please, don't worry its safe it has no pressure behind the blockage

Thank you for looking
Click to expand...

I have owned a home made brass cannon for 30 yrs. + . It's bore takes golf balls & outside dia. is APPROX. 4". I have fired it many
times, mostly with 1 oz. of F or FF Black & wadding = to a sox. I also fire 2 oz. of F or FF Black with same wadding , which I concider Max.
Only a few times have I fire a golf ball with above loads. The bore is smooth & accuratey is poor. I can hit a barn if it is within a 100 yds.
BTW ,,,, an old 35mm film containor filled with Black = approx. 1 oz. So I always load it with 1 or 2 film containors of black. That makes
it easy & safe to load.
One word of caution,,,,,, the sox or other wadding is usually burring when it hits the ground & can start grass fires. Yes I have done that !!!
 
that does not look like brass - it looks like painted cast pot metal .... or is that just a light reflection? the bore is silver coloured and inside the touch hole as well.... and it has a weird texture to it .... I say not brass, don't try to shoot it.
 
If you wish to have a lot of info on cannon, as I manufactured them for 10 years, write to Canadianfencible@Gmail.com.
To safely try to unblock the stuck ball, point it in a safe direction and put 150 lbs pressure from a compressor. Actual load
pressure can be 10,000 lbs. If the brass is not gunmetal (85% copper) it can be dangerous. The test for a cannon is twice
the powder load ( one load is max 1.5 oz of 1F per inch of bore) and two balls back to back. If it does not explode, I would
say it is safe to fire blank loads. Try to find a book "The more complete cannonneer" by Matt Switlick
 
tiriaq said:
That is a very attractive decorative piece.
I doubt that it was ever intended to be fired. Heaven only knows which the brass casting is like - honeycombs, voids?
Personally, if it were mine, and if I decided that I really wanted to fire it, I would bore it out and install a steel liner.
Click to expand...

i notice that someone has blocked the breach/hole with something, looks like powder, so Im now considering I won this cannon at an auction fully loaded and ready to fire all I need is a charge I had this in my house like this for two years. I did a very small test, I used the push rod to see if the ball would move, its not jammed it has been loaded, I will take some pictures and send them to the gun shop to see if they know anyone that "make it safe". I will obviously not walk into a shop with a loaded weapon

https://www.flickr.com/gp/191496501@N04/Tc4FrZ
 
cooey43 said:
I have owned a home made brass cannon for 30 yrs. + . It's bore takes golf balls & outside dia. is APPROX. 4". I have fired it many
times, mostly with 1 oz. of F or FF Black & wadding = to a sox. I also fire 2 oz. of F or FF Black with same wadding , which I concider Max.
Only a few times have I fire a golf ball with above loads. The bore is smooth & accuratey is poor. I can hit a barn if it is within a 100 yds.
BTW ,,,, an old 35mm film containor filled with Black = approx. 1 oz. So I always load it with 1 or 2 film containors of black. That makes
it easy & safe to load.
One word of caution,,,,,, the sox or other wadding is usually burring when it hits the ground & can start grass fires. Yes I have done that !!!
Click to expand...

wow golf balls, that sounds like you have another take on golfing lol
 
David Gooding said:
i notice that someone has blocked the breach/hole with something, looks like powder, so Im now considering I won this cannon at an auction fully loaded and ready to fire all I need is a charge I had this in my house like this for two years. I did a very small test, I used the push rod to see if the ball would move, its not jammed it has been loaded, I will take some pictures and send them to the gun shop to see if they know anyone that "make it safe". I will obviously not walk into a shop with a loaded weapon

https://www.flickr.com/gp/191496501@N04/Tc4FrZ
Click to expand...

You should be able to pull the ball out with a ball puller. You said its not jammed so with a bit of lube you should be able to get it out with any luck.
 
sean69 said:
that does not look like brass - it looks like painted cast pot metal .... or is that just a light reflection? the bore is silver coloured and inside the touch hole as well.... and it has a weird texture to it .... I say not brass, don't try to shoot it.
Click to expand...

it also has two years of dust on it it looks like it has been fired a few times, it also looks like powder residue in the finer details and has been roughly cleaned, Im concerned it has been preloaded with a charge in it, I will have it made safe if this is so
 
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