Cannon barrel, what steel to use?

Very neat, it's lined with a rifled barrel? I considered how interesting a rifled 1.75" gun would be, not an easy project however. Noted on the steel comments, thanks tiriaq.

Al Flipo said:
Why do you go to all that trouble, or listen to advice from people who do not know what they are talking about.
Use regular mild steel 1018 or 1045 and you will never blow this thing up, guaranteed!



Here is a small one made from 1045 with a rifled barrel.
Picture415-1.jpg
Click to expand...
 
Al Flipo said:
Why do you go to all that trouble, or listen to advice from people who do not know what they are talking about.
Use regular mild steel 1018 or 1045 and you will never blow this thing up, guaranteed!



Here is a small one made from 1045 with a rifled barrel.
Picture415-1.jpg
Click to expand...


nice....can't wait until I have time to build stuff like that....
 
Certainly is,

12L14 is used extensively in automatic screw machines for manufacturing numerous parts requiring considerable machining and close tolerances, along with a smooth finish. 12L14 can be used to maximum advantage where considerable machining is required, such as bushings, inserts, couplings, and hydraulic hose fittings. With good ductility, 12L14 is suitable for parts involving crimping, bending, or riveting.
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There was a prolonged argument years ago about the suitability of leaded screw machine steel for muzzleloading rifle barrels. It was popular with at least one barrel maker, primarily because of its machinablility.
It is used for many .22 barrels, but for no other cartridge rifle barrels.
There are concerns about cold brittleness, and poor performance in the Charpy notch test.
 
I would not be concerned about the yield strength of 12L14, but how are you going to attach the trunnions to the barrel? As welding is not an option with this type of material, countersinking the barrel and press fitting the trunnions seems to be the only viable alternative, although, with a 1.5” wall thickness, you don’t have much to work with. Threading the trunnions to the barrel may be another option.
 
It looks like your on your way with this Ardent, give us some progress reports (with pic).

Here are some 5/8" bore brass dueling cannons ;)
The molds were made out of the same material using a ball mill. These mini cannons have a semi circular trunnion support ring on the bottom of the barrel, and the trunnions are also pressed into the barrel

 
Done, damn thing weighs 140lbs, went with 12L14. Machined by Bill McGregor of Shilo, Manitoba, does great work, for a price. Quarter in the pic for scale, it's big. 1.75" bore (1lb ball). Ran the ballistics on it, still has 3 tons+ of energy at 1000 yards. And ~20 tons of muzzle energy...

zzzz1211081417.jpg

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Ardent said:
Done, damn thing weighs 140lbs, went with 12L14. Machined by Bill McGregor of Shilo, Manitoba, does great work, for a price. Quarter in the pic for scale, it's big. 1.75" bore (1lb ball). Ran the ballistics on it, still has 3 tons+ of energy at 1000 yards. And ~20 tons of muzzle energy...

zzzz1211081417.jpg

zzzz1211081418.jpg

zzzz1211081418a.jpg
Click to expand...

I so need one of those...I'd mount it on the hill behind my house, and shoot at the icy waterfalls....:D
 
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