Entry-Level Miniature Cannon

Crazy Chaingun

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Hello all,

On a recent walk, my kid took an interest in some 1843-vintage cannons that sit outside the town courthouse. I'm always looking for an excuse to foster interest in stuff that's not internet brain-rot and drugs, so this has my wheels turning.

Based on a quick google search, something like the Traditions Old Ironsides seems relatively simple and fun. It also happens to look exactly like the cannons outside the courthouse.

I've been shooting most of my life, and have a little handloading experience, but I've never loaded or fired a muzzleloader. Is there going to be a significant learning curve to something like this? Any other products available in Canada that I should be looking into?

I do not have the metalworking skill to make something like this myself without a non-zero chance of it becoming a pipe bomb.

Also curious to hear any stories from other Nutters who have introduced their young kids to cannons.

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I owned and used a Traditions "Old Ironsides" for more than a decade and had a blast with it. As a signal cannon it will wake the neighbors but if you cast your own 690 round balls it will shoot them quite accurately. A ball will carry at least 400 m in my experience. I bought the kit and assembled my own but it is really simple and fun too.
 
They're pretty simple to operate. The tricky part is getting real black powder. Pyrodex doesn't ignite quite as reliably.
 
Very simple to operate.
Presume you are down east someplace, but if you were close by, would be easy to set up and get your son going with toys kicking around here.....
 
cannons are fun, built several over the years, still have a couple around we shoot new years and birthdays, the largest built would shoot tennis balls smallest was 1/2 dia lead cast, make a impressive show use extra powder and lots of wadding no projectile.

I use a 1/16 dia cannon fuse to set mine off
 
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