Heffley Creek Cannons {Schedule Added }

nessy357

CGN frequent flyer
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Location
vanc.isl.
Some pics from different years.
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Nessy,
do you have a date and time for the cannon shoot yet?
I would like to check it out if time allows.
 
How many cans of black powder do those take at a gulp, Nessie? And where do you buy lead ball for them?

I read historical accounts of naval cannons and they were truly ghastly weapons. The guys loaded them with grape shot and chains. Given the surgical skills of the day, you would not get an easy death from such a weapon unless it was a direct hit.

Those are great pics Nessie.
 
The larger cannon shoot a snoose can full of I think 1F (about 1 oz) and use 1/2 a tin can of concrete for the ball. The 1/2 tin is more accurate than the full tin and the bore of the larger guns is 2 1/2".
People cast their own balls and often make their own mold when lead balls are used and some of the balls are actually cylinders while some are actually round.

cheers mooncoon
 
Saturday, Sept 1, 4:00 PM to ?????

Do they allow spectators to come and watch? Maybe touch off a shot or two?
 
Thanks Kevin!
I'm still talking with the wife about coming up, maybe as a family, maybe alone, not sure yet.
 
Cannon shoot usually lasts for an hour.
Best to set something up with a cannoneer prior to the shoot . They usually fire a few shots for fun after the competition.
I'll ask around for you.
Cheers nessy.
 
Well, the plan was to go to Kamloops as a family, do my cannon thing first, then all of us ride a steam train later.
http://www.kamrail.com/
Unfortunately, it is not running next weekend. This weekend is the end of the season, so thats out.
I may come on my own, as a very long day trip, but not sure yet.
 
I did make it up there, and yes, it was a very long day trip.

Anyway, I arrived shortly before the cannons started, so I had a bit of time to poke around.
Holy Time Warp, Batman!
Once you get past the parked vehicles and trailers, you are looking at "Primitive Town".

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It really felt like stepping into the 1800's. It was quite impressive.

After a bit of asking around, I met up with Nessy357, and his wife Tina.
My yound daughter was not really too interested in the cannons so she stayed with Tina and played with their 2 puppies.

Nessy showed my son and I around one of the trail walks, and explained how the events are run.

Then it was over to the cannon range. The reason I showed up!
They had 15 different ones, ranging in size from about 3" bore down to a tiny little 1/4" pop gun. The 1/4" one got the biggest cheer!

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My favourite was the Civil war style one.

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I'm not sure what my daughter is thinking about this one.

Time to load and make ready

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FIRE IN THE HOLE!


Cannons #14 and 15 firing.
(~53 MB, 48 seconds)

The Civil war one, it uses a percussion striker, not a fuse.

(9 MB, 8 seconds)

After the scored event was over, I got a chance to fire it. By then, the striker had broken a spring, so the cap had to be struck manually

(12.2 MB, 11 seconds)

Thanks to Nessy and Tina for all the hospitality, and thanks also to Taylor for allowing me to fire a round.
 
Sorry I missed you; you must have been standing in front of my camp while I was cooking a pot roast, when you took the last photo of primitive.
I thought the weather was excellent this year; a bit of rain but generally not too hot and not too cold. There were over 150 camps this year including at least 50 in primitive. There were at least 40 people from overseas (Vancouver Island) at the event plus a number from the US and quite a few people from Alberta. A good time was had by all.

cheers mooncoon
 
Great pics and video :D:D
One of the cannoneers was teling me he has blue prints for a cannon (different from the one we were talking about) he says he'll join CGN and contact you.
One of our club members has a blueprint from a Scottish cannon builder,is there any way to downsize a copy of it so I can post it here ?
Cheers nessy.
 
The Scottish cannon sounds like a carron from Falkirk, Scotland. Virtually all British cannon, howitzers, carrons, and mortars are found in "British Smoothbore Artillery: a technological study". It is an expensive book and out of print but extremely detailed. It contains details and plans of virtually all British cannon from 1680 to 1860. I can scan a few pages in, but obviously don't intend to do all 162 pages not to mention the full 595 pages which include carriages, ignition, projectiles and fuses.

cheers mooncoon
 
I got so pumped up by it al that i am now planning on buuilding myself one!
Also, I just ordered a book from Amazon.com
Cannons: An intro to Civil War Artillery , by Dean S. Thomas
Cost me about US 1$, plus shipping!
 
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