C A N N O N S

[Rastus]

OK....does anyone here know anything about replica cannons?  I've seen them in the gun shows...but I'm leery of them because I don't know about the quality of brass these things are made of...or anything about how to feed them.  I've seen some small ones like they mounted on the rail of ships that have a golf ball sized hole in them....that would be neat off my deck.

Just wondering if anyone here has experience with cannons.  I'd like to get one and/or a mortar.  Something I could leave chained down in the yard for the kids to throw firecrackers in or for me to touch off on the Fourth of July.  Plus as an added thrill it will keep the neighbors indoors and staring.

I'm not buying one just now...but I'd like to start saving towards one in the future.  Any information about laws, regulations and what to look for is appreciated.

Thanks,
Ken

[fightingquaker13]

Rastus
I know that you are a praying man. I'd start now. Asking this group about backyard artillery will NOT end well.
FQ13 who is going to go make some popcorn to watch this thread

[tombogan03884]

Keep the touch hole sealed when you load the shot< the compression will blow all the powder out  

[david86440]

There was a beer can mortar advertised on Craigslist a while back that said he was selling it because he couldn't find enough room to shoot it. Really needed to be someone along the coast as it would launch a beer can over 2000 yards.


Here is a neat little video of homemade golf ball cannon.

I think I need to try making one.... Wait, Tom, you're the machinist!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6020659510744785912#docid=-1481859106669326350

[PegLeg45]

I'm working on a scale replica and all I need to do now is drill the barrel and it'll be ready to go. It is only .50 caliber with a 14" barrel, but is the pattern for a full sized cannon that a friend at a machine shop is building. I don't know the exact bore size, but it is designed to shoot a standard softball, greased with lard for a tight seal.

I've always wanted a cannon to go in the front yard on the hill just to mess with folks.

[Sponsor]

[fightingquaker13]

There was a beer can mortar advertised on Craigslist a while back that said he was selling it because he couldn't find enough room to shoot it. Really needed to be someone along the coast as it would launch a beer can over 2000 yards.


Here is a neat little video of homemade golf ball cannon.

I think I need to try making one.... Wait, Tom, you're the machinist!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6020659510744785912#docid=-1481859106669326350

This proves my long stated belief that there is nothing on this earth more dangerous than a bored and motivated redneck who is good with power tools.
FQ13

[PegLeg45]

Did you guys notice the distinct difference between the recoil of the golf ball compared to the lead ball?

Good physics demo.

[david86440]

This proves my long stated belief that there is nothing on this earth more dangerous than a bored and motivated stupid drunk redneck who is good with power tools tin snips.
FQ13

FQ13,

I found your dangerous rednecks................. the video isn't worth watching but it's scary knowing people things like this still live.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6020659510744785912#docid=-5461805781033696591

[tombogan03884]

Shoot potatoes out of that one you'll KILL some one ROFL

[MikeBjerum]

Back when beer pop cans were made of steel we made hundreds of those:

From the base up -
Can #1 - punch a small hole in the side near the bottom, and use a church key to add five holes to the top (six including the tab hole)
Can #2 - with a church key make six holes in the bottom and add five holes in the top
Cans #3 & #4 - cut both top and bottom out.

Duct tape the cans together.

A little lighter fluid down from the top, and swing the cannon around to coat the walls; drop a tennis ball in; a good squirt of lighter fluid in the side hole; and light.  More lighter fluid was no good, except for flame show, unless you added more cans (our record was a total of 10 - three in the base chamber and seven to form the tube); and at night you could track the flight by the burning fuzz on the tennis ball.

The nice part about the steel cans is that the rims gave strength to the tube with minimal duct tape.  Outside of the joy and motivation of emptying the cans, these rednecks would have been better off with pvc.

I don't know how many of these I made with friends, the Buena Park Parks Dept. kept taking them away from us.  However, unlike "old seven fingers" in the paint can video, I still have all ten fingers and the only hair I'm missing is of natural causes.