Thread: legaly speaking....... mini canons?

Originally Posted by Tussock

A cat licence for a spud gun.

I neeeed a cannon.

Tussock

If you or a mate has access to a Lathe and know how to operate it then Make one.

There's nothing special to know if you apply these general rules.

You need to use a good grade of steel for the barrel, mines made out of 4140.

The powder chamber needs to be 1/3 the outside diameter of the barrel in all directions.
My powder chamber is 1" in diameter the barrel is 3" in diameter and theres 2" solid steel behind the barrel with a steel tow ball welded on as the cassabell.

The muzzel outside diameter should be large enough to have at least 3/8" wall thickness remaining after a taper has been applied to the barrel... more is better.

The barrel length can be as short as 2.5 times the diameter of the projectile .... this would be a Mortar or as long as you like within reason.

The projectile diameter must be 39/40ths of the bore diameter to allow for windage when firing.

If the powder chamber is smaller than the bore diameter then the cannon is called a Howitzer.

Ensure the powder chamber is large enough to hold sufficient Black Powder to fire the projectiles of choice, my powder chamber holds 350gr FFg

Use only FFg, Fg or Cannon grade black powder. anything else will see your cannon turn into a pipe bomb.

There's lots more info on the net if your keen.

Cheers
Pete