Thread: Canons?

Originally Posted by Cordite

But the .25 is for girls... (<:

I should have mentioned that it was a proof load, the projectile was 1" of 1/4" Whit bolt wrapped in a a layer of toilet paper and the full Ballistite charges from 2x .303 blanks. Instead of running back on its little wheels, it just went end over end until it slammed into the workshop wall!

Originally Posted by gundoc

I should have mentioned that it was a proof load, the projectile was 1" of 1/4" Whit bolt wrapped in a a layer of toilet paper and the full Ballistite charges from 2x .303 blanks. Instead of running back on its little wheels, it just went end over end until it slammed into the workshop wall!

Sounds like great fun! I thought a proof load was three times the charge with no projectile? (just what I have been told)

Originally Posted by 40mm

Sounds like great fun! I thought a proof load was three times the charge with no projectile? (just what I have been told)

You'll see various definitions. One used to be "double charge double balls".

The olden days proof charges used powder of the day which was less powerful than our modern black powders.

if its black and looks tactical you may have to hand it in

Originally Posted by northdude

if its black and looks tactical you may have to hand it in

Thank goodness it has a wooden broom handle.

The gunsmith I use builds cannons for a hobby, and sells them also, they are ultra cool, I’m pretty sure he machines the barrels, they’re about 2inch bore and sorta rust blues them so they look cast, has little wooden trolleys with cast wheels on them. Hopefully when we both get time spare I can be there when he lets 1 rip. If I had the money I’d own 1 in a flash.

Greetings All,
I have seen a cannon with a 1 inch bore. This works out roughly to 4 bore when talking of shotguns and smooth bore or early rifled guns shooting round balls weighing about 4 ounces. Samuel Baker had a double he used on elephants, he had a 2 bore as well I believe.
Took a stupendous charge of black powder and the recoil must have been stupendous as well. Would have made a 460 Weatherby look like a .22 RF.
Regards Grandpamac.

That's the kind of thing I'm thinking of when I say canon.
Any more info?link maybe?

But in reality I am keen to build something in V-Can caliber.

@40mm

Pretty certain I know the maker of the first cannon in that set of pics he used to bring it out to clevedon pretty regularly. He also made some other interesting bits and pieces.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Pretty certain I know the maker of the first cannon in that set of pics he used to bring it out to clevedon pretty regularly. He also made some other interesting bits and pieces.

Would is name start with a T?

v-cans 52.8mm :-(

This is 1 of his creations, they’re really cool, I will ask him if he’s ok for me to pass on his details and then pm or get them thru to you.

Mythbusters put a bowling ball through a house by accident and they were only using compressed air, no black powder needed.