Not sure where to post. BP Cannon questions.

M

MarkEKberg

Inactive
Newbie here, looking for information. Please pardon my general ignorance about my topic.

I want to build my own BP cannon. With my limited experience in backwoods engineering and a whole bunch of common sense I have developed a design that will be strong, safe, and be able to (Hopefully) launch a candle pin bowling ball about 5 miles.

My design involves sliding DOM pipe over other sections of DOM pipe. Basically stepping every 2' for a total length of 8'. Wall thickness will be 1/2 on all pipe so the breech end will be 2"thick. If there are no federal issues I would like to play around with making some of these ball shot explosive. Not sure if the federalies get involved at that point

Looking to be a fuse ignite only because I am ignorant of other means.

Big question is has anyone else done this? Sleeved DOM pipe for a cannon?
If so where did you buy the pipe? I did some local searching and it came in at close to 2K for enough pipe to do what I want to do. Seems kinda steep?
 
Generally speaking, a black powder muzzle loading cannon is not a huge concern to the Feds, PROVIDED you are shooting a solid projectile!

If your cannon ball explodes, they the Feds will be very, very involved, and each round must be registered as a destructive device. Failure to follow ALL the rules means 10years in jail, very large fine, felony conviction, etc, etc....


Contact the BATF, and ask them. And do it BEFORE you build your cannon.

Otherwise, you are risking your life, liberty and pursuit of happiness for a long time, maybe forever.
 
Mark, you're the first one I know of to suggest DOM pipe. While it is certainly stronger than cast iron and there were no shortage of cannon bursting in the Civil War (especially early Confederate guns), I'm not so sure about multiple layers as you're suggesting.

If you build it, dig a trench to hide when you proof it. No need to visit the plastic surgeon for facial reconstruction or worse, to be fitted with a prosthetic.
 
I can't help with the safety of your design. Cannons are made many ways these days.
Legality is as stated. Legal with breech loading and black powder and as long as your projectile doesn't land in somebody's living room.
There are many cannon fanciers discussion forums. I suggest you go to where the experts reside. You will get all the help you need.
 
Where might these experts be hiding at? I have looked for some cannon specific forums and have not been successful. I am assuming I am asking the wrong question.

The reasoning for DOM pipe is that I can get the needed thickness without the need to bore or find huge equipment to bore a 8' barrel. DOM pipe will fit together with very tight tolerances and has very consistent manufacture standards. I figure bang for the buck this should be good stuff to use.

On the breach end I all be individually welding a end cap on each piece of pipe which will create a very strong end cap.

I do plan on firing with extreme care and with cover.

Annnnnd if big brother will get involved with fun ammo I will leave it with just the solid bowling balls.
 
I was think of building one myself...DOM was what I was going to use for the bore ( though I had no intention of doing anything near as big as an 8" bore )

my thoughts were more on the golf ball or tennis ball sized bores ( I'd heard pop cans filled with cement can often be shot accurately )

I was going to use a composite ( like fiberglass ) around my DOM tubing... I think the idea would work well & help the DOM hold the pressures, the only issues would be heat degradation from repeated firing... DOM would probably work ok with multiple layers, so long as the layers were press fit ( possibly freezing the smaller size & heating the larger, then press fitting ) not sure how you would press fit such large tube ???

Breach plugs would be more of a challenge, as I'd assume you're talking about milling a cap to press fit in the end, hopefully with beveled edges, so you can get good penitation on your welds, then being able to isert that tube into the next bigger size, with only enough space for the next layer of breach plug done the same way... otherwise I doubt you'll have enought strength at the breach... if you were making "caps", you'd lose your wall thickness at the breach ( if I understand what you were talking about )
 
Bore size is 4.5" Using candle pin balls, not big balls.

Yes planning on each end welded with beveled edges, as a overkill possibly threading a final cap on? Not sure.

Barrel length is more for fun, but ball continues to accelerate while in a barrel. my calculations is that a minimum length of 8' is needed to achieve 5 miles.

Fiberglass does not take shock loads well at all, so I would not think that would work well. It will eventually crack and fall apart.
 
I have a camp in Northern NH that has a lake we can shoot across (First Conn.lake). Nothing on the other side at all. Figure we can park a john boat in a cove and try to hit it.

Thanks for the link. Will check it out.
 
Shooting a ball over 5 miles with a BP cannon is going to be extremely dangerous, you will need to use a large amount of powder, and 4.5 inches is a very large caliber gun. Check out the Artilleryman magazine on line and get in touch with American Muzzle loading artillery association. As for a breach loader that size I would also check the ATFE regs. I shoot 3" and 55 mm guns and most I could get would be 1500 yards, don't know any place legally to shoot 5 miles. You will also find that an 8' barrel may be a violation of the rules and become a D.D. and require BATFE registration.
Mace
 
I believe his concept and utter disregard for safety is sheer insanity.
I choose to not participate in this discussion any further. And, I am a cannon fancier.
 
Maxen, thanks for the questionable issues. Never thought about that.

Rifleman, unless you have access to programs like Pro-E and Inventor you have no idea how safe my idea will or will not be. As far ad disregarding safety? I don't think so. I am not even sure how far this will go, but I am interested in finding out. I have designed an overkill safe cannon, will be firing at/into a uninhabited area, and will be protected while firing for the first few times.

This is a hobby for almost everyone involved right? Let it be a hobby.

I came here for information, not another father figure in my life.
 
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