Gunsmithing: Building a black powder Cannon

[Fergy35]

What a great project. I definitely look forward to seeing more.

Not knowing much of anything about cannons, I'll ask - Where does a person find projectiles?

 

[PMPORTER]

Looks like an Assault Cannon does it have a High Cap Magazine ? Great job it looks awesome !!

 

[IndyGunworks]

i am going w/ high caliber over high capacity on this one.

there are many standards for subcaliber bores. golf ball bores, pool ball bores, soda can bores, and bowling ball bores (mostly on morters.

this one will shoot pool balls, tomatoe past cans filled w/ concrete (or rocks, shot, glass ect ect ect) or i can purchase or make zinc or lead balls that are around 2 1/8th diameter. i mostly plan on blank charges, or tomatoe past cans full of buckshot, or a leather pouch full of rocks) with the occasional zinc ball to test penetration range and accuracy.

 

[IndyGunworks]

ironically the federal gov't does not even consider this a firearm, while indiana does

 

[IndyGunworks]

a few more pictures...

the metal for the trunion pockets, and cap squares.

and the worm

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

ammo gonna be normal round or a giant miniball? thatd be cool

won't be rifled so they'll be "smooth" projectiles.

If you read above, he kind of says what he's gonna shoot out of it.

 

[top hat 45]

glad you got it going. i'm home tomorrow if you need anything.

 

[CountryBoy19]

Lookin' good....

If you need any milling work I happen to know a guy that will treat you real fair on cost.

 

[IndyGunworks]

going to have to change the title to this thread as its becoming more than just a sneak peak.

here is what I accomplished today. the template for the trails.

what I started with

and what I ended up with... the angles will be more pronounced once its cut out in wood... cardboard was VERY hard to cut while keeping clean lines the trails will be just under 7 feet long.

 

[william]

That sure looks fun! I have a golf ball cannon and used to have a soda can bore cannon. Somebody offered me way more that it was worth...in my eyes. They sure are fun to shoot. I had a buddies kids over and let them make a "pirate ship" out of an old galvanized wash basin and I floated it out in the pond and we shot the crap out of it. I like to load mine with bullets pulled out of the berm behind the target stands. Makes a fun grape shot like load and free too!

 

[IndyGunworks]

Where do you shoot your GB cannon?

 

[SmileDocHill]

We need a cannon smithing sub forum!

 

[IndyGunworks]

I would settle for just a gunsmithing forum

 

[IndyGunworks]

I thought it looked goofy w/ a 7 foot trail, so I shortened it to 5... I think it looks a lot better

 

[IndyGunworks]

and I narrowed up part of the trail... here is the current template

 

[phylodog]

What kinda scope you gonna put on there?

 

[IndyGunworks]

What kinda scope you gonna put on there?

haven't thought of that yet... definitely needs to be quality and able to handle recoil... want to donate one of your NF's or USO's?

 

[phylodog]

I'm down to one USO and no NF

Times are tough...

 

[IndyGunworks]

I'm down to one USO and no NF

Times are tough...

agreed, which is why your donation of your last remaining USO will be greatly appreciated.

 

[william]

Where do you shoot your GB cannon?

Mostly at a friends place down in Nashville. I've shot it on some friends farms up here too. The golf ball goes really far. You have to have some room! I was told when I bought it that with a full charge of powder it would go almost a mile. The coke can cannon was pretty easy to see the can flying, but the balls just seem to dissapear. That's why I like shooting them at the pond. It will go through 2 sheets of 3/4" plywood. I also know a guy that does a cannons only shoot up near muncie at his place. I've been a couple times, but never taken mine. They have some real big stuff. A couple real cannons and lots of bowling ball tubes.