Salamander

Hmm.... seems lots o' canoneros (cannoneers) I know charge parks & soforth part in coin, part in powder....Not a bad little way to replenish the shot-locker..... Salamander

As promised... and here I go.... Having talked with a cannon crew Instructor, he said I hit it right when I suggested "find a Civil War (or Revolutiionary War) cannon crew and ask about a School of the Piece". If they don't know what you're talking about, find another... and he thought it'd be a real hoot to have a buch of pyrates join a US Army cannon club... (USFAA). Another thought: Ask at an Army base where the local Artillery unit is (or Nat'l Guard post?) and ask them for help finding a local Loyal Train chapter... Artillerymens is knowed as Redlegs ... I hope this helps. If'n it don't, lemme know. Cook: Wish we had some salt. Hunter: You can season meat with gunpowder.... Cook: Wish we had some gunpowder.

Captain, it is as I hae said. USFAA.com is the site of the USFAA but there is precious little info there about the Loyal Train chapter, other than it exists and is for reenactors. As for finding the when -n- where of a "School of the Piece" as they're known, I got to attend my first after finding a Civil War group that was hosting one.... it was a bit of a search, as we were the only Texas Revolution Artillery outfit we knew of. I will suggest finding a local CW Artillery outfit and ask them where to find a Scool of the Piece. Those on the east coast might be able to find French & Indian or Am Revolution arty units who can help. I will ask my f®iends and see what resources I can post here to help the search. I was trained on a Napoleon 6 pounder, field piece, full scale. The gun is used at the San Jacinto reenactment in April as the Mexican cannon. I will take quill in hand again as soon as I get answers. Salamander

Capt William, ye ask two, I'll answer two. Range was 200 yards, an' the shoot was paid for by Greystone Productions for the History Channel (Weapons of the Alamo was the working title, planned to air in December). Yah, different time, different place, but valuable lessons on how picky the aim is and how far the steel will fly.... USFAA is an organization for US Army artillerymen, HQ is Fort Sill OK, and the Loyal Train Chapter is for reenactors... so I got some serious safety training on BP cannon from US Army certified instructors. It was well worth the admission price to the school... those interested might be able to find a school in your area by contacting Rev War or Civil War artillery units, I recommend it to all me hearties... As fer the rest o' ye, I hae seen a few homemade cannon, most were well researched & built (one was turned on an industrial lathe from a solid 8" cylinder of steel) and all the ones that are in regular use survived a "proofing": Double charge of powder, well rammed, 2 cannonballs (if your gun requires sabots due to the size ball vs size bore, then sabot both) and a long fuse. This is done on acreage, best on hilly acreage aimed into a hill or cliff face. Light the fuse, and run at right angles to the bore to a safe place (behind a stone wall, cliff face, hill, etc.) and wait for the boom. Or do like John and go 3 miles to the nearest burger joint... 5 minutes after the boom (so everything fallng has a chance to) go inspect the damage. Look for swells, cracks, any deformity in the barrel. Any deformity is cause for rejection. (Charlie followed this test with "Fill the bore up to the muzzle with well-rammed powder & light the fuse". His passed both tests.) If the barrel passes, mount it on the carriage. Then enjoy yer grog in good health, me buckos. Salamander

Whence percussion? Jan 30, 1835: assassination attempt on US President Andrew Jackson; both pistols misfired, described by eyewitnesses as "spotless" percussion pistols (emphasis mine, percussion common enough to be readily recognized). "Transition period" lasted until common use of closed (modern) cartridges, as in the alleged Confederate quote "I never walked down a river bed and found a bunch of percussion caps". I also found at http://www.city.north-bay.on.ca/lavase/97FRS629.HTM : The percussion lock was invented in 1807 and began to replace flintlocks in large numbers by the 1830's. Percussion firearms were the dominant technology until the rise of the modern cartridge in the 1860's (Adams 1995: 99, 104). So I agree about percussion being anachronistic for us. But big knives were around long before Black's 1831 Bowie.... Keep yer whistle wet an yer powder dry Salamander

Cannons... ah, a subject dear ta me heart... As fr BP v Pyrodex et al, I have some small experience (Member, US Field Artillery Assn., Loyal Train chapter) an' have found BP to be superior with both live and blank loads as ye gets more bang an smoke with less work. Pyrodex reqires more ramming and must be lit with at least BP if not a friction primer or percussion cap and just doesn't perform as well in cannon. As for propane, what few I seen don't have the "cultural and historic" exemptions that a true BP cannon has... important when yer dealin with the local constabulary, but more important when BATF shows up. As for sizing cannon, how much does an iron ball the size of the bore weigh? A one pounder fires a (gasp) one pound iron ball, I like the six pounder I crew on... a six pounder with a one pound charge of powder firing saboted round ball can hit a forty gallon keg ten shots out of twelve, and that's with the keg lying down. Not bad for smooth bore. Keep yer fires where they belong, in yer lanterns & pipes Salamander

Cannons... ah, a subject dear ta me heart... As fr BP v Pyrodex et al, I have some small experience (Member, US Field Artillery Assn., Loyal Train chapter) an' have found BP to be superior with both live and blank loads as ye gets more bang an smoke with less work. Pyrodex reqires more ramming and must be lit with at least BP if not a friction primer or percussion cap and just doesn't perform as well in cannon. As for propane, what few I seen don't have the "cultural and historic" exemptions that a true BP cannon has... important when yer dealin with the local constabulary, but more important when BATF shows up. As for sizing cannon, how much does an iron ball the size of the bore weigh? A one pounder fires a (gasp) one pound iron ball, I like the six pounder I crew on... a six pounder with a one pound charge of powder firing saboted round ball can hit a forty gallon keg ten shots out of twelve, and that's with the keg lying down. Not bad for smooth bore. Keep yer fires where they belong, in yer lanterns & pipes Salamander