Pulling a charge....

[akbigbore]

At the Alaska State Rendezvous last week I ran into a little problem with my gun.  The tube of my cannon was milled from solid stock, so does not have a breech plug per se.  It fires beer cans filled with concrete ("this Bud's for you")

During a match against a smaller and less accurate gun (I was kickin' butt) my crewman charged the gun, then attempted to ram a projectile that had swollen during curing and was too tight.  In fact, it was SO tight that it stuck midway down the bore.

To solve the initial problem of a hot gun, I picked the charge and drowned it with water to render it safe.  When I returned home a friend and I used a masonry drill and extension to drill a hole in the projector.  Again using a long extension, we were able to insert a large "Easy Out" into the hole.  We had a pair of long-nosed vice-grip type pliers which we clamped over the end of the easy out.  We then were able to hook a small chain onto the pliers.  With the gun strapped down in the bed of my truck, we hooked the other end of the chain to the frame of his truck, and I pulled forward in lowest gear.  It popped the can out just like greased butter.

So, if that ever happens to you you now know how to pull the darned thing.

BTW, does anyone know where I can find a ring gauge the size of a beer can?

Swanny

[Double D]

Have you ever heard us preach windage on this board....each and every round should be pretested through your windage guage before it's loaded in your gun...I know, I know now we tell you.

[Calamity Jane]

Heard somewhere about using a CO2 fire extinguisher with an adaptor to attch it to the vent and use the CO2 to blow the projectile out.

[Fred]

Calamity, you're right, in reenacting circles that is done, but they are using blank loads, most of the time. I have not seen a co2 system but would like to as I mostly shoot blank loads out of my howitzer.

Maybe someone out there in cybor-land could explain how to set up a CO2 system and post some close up pictures.

FRED.................

[maddmaxx]

Don't know the particulars of such things on cannon, but the principle is the same in cracking safes. Putty up anyplace it can leak, fill it up with water, and then add "pressure".

[Double D]

They unscrew the vent liner and screw in an adapter for the CO2.

[akbigbore]

Have you ever heard us preach windage on this board....each and every round should be pretested through your windage guage before it's loaded in your gun...I know, I know now we tell you.

My earlier question still stands.  Anyone know where I can acquire, or an easy way to make, a ring-gauge of appropriate diameter?

 

[Cat Whisperer]

My earlier question still stands.  Anyone know where I can acquire, or an easy way to make, a ring-gauge of appropriate diameter?

A couple of options.  I'm talking about making one.  Actually I'm talking about me making several.

First and easiest.  Take a section of tubing and turn to the appropriate diameter.  Simple.  Need to know exact diameter.  Since it's simple, could be  made cheaply, and in several diamters.  Limitation is that it's thin and would only measure circularity (roundness) at one point - not the entire length.

Second.  To make the gauge the entire length of the can.  More time and money.  Still need to know diameter of bore and windage desired.

[Double D]

Excerpt from: THE MORE COMPLETE CANNONEER compiled Agreeably to the Regulations of the War Department as published in "Artillery Drill" by George Patten, 1861 and Containing Other Observations on Antique Cannon By M.C. Switlik with selected excerpts from other artillery manuals

Tubular gauge

"It cannot be overemphasized that cannon projectiles must be carefully made.  The first accessory that any cannon shooter must have is a tubular gauge  at least three calibers long, preferably bored a few thousandths smaller than the bore diameter of the cannon. Round balls must be able to roll freely through this tube, when it is placed on an incline of 5 degrees. Each and every Ball must be gauged, and discarded immediately if it fails.  Conical projectiles must also slip effortlessly through their respective gauge."

This should give you a good idea how to make a guage.

[akbigbore]

Thanks guys.  That helps a lot.