billiard cannon and lead pool balls

linksgard2 · May 25, 2024

I've been eyeing the Pool Ball cannon from McLennan (formerly Coaches Club) for a couple years now since I don't currently have the room for a full size cannon like I want. However I'd really like to fire lead (or something simmilar) projectiles out of it, specifically I want to try and make up some canister shot for it, and maybe a round ball with a wooden sabot. I'm curious if the barrel would be able to take that kind of use, since I doubt the 2oz load they suggest would be enough to really give the projectile some distance.

I also remember seeing some friction or pull string type fuse for sale, just like the old civil war ear fuses. But I don't remember where I saw that for sale at, and if what I do remember is correct I don't think that company is around anymore. They were brass or aluminum tubes that fit into a touch hole from what I recall.

Do any of you have one of these barrels that would like to chime in, or know who/where/how to get or make some of those fuses?

Keyhole · May 29, 2024

Back Creek Gun Shop in Winchester, VA sells primers for reenactors. I have a billiard ball cannon and a golf ball cannon but unfortunately the touch holes on both are a bit too small for the friction primers. Touching them off with a linstock and a slow match is lots of fun though

I’ve fired billiard balls, cans filled with concrete, and lots of other things from mine. If your barrel is built for it you should be able to fire those types of loads but be careful….most of the cannon I’ve seen lately are more like signal cannons that have thinner walls and/or are not sleeved.

Keyhole · May 29, 2024

linksgard2 · May 30, 2024

who built yours, it looks good. this is the exact one i was looking to get:
it supposedly has a 3/16 Inch touch hole on it, and is "Machined and bored from 3.5 Inch solid 1018 steel rod".

Keyhole · May 30, 2024

Thanks, Dom Carpenter built that one for me based on a 15th century swivel gun.

That’s a beautiful cannon you have there….I like the polished finish. I would just ask them if it’s rated to fire heavy projectiles

Flint62Smoothie · May 30, 2024

I too just ordered a "golf ball" 15th Century swivel gonne from Dom, should be here any day now, woo hoo! He will also make them in any caliber, like 4 Bore or 75-cal ... but I wanted bigger, but not using lead. Used golf balls are cheap, sometimes free!

LECook · Jun 13, 2024

Gents, I would caution that recoil will be quite severe with a lead ball in such light weight tubes. The tube may survive but your carriage may not. Safe shooting!

wpage · Jun 13, 2024

linksgard2 said:
who built yours, it looks good. this is the exact one i was looking to get:
it supposedly has a 3/16 Inch touch hole on it, and is "Machined and bored from 3.5 Inch solid 1018 steel rod".

View attachment 324060

^^^Wow^^^

Phil Coffins · Jun 13, 2024

Recoil is a very real issue with lead ball, mine is 1 3/4” bore so the ball weighs 1.06 pounds. The gun with carriage is less than one hundred pounds and recoils four feet when fired with 500 grains of cannon powder. You don’t want to be behind it!

IMG_0335 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

lead ball by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr
This one is a video, touch it to play.

BillinOregon · Sep 14, 2024

Wow, Phil. No, you DON'T want to be behind it!

Absoroka · Sep 14, 2024

fun video. thanks for posting.

hawkeye2 · Sep 14, 2024

A 2 Oz. charge will put a billiard or lead ball in low earth orbit. The full size Whitworth 12 pounder in my photos and the video above was using a 5 Oz. charge.

sgtsquid · Sep 15, 2024

I think zinc would be a lot better for cannon balls. The density is close to iron and the meting point is only a about 900F, lower than aluminum. That's what I plan to use if I can ever get my cannon built.

Sam squanch · Sep 15, 2024

You can cast several bullets from one lead cannon ball. Save the lead and use a substitute!

smo · Sep 17, 2024

Here’s mine!

You gotta love a little gun with a big recoil…

JeffG · Sep 17, 2024

I used my 3lb downrigger weight mold, and made balls of Bondo car body putty. Worked good, use silicone spray or vaseline for a release agent.

To Clarify, the 3lb was for the soda can mortar.

smoothshooter · Sep 19, 2024

linksgard2 said:
I've been eyeing the Pool Ball cannon from McLennan (formerly Coaches Club) for a couple years now since I don't currently have the room for a full size cannon like I want. However I'd really like to fire lead (or something simmilar) projectiles out of it, specifically I want to try and make up some canister shot for it, and maybe a round ball with a wooden sabot. I'm curious if the barrel would be able to take that kind of use, since I doubt the 2oz load they suggest would be enough to really give the projectile some distance.

I also remember seeing some friction or pull string type fuse for sale, just like the old civil war ear fuses. But I don't remember where I saw that for sale at, and if what I do remember is correct I don't think that company is around anymore. They were brass or aluminum tubes that fit into a touch hole from what I recall.

Do any of you have one of these barrels that would like to chime in, or know who/where/how to get or make some of those fuses?

To the degree that it matters to you, lead balls were not used in the old days because of the pressures and expense. Iron is what they used.
Modern cannon shooters tend to use zinc for balls, or metal cans filled with concrete.

Nav · Sep 19, 2024

Cannons be spendy. I honestly don't really have access to a place to shoot one safely. Even so, I probably need a cannon.

Hern Ironworks seems to have more reasonably priced, lined reproductions than a lot of other sources I've looked at. They don't sell the carriages though. Those you have to build yourself, but I would think many people wanting a cannon would have no problem with that project.

Empire Cannons offers less DIY models with the carriages but they're obviously more spendy. Trail Rock seems to have complete kits, but again spendy.

I want a cannon...

I'm not getting a cannon.

Phil Coffins · Sep 19, 2024

Using lead for ball is is the easy way for us less dedicated cannoneers to have shot. I tryed to get zinc at one time but it is more difficult to come by.
And yes, Nav everyone NEEDS a cannon!

Rifleman1776 · Sep 19, 2024

LECook said:
Gents, I would caution that recoil will be quite severe with a lead ball in such light weight tubes. The tube may survive but your carriage may not. Safe shooting!

Also, lead can be hard to find and very expensive. Plus, you would need a mold.

billiard cannon and lead pool balls

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