Black powder cannon alternatives

[S/V Nessa Skipper]

Looking for suggestions from the members. As a defense cannon against high-seas pirates , which of the two cannons would you prefer?

1): two and a half pounder muzzle loader smooth bore 60mm bore ID, firing solid lead shot or buckshot or canister, or

2): 20 mm rifled muzzle loader made from surplus Vulcan aircraft cannon barrel? This one shoots military surplus solid 20mm projectiles.

 

[Heelerau]

You might be best firing grape and cannister rounds.

 

[S/V Nessa Skipper]

You might be best firing grape and cannister rounds.

Thanks. Then I guess the best gun would be the 2.5 pounder, rather than the Vulcan?

 

[tenngun]

Looking for suggestions from the members. As a defense cannon against high-seas pirates , which of the two cannons would you prefer?

1): two and a half pounder muzzle loader smooth bore 60mm bore ID, firing solid lead shot or buckshot or canister, or

2): 20 mm rifled muzzle loader made from surplus Vulcan aircraft cannon barrel? This one shoots military surplus solid 20mm projectiles.[/QUOTE
Don’t understand your question. A Vulcan will sure chase away pirates today. I don’t know how thick a steel hull today would be needed to stop a two four or thirty two pound ball.
However steel hulls and Vulcans were both rare during the great age of piracy even the period of Lafitte or the Barbary pirates and a two or better yet a four pounder would be a lot more use then the yet to be invented vulcan

I dont understand the question. Today a Vulcan will sure chase pirates away. I don’t know how much of a steel hull it would take to stop a light cannonball.
O the other hand Vulcans and steel hulls were both rare during the great age of piracy. I would think a two or better yet a four pounder would serve better back then then a yet to be invented Vulcan.

 

[S/V Nessa Skipper]

Guess I’ll go with the Vulcan then. Solid steel Vulcan projectiles wil SURELY have much greater penetration power than the 2.5 pound lead shot. I can still load her up with 00 buckshot for anti-personnel use. How much shot would you figure? 1/2 to 1 pound?

 

[S/V Nessa Skipper]

Guess I’ll go with the Vulcan then. Solid steel Vulcan projectiles wil SURELY have much greater penetration power than the 2.5 pound lead shot. I can still load her up with 00 buckshot for anti-personnel use. How much shot would you figure? 1/2 to 1 pound?

This is off-topic, but can anyone share a link for posting to general merchandise for sale forum? I want to sell the wooden pattern I made for the two and a half pounder, and/or the guns themselves in sand-cast AlMag bronze. But I cannot see how to post the ads

 

[S/V Nessa Skipper]

This is off-topic, but can anyone share a link for posting to general merchandise for sale forum? I want to sell the wooden pattern I made for the two and a half pounder, and/or the guns themselves in sand-cast AlMag bronze. But I cannot see how to post the ads

. Here’s a scale drawing: 1/4”=3” scale