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3" lead projectile? Considering the $8261 original value of your tube, you might want to ask your insurance agent if he knows of a lighter and possibly safer material for your projectiles.
Check with callahanYes indeed! Will blast'er in the spring and post videos. Speaking of which, where can a guy get a 3" mold made for lead casting I wonder? I cast for my rifles and muskets already but the standard mold makers probably wouldn't do it...I'd assume.
Check out this link, maybe they can help:Yes indeed! Will blast'er in the spring and post videos. Speaking of which, where can a guy get a 3" mold made for lead casting I wonder? I cast for my rifles and muskets already but the standard mold makers probably wouldn't do it...I'd assume.
maybe not a bad idea3" lead projectile? Considering the $8261 original value of your tube, you might want to ask your insurance agent if he knows of a lighter and possibly safer material for your projectiles.
Oh wow! That is more than impressive. Just love it. I may need to follow down your path. I have a thing for being able to cast for all my blackpowder (and some smokeless) firearms and will need to do this for the cannon. I dont suppose your friend is still able to make these? If so I am happy to pay whatever is worth his while.I have a mold that cast a ball 2.90" in diameter which allows proper windage. for a 3" bore . A friend made it for me about 20 years ago.
I have cast a lot of balls with it out of different material.
I weigh them but can't promise how accurate it is.
Never the less, here it is.
Lead - 4.8 lbs.
Zinc - 3.1 lbs.
Aluminum - 1.1 lbs.
Concrete - 1 lb.
I have made hundreds of shot with it.
Here are some pictures.
Aluminum
Zinc
Lead
Concrete
Miscellaneous lead shot
Don't even know where to find him anymore.Oh wow! That is more than impressive. Just love it. I may need to follow down your path. I have a thing for being able to cast for all my blackpowder (and some smokeless) firearms and will need to do this for the cannon. I dont suppose your friend is still able to make these? If so I am happy to pay whatever is worth his while.
Cast iron was the material for naval guns, not lead. A lead ball would probably blow up the gun, since it's nearly twice the density of cast iron. Also, for this gun, you're not talking about the bore of a six pounder, though. You're better off shooting something like a soup can filled with concrete, up to 3 or 4 pounds tops, if you want a projectile.3" lead projectile? Considering the $8261 original value of your tube, you might want to ask your insurance agent if he knows of a lighter and possibly safer material for your projectiles.
Point well taken. Much appreciated. I'm definitly new to the cannon game and appreciate all the dudesplaining I can get.Cast iron was the material for naval guns, not lead. A lead ball would probably blow up the gun, since it's nearly twice the density of cast iron. Also, for this gun, you're not talking about the bore of a six pounder, though. You're better off shooting something like a soup can filled with concrete, up to 3 or 4 pounds tops, if you want a projectile.
I'm pretty sure you're already aware of this or most of it, and I apologize if this comes across as "dudesplaining", but seeing lead mentioned for the projo was scary to this old gun lover.
It appears you have a sub-bore diameter stainless steel sleeve in your barrel. A call to South Bend Replicas will give you their recommendation.Point well taken. Much appreciated. I'm definitly new to the cannon game and appreciate all the dudesplaining I can get.
Point well taken. Much appreciated. I'm definitly new to the cannon game and appreciate all the dudesplaining I can get.
Selair,Oh wow! That is more than impressive. Just love it. I may need to follow down your path. I have a thing for being able to cast for all my blackpowder (and some smokeless) firearms and will need to do this for the cannon. I dont suppose your friend is still able to make these? If so I am happy to pay whatever is worth his while.
Great read/info! Many thanksYou might want to read through this older post.......especially pages 2 & 3
I'll just call her a three pounder. The ball itself is 2.9ish anyway.Selair,
2.91 is a 3 pounder
3.67 is a 6 pounder
Someone better at math than me can crunch to see what exactly 3inches is.
Many thanks! I will reach out to Dominick and report how it goes.I would be proud to have that gun!
Zinc is the correct projectile material that can be cast at home. Lead is far to heavy.
An aluminum mold will not work, it will get "soft" since zinc will be cast at over 800 degrees & aluminum melts at 1220 degrees.
I had Dominick Carpenter make me 2.20" and 2.44" steel molds for my guns a number of years ago. I'm not sure if he still does this but any capable machine shop should be able to make one. I found Dominick Carpenter on www.GBOReloaded.com in the black powder mortar & cannon section.
It isn't hard to cast zinc balls. Plenty of precautions need to be taken. Most pot metal or die cast things are made of zinc alloys & will usually cast just fine.
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