Some folks do shoot artillery in live fire competition

[dave951]

So here's a couple pix from our last competition. We shoot a 6lb rifled howitzer that was designed for rough terrain use by cavalry in the Civil War.

My oldest touching off a round. Incidentally, it was an "X" ring hit.

My son and I were No 1 & 2 on the crew and as such, we wormed, sponged and rammed for the entire course of fire and yeah, it's hard work.

And you always need an observer. Yup, you absolutely can see cannon balls in flight.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Fantastic! Father and son gun team. That rocks!

 

[tenngun]

And it’s so amazing how accurate even smoothbores can shoot

 

[dave951]

And it’s so amazing how accurate even smoothbores can shoot

This little popgun is rifled and shoots a ginormous hollow based "minie" bullet. As an aside, the muzzle blast is seriously obnoxious on this gun. We get back behind it when firing.

 

[tenngun]

I was speaking in general for them big gun competitions.
I wish I could shoot as well as some of those rifles guns

 

[ericb]

Projectile Pic? Load?

 

[dave951]

Projectile Pic? Load?

Don't have a pic of a projectile as we were darn busy loading. Basically it looks like a gigantic minie ball from a musket complete with hollow base. Powder is 8oz of 1f, we can go much higher.

 

[toot]

is it a real cavil war gun, as to specks? who made it? it is a real beauty.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

When my son was about six, he was infatuated with cannons. I took him to Ft Shenandoah during the fall meet to see the cannon matches. We met Charlie Smithgall (former Mayor of Lancaster PA) there and he let my son wander all around his cannon and then we saw his crew firing in competition. Years later i moved to central PA, just across the river from Lancaster county. One summer afternoon, I kept hearing explosions every 5 or10 minutes. Drove down to the river to see what I could see. Nothing. Asked a waterways patrolman that I saw there. He said cannon practice at Charlie Smithgall's farm across the river.

 

[dave951]

is it a real cavil war gun, as to specks? who made it? it is a real beauty.

From what the owner has told me, it is a reproduction of an original Civil War design of which, no originals still exist. Don't know who made it, but it's great fun to shoot.

 

[Captndan]

Original or new who cares? It was FUN!

 

[fireman1]

 

[tom_in_vt]

If they weren’t insanely expensive, I’d have one! Too cool! Thanks for sharing.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

If they weren’t insanely expensive, I’d have one! Too cool! Thanks for sharing.

It isn't just the cannon. Powder and shot "ain't cheap" Neither is a place to shoot. The trailer and tow vehicle to transport them etc etc

 

[Treestalker]

is it a real cavil war gun, as to specks? who made it? it is a real beauty.

The piece in question is known as a 'Pack Howitzer'. They are supposed to be historical, but I don't know much about them. Looks like a takeoff from a Parrott Rifle.

 

[1971fx]

Annual cannon at Worcester NY

 

[SamTex1949]

There are several U-tube videos of real ML cannon competition. When you then imagine 100 plus cannon at Gettysburg alone , firing as rapidly as possible (full charges too ) , the sound of shot and ball flying across the field !

 

[lexington1]

Here is one of our guns. It's a 3 inch ordnance rifle. Not only is the powder, friction primers, etc., expensive, but there is also a non-stop amount of upkeep required to keep these things going. We are constantly making implements, painting, pretty much whatever they need.

 

[springfield art]

So here's a couple pix from our last competition. We shoot a 6lb rifled howitzer that was designed for rough terrain use by cavalry in the Civil War.

My oldest touching off a round. Incidentally, it was an "X" ring hit.
View attachment 105468

My son and I were No 1 & 2 on the crew and as such, we wormed, sponged and rammed for the entire course of fire and yeah, it's hard work.
View attachment 105470

View attachment 105471

And you always need an observer. Yup, you absolutely can see cannon balls in flight.
View attachment 105472

Live fire of cannon must be really fun. Lots of safety stuff involved, too. I know Rev War re-enactors that did events for decades and never fired live! You are fortunate to have a range where it's OK.

 

[springfield art]

Here is one of our guns. It's a 3 inch ordnance rifle. Not only is the powder, friction primers, etc., expensive, but there is also a non-stop amount of upkeep required to keep these things going. We are constantly making implements, painting, pretty much whatever they need. View attachment 105847

Is this Winchester?