Swivel Cannon Help?

[mike Mathison]

I recently purchased the swivel cannon here: Swivel Gun (primed with a .22 cal blank as described on website)

Although I have obtained information on powder selection & amount to use, I think it may be a little different if firing solid shot (not golfballs. I was thinking of making solid shot, & Canister projectiles for use. I noticed that an empty toilet paper roll is the same diameter as a golfball & was thinking it may be used to hold powder.......

I would like any information, Suggestions or knowledge anyone can impart.

 

[bingo1952]

Although mine is carriage mounted the bore is the same as your's. I use 500 grains of 1F to fire mine with solid and cannister shot. T TP rolls work great as a holder for 55 .44 caliber pistol balls and come apart nicely when fired. ALead solid shot is going to weigh around 1 lb. Make sure you have a good backstop or a lot of open unpopulated area when you shoot solid shot.

 

[bebloomster]

Runnball.... how do you assemble your canister shot? My half scale Napoleon is also golfball bore and I would like to put a few together to give them a try. Thanks in advance.

 

[bingo1952]

Here is a cutaway drawing of what mine look like. the wadding I use is paper towel but I suppose newsprint would also work. Also 55 .45 balls will give you about a pound of shot.

 

[mike Mathison]

Do you have a system for containing the powder charge? (so as to perhaps make a complete "Cartridge" for loading?)

 

[bingo1952]

You can make a powder bag from nitrated paper and if you wish it could be fixed to the canister with a couple of strips of masking or cellophane tape. I prefer semi-fixed ammo just in case there were to be a cook off a load of cannister wouldn't be slamming into your hand. If you must load fixed ammo get yourself a French rammer.

 

[bebloomster]

Since I lathe turn wood sabots for my solid shot rounds, it wouldn't be all that trouble to cut an extra "step" in the sabot that would just fit inside of a toilet paper tube. That would give me a solid end towards the breech and would probably cut a cardboard plug to fit just below the mouth of the canister. Whether or not to cut 3 or 4 lengthwise slots is another question... sorta making a golfball bore size shot cup. Will be really interesting to try it out and see what it does at say 50 and 75 yards.

 

[slowpokebr549]

then mount it in the bow of a jon boat and go duck hunting. :haha:

 

[bebloomster]

Hmm.... how about a pound of #7 1/2 shot and a trip to the local trap range??? PULL !!!!!

 

[mike Mathison]

I have a "Safety" Rammer for loading. Where can you obtain the Nitrate paper?

I was considering fitting the Cannister/Solid shot/ or Golfball so that it is sticking 1/2 out of the TP tube with a wad/plug behind it & the powder behind that. Basically so the TP tube is the "Cartridge". I think with a large enough prick (No jokes) you would be able to peirce the TP tube so the .22 blank ignites the charge.

Thoughts?

 

[bebloomster]

I would be worried about cardboard tubing remaining in the bore after the shot is fired.... a worm may or may not snag it. I use the foil wrapped powder charges with the projectile being entirely separate. What little foil remains in the breech is easily removed with a worm.

 

[bingo1952]

I make my own nitrated paper. You can order the nitrate online. Google it and a ton of sources will show up. I suppose you could prick the tp roll but I agree with ED the card board may be left in the bore.

 

[mike Mathison]

What is everyones thoughts on perhaps using something like a baby/kids sock to hold the powder?

 

[bingo1952]

Get the wife's old panty hose and tie your powder in that. It won't survive the burn so you don't have to worry about digging out a lot of crud from the breech. Cotton kids socks will probably work Ok but I would still nitrate them so you didn't have burning bits of sock on the ground. Original powder bags were wool or silk. Both are proteins and shrivel to almost nothing from the heat of combustion. Light wool will work OK as will silk but silk isn't cheap.