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The Water Cooler
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How do you buy a cannon?
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<blockquote data-quote="TheDoubleD" data-source="post: 3599551" data-attributes="member: 43754"><p>Dumpstick is pretty correct. That would be simplest. But even that has a caution built into .</p><p></p><p>Folks up stream are partially correct also. But only partially. </p><p></p><p>Depending on Caliber either GCA68 of NFA apply. Both laws have a provision for exempting antiques. </p><p></p><p>To paraphrase the law as it relates to cannons: </p><p></p><p>"Any cannon or mortar made in or before 1898 or any replica there of that doesn't use fixed commercially able ammo or uses an antique ignition system. Muzzloading by it's self isn't sufficient." </p><p></p><p>To get a specific and exact definition contact ATF Technology Branch. Do not rely on anything written here or found on the internet, for an absolute correct answer. Laws change and, experts are not. Get a determination in writing from ATF. I have several of these written letters from ATF especially for modern designs.</p><p></p><p>Generally speaking if you buy a cannon that is muzzleloading and fuse fired legally you are on pretty safe grounds. </p><p></p><p>Complying with law is pretty simple. Being safe is quite another thing. For about 20 year I have been a Moderator on the GBO Cannon board. Some of the things that have come across that board that people want to shoot is scary. Water and muffler pipe do not make safe cannon tubes. There are suggested minimum safety standards for cannons. For safety sake follow them. Every year around New Years and 4th of July we hear of cannon accidents. That piece of drill rod you welded a plug in, that you have been dumping what ever powder you can find in for the past 20 years could fail next shot. We have seen a lot of those accident. A cannon blows up and someone is killed or injured and it never fails, someone says, "we have been shooting for years and never had a problem before." </p><p></p><p>One of the basic safety rules is the wall of the cannon should be the same thickness as the diameter of the bore. If the bore is one inch then the wall over the chamber should be one inch. And the breech end should also be 1 inch.</p><p></p><p>For some one who wants to start shooting cannons I suggest you pick up one of the Traditions cannon and learn how to shoot it. <a href="https://www.traditionsfirearms.com/category/Cannons" target="_blank">https://www.traditionsfirearms.com/category/Cannons</a>. This is a good place to start.</p><p></p><p>If you have the skills buy a complete barrel and build you own carriage. Try <a href="https://brooks-usa.com/" target="_blank">https://brooks-usa.com/</a> . Mike Brooks makes brass barrels in a number designs. I have several of his barrels. My Napoleon is on the left below.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]211534[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p></p><p>If you have the skills and tools you can pick up some plans from <a href="http://gunneyg.info/html/AOPCatalog.htm" target="_blank">http://gunneyg.info/html/AOPCatalog.htm</a> . These are copies of of the original drawings. You can indeed build a full size gun from these plans or us the chart in the back of most plan sets to scale down. If you build scale cannon from these plans, you will building in the safety features of the day.</p><p></p><p>Cannons for sale on line. Be very very careful. Before buying make sure you understand how a cannon is safely constructed. You will see sellers on line mention reduced powder chambers. If you see that avoid that seller. This type of chamber is difficult to load and the seller is trying to skirt the safety guidelines to build a larger bore on a small barrel. This also applies sellers at gunshows as referenced by Dumpstick. To be fair I have never been to Wannamaker yet. I do know there use to be a guy up in Kansas who set up at that show and he built some very nice and safe guns.</p><p></p><p>If you are really interested in shooting cannons try joining us over GBO <a href="https://www.go2gbo.com/forums/blackpowder-mortar-cannon-by-seacoast-artillery.88/" target="_blank">https://www.go2gbo.com/forums/blackpowder-mortar-cannon-by-seacoast-artillery.88/</a>. Or we can talk here, shooting, building, buying.</p><p></p><p>I am bit surprised at the lack of cannon shooting here in OK. I would have thought there would be a few cannoneers around. I was a bit dismayed recently when I inquired at the OKC Gun Club where I am a member about shooting my model cannons. I ask and offered to discuss what I had in mind-the response from the Club board without inquiry or discussion was , "That is a Hard No." I am not a voting member, just a non voting. But I still pay dues, which aren't cheap. But you would think they might have been bit more courteous and open minded and inquired about what I was asking.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="TheDoubleD, post: 3599551, member: 43754"] Dumpstick is pretty correct. That would be simplest. But even that has a caution built into . Folks up stream are partially correct also. But only partially. Depending on Caliber either GCA68 of NFA apply. Both laws have a provision for exempting antiques. To paraphrase the law as it relates to cannons: "Any cannon or mortar made in or before 1898 or any replica there of that doesn't use fixed commercially able ammo or uses an antique ignition system. Muzzloading by it's self isn't sufficient." To get a specific and exact definition contact ATF Technology Branch. Do not rely on anything written here or found on the internet, for an absolute correct answer. Laws change and, experts are not. Get a determination in writing from ATF. I have several of these written letters from ATF especially for modern designs. Generally speaking if you buy a cannon that is muzzleloading and fuse fired legally you are on pretty safe grounds. Complying with law is pretty simple. Being safe is quite another thing. For about 20 year I have been a Moderator on the GBO Cannon board. Some of the things that have come across that board that people want to shoot is scary. Water and muffler pipe do not make safe cannon tubes. There are suggested minimum safety standards for cannons. For safety sake follow them. Every year around New Years and 4th of July we hear of cannon accidents. That piece of drill rod you welded a plug in, that you have been dumping what ever powder you can find in for the past 20 years could fail next shot. We have seen a lot of those accident. A cannon blows up and someone is killed or injured and it never fails, someone says, "we have been shooting for years and never had a problem before." One of the basic safety rules is the wall of the cannon should be the same thickness as the diameter of the bore. If the bore is one inch then the wall over the chamber should be one inch. And the breech end should also be 1 inch. For some one who wants to start shooting cannons I suggest you pick up one of the Traditions cannon and learn how to shoot it. [URL]https://www.traditionsfirearms.com/category/Cannons[/URL]. This is a good place to start. If you have the skills buy a complete barrel and build you own carriage. Try [URL]https://brooks-usa.com/[/URL] . Mike Brooks makes brass barrels in a number designs. I have several of his barrels. My Napoleon is on the left below. [ATTACH type="full"]211534[/ATTACH] If you have the skills and tools you can pick up some plans from [URL]http://gunneyg.info/html/AOPCatalog.htm[/URL] . These are copies of of the original drawings. You can indeed build a full size gun from these plans or us the chart in the back of most plan sets to scale down. If you build scale cannon from these plans, you will building in the safety features of the day. Cannons for sale on line. Be very very careful. Before buying make sure you understand how a cannon is safely constructed. You will see sellers on line mention reduced powder chambers. If you see that avoid that seller. This type of chamber is difficult to load and the seller is trying to skirt the safety guidelines to build a larger bore on a small barrel. This also applies sellers at gunshows as referenced by Dumpstick. To be fair I have never been to Wannamaker yet. I do know there use to be a guy up in Kansas who set up at that show and he built some very nice and safe guns. If you are really interested in shooting cannons try joining us over GBO [URL]https://www.go2gbo.com/forums/blackpowder-mortar-cannon-by-seacoast-artillery.88/[/URL]. Or we can talk here, shooting, building, buying. I am bit surprised at the lack of cannon shooting here in OK. I would have thought there would be a few cannoneers around. I was a bit dismayed recently when I inquired at the OKC Gun Club where I am a member about shooting my model cannons. I ask and offered to discuss what I had in mind-the response from the Club board without inquiry or discussion was , "That is a Hard No." I am not a voting member, just a non voting. But I still pay dues, which aren't cheap. But you would think they might have been bit more courteous and open minded and inquired about what I was asking. [/QUOTE]
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