Old Ironsides kit shoot

[damoc]

Just a couple of shots from my old iron sides kit I screwed up and overcharged the load which is probably why it was recoiling so much. I thought I was using about 100 grains of BP but it was closer to 150.

 

[Mn Fats]

I had forgotten about these kits. When I saw your knee land into to the firing range it blew my mind for a couple of seconds.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Love it!! Looks like fun it went flying!

 

[forward observer]

I would think that even a charge of 100 grains is a bit stiff for that model. The recommended charge for a round ball for that cannon from the Traditions website is a minimum of 45 grains to a max of 80 grains of 1 or 2 ffg. I'd try something in the middle like 60 or 65 grains and adjust up or down as needed. You are going to damage or split the wood in your carriage if you keep getting that kind of recoil.

You might also want to construct a simple firing platform out of a piece of plywood with a simple railing mounted on the front with heavy enough eye bolts fastened to it. Then run some clothesline rope from the eye bolts to your cannon as a breeching line.

Check out this video of a model Dahlgren to get an idea of what I'm talking about.


BTW, the block of wood used for elevation is called the "quoin".

Cheers

 

[damoc]

That is pretty cool using a removable scope mount for the cannon In the video there seems to be a white ball that flies along after the main ball is this just a
wad or something else?

I would think that even a charge of 100 grains is a bit stiff for that model. The recommended charge for a round ball for that cannon from the Traditions website is a minimum of 45 grains to a max of 80 grains of 1 or 2 ffg. I'd try something in the middle like 60 or 65 grains and adjust up or down as needed. You are going to damage or split the wood in your carriage if you keep getting that kind of recoil.

BTW, the block of wood used for elevation is called the "quoin".

Cheers

 

[forward observer]

I'm guessing it's a heavy greased felt wad. Still, I'm surprised that it would fly as far as the ball. The guy who made that cannon is an amateur machinist and at one time he posted the build process and test firing on the black powder cannon section of the graybeard forum. I'll see if I can dig up his old posts from several years ago and link them.

Cheers

 

[forward observer]

I found the thread on the Graybeard forum with the build of the Dahlgren gun shown in the video. The white object that is seen flying behind the projectile is a small wooden sabot he had made for use with the steel ball bearings he was using.

Anyway, here's a link to the thread--It's like 6 pages with a lot of photos of his build:

https://www.go2gbo.com/threads/1-bore-ix-dahlgren.235606/

Cheers