Pellets for salute cannons and fire resistant wadding

[230RN]

I've got a small salute cannon I picked up a long time ago. Bore .500", depth 4.25"

Retrieved it from storage recently. Made a pretty good bang, but I haven't fired it in decades.

The muzzle is dinged up from its flipping over under recoil and the wheels are gone now.

I have loose honest-to-gawd BP but I also have some "30-gr volume equivalent" Hodgdon Pistol pellets for a black powder replica .44 revolver.

Questions:

(1) General disclaimers about safety aside, has anyone ever had experience in using compresssed BP substitute pellets in a model salute cannon of about this size?

(2) I've been using tissues and TP and the like for wadding, but that was about 20 years ago. Nowadays, with a much-elevated fire danger, I've been thinking of using that fire resistant wadding that the model rocketeers use for wadding to eject their parachutes. Has anyone got any experience with using that parachute wadding for salute cannons?

I did a quick search on this but found nothing really relevant. I'm sure it's just poor search technique, but relevant links would also be welcome.

The balls, by the way, are from my replica revolver and are much too small for the actual bore of the cannon --they're just there for photographic purposes.

 

[patentmike]

I've seen aluminum foil used as wadding in a full size canon at Fort Davis Texas. Seemed to work ok.

 

[Misfire99]

I have read about using hornet nest paper for wadding. But you might have some difficulty getting it away from the hornets.

 

[DixieTexian]

Awe, getting it away from the hornets is easy. Just sneak up on it slowly and slip a trash bag over it. Tie the top and break it off. Then you go home and throw it in the freezer for an hour or so.

 

[Cannonball888]

1) BP substitutes should be fine
2) Don't worry about fire-proofing. I just use an empty 40lb dog food bag for wadding and I use my boots to put out the fire.

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

Cannonball888: That is either one large cannon or one small dog as I see the picture. Or is it an illusion? Inquiring minds would like to know.

 

[Cannonball888]

It's a working full-scale replica of a 1837 Mountain Howitzer, the smallest and most portable cannon the US Army ever had. The barrel alone weighs 300lbs and was originally cable of being transported on the back of a mule.

 

[Misfire99]

If he doesn't have a dog forty pounds of dog food might be a little much for party h'orderves.

 

[English Bob]

Nice looking Boxer you have there CB888.

 

[230RN]

MY concern with the pelleted BP substitutes is that I can envision one building just enough pressure to get thrown out of the barrel while it is still burning --with negative consequences.

Or, if two are loaded into the barrel, one blowing the other out --with the same negative consequences, but further away.

 

[Tru Griff]

Cannonball888: Where can a cannon like yours be purchased? I dont really like the choice DGW has and their Mtn Hwtzr is 3/4 scale.

230RN: Here is a thread that may help a little. Basically asked question about my .60cal rifled mountain howitzer.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=297402