Sabot design help please
- Thread starter CANNONMAN
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You guys are correct; strictly speaking sabots were not needed with round shot but they were issued that way. When a projectile had the powder bag tied to the sabot, it was called "fixed ammunition". When the sabot was used but the powder bag was loaded separately, the ammunition was "semi-fixed".
It is also interesting to note that regulations prescribed the exact way ammo was to be stored in the "pigeon holes" of the ammunition chests, so even a newbie Number 6 getting ammo out of a chest knew exactly where to lay his hands on spherical case, canister, or whatever was needed, with no fumbling or wasted motion.
Jim
It is also interesting to note that regulations prescribed the exact way ammo was to be stored in the "pigeon holes" of the ammunition chests, so even a newbie Number 6 getting ammo out of a chest knew exactly where to lay his hands on spherical case, canister, or whatever was needed, with no fumbling or wasted motion.
Jim
BCRider
Member
You'd split the plug so the halves fall away, right?
But that style of bearing without a spin is going to tumble and likely arc off to one side or the other. Sort of makes taking the time to aim other than generally downrange superfluous.
I asked a while back if your bore was rifled or not. I'm sorry if I missed the answer. But if it is then the barrel bearings ( these are the rollers found in self aligning style bearings if I recall correctly) might be pretty good if the bore is rifled and if the wood sabot grips the bearing well enough to impart the spin. If it's smooth bore then it'll tumble and the bearing's flight will look like ol' McGee's walking stick as it zips back and forth and up and down changing direction multiple times during the trajectory.
Which brings us back to good ol' round ball in smoothbores. Or the use of a projectile with shuttle cock aerodynamics.
Are there any tin cans or thin wall metal tubing on the market that are just under your 1.7 inch bore? If you could fill just the end of them with something and leave the rear 1/2 to 2/3's empty the can or tube would form a nice stabilizing skirt. And the drag from the open back end would allow the projectile to drop in within a reasonable distance so you can see more of the flight and final impact. That alone should make it easier to retrieve them for multiple use.
But that style of bearing without a spin is going to tumble and likely arc off to one side or the other. Sort of makes taking the time to aim other than generally downrange superfluous.
I asked a while back if your bore was rifled or not. I'm sorry if I missed the answer. But if it is then the barrel bearings ( these are the rollers found in self aligning style bearings if I recall correctly) might be pretty good if the bore is rifled and if the wood sabot grips the bearing well enough to impart the spin. If it's smooth bore then it'll tumble and the bearing's flight will look like ol' McGee's walking stick as it zips back and forth and up and down changing direction multiple times during the trajectory.
Which brings us back to good ol' round ball in smoothbores. Or the use of a projectile with shuttle cock aerodynamics.
Are there any tin cans or thin wall metal tubing on the market that are just under your 1.7 inch bore? If you could fill just the end of them with something and leave the rear 1/2 to 2/3's empty the can or tube would form a nice stabilizing skirt. And the drag from the open back end would allow the projectile to drop in within a reasonable distance so you can see more of the flight and final impact. That alone should make it easier to retrieve them for multiple use.
YEP! You are correct Sir! Dern thing is gonna tumble like... well it's gonna tumble! The can! I think I'm gonna put the bearing in the can. Partially fill with concrete. Could even poke a cone into the setting concrete. This should give me the best. Oh, its, well, their all smooth bore. I've got a friend who has an antiaircraft barrel. 7" no breach. Wouldn't that be fun to work with!
Officers'Wife
Member
My uncle (may he rest in peace) had one cannon he was prone to fire PVC pipe out of. Usually fused with a pyrotechnic charge. I remember one particular "shell" that he spent many, many hours preparing. When fired it turned out to be what the pyrotechnic crowd calls a "multibreak" shell. The fuses were timed in such a way the report(s) made the ancient... "Shave and a haircut - BAY RUM!"
Thirteen years later the entire neighborhood has a sense of amazement my uncle managed to die of natural causes.
Thirteen years later the entire neighborhood has a sense of amazement my uncle managed to die of natural causes.
BCRider
Member
I'd feel like it was a good life well spent if I could leave behind that sort of amazement.
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