a word of caution
! a word of caution
!
| It is unfortunate in this day and age that disclaimers must accompany many products. It's sad people still try to light barbecues or fires with gasoline. It's scary to hear about hunting accidents because mud or water was in someone's gun barrel when they pulled the trigger and the barrel exploded. Using your best judgment may mean your life if you don't have a clue what you are doing. People have placed black powder in Big Bang® carbide cannons! Sellers at auctions for used cannons have even suggested this. They "thought" this was the right thing to do. Use common sense when playing or experimenting with small cannon. Read the black powder section at this web site. If you don't know about shooting cannon, and want to learn, don't attempt it until you really understand what to do or talk to someone who can explain it. There are thousands of people who shoot cannon as a hobby. You can find them at reenactment shoots, riffle ranges, and in most gun stores. Inquire at your local police department. |
| September 2009 -
Update I created this page 10 years ago. I don't know how many lives have been saved from people reading it, or passing along the information, but I do know that it has been read by thousands. Dozens of viewers have called / emailed me giving thanks for the "heads up". Most appreciated. |
A Massachusetts Police station sent these photographs. The brass
barrel was 14 inches long with a 75 caliber bore. It was sold at a gun shop, with
instructions to use 100 grains of black powder. |
April 2002 This decorative cannon was offered for sale as a conversation piece. The seller, (a most honest one) explained the cannon had been "over-loaded" by some teenage boys and it burst when fired. The barrel was turned upside down and reinstalled in the carriage to hide the hole. There are some very fortunate boys out there. |
Caused
by exploding cannon 1891
This web-site is devoted to the hobby and history of small cannon. Many of these cannon, although considered toys, or saluting type cannon can be very dangerous. Unfortunately, people have been killed by small cannon, many others have lost their hearing, fingers and eyesight. It is not recommended that old cannon be fired. Accidents can be prevented.
Some common sense rules are;
1. Children should never be allowed to shoot black powder cannon, or larger salute type cannon. Adult supervision is required for firecracker type cannon shooting. Parents should light the fuses.
2. Never stand in front of a cannon! This includes one with a blank charge. Never point a cannon at any one. Make sure no one will be walking in front of even a blank firing cannon (at least 200 feet) when it goes off! The blast alone can hurt you or someone else.
3. Never use "smokeless gun
powder". It burns too quickly and the barrel may explode. The
same applies for firecracker or fireworks powder.
May
2004 - College students load cannon with Fireworks and it explodes -( Link was
closed.)
4. Never insert dynamite into a cannon
barrel!
It's been tried, however the person that did it, isn't here (or will be) to talk about it.
5. Never place objects in a cannon
barrel. This includes stones, marbles, bearings etc. Even Wet news paper will
cause a cannon barrel to explode. Golf balls are not a good source of ammo
for long barrels. The balls distort on powder ignition and may jam in the
barrel causing it to explode.
6. Cannon barrels can, and do
burst apart, sometimes sending shrapnel in all directions. Do you want a chunk of metal stuck in your
face? The first person killed during the Civil War, was a soldier at Fort Sumpter...
due to a cannon which he improperly loaded and it exploded.
Remember: The correct powder, The right amount!
Click
to see larger
7. Never insert live cartridges or shells into a cannon. Use only the correct size and type of blank cartridges and shells. If you don't know... don't guess. Ask a professional. Blank shells are usually marked, but not always!
8. Never,
never try to make a non "shootable" cannon (decorative cannon) into one that
shoots. Putting it frankly, this is a dumb thing to do! Real cannon barrels are designed to withstand the tremendous
pressure
caused by the powder explosion. Make sure it is a real cannon and not a
decorative one. A decorative or display cannon can be made out of metal,
but it may be the wrong kind. Attempting to fire one of these is surely a
disaster waiting to happen. A piece of pipe that "Uncle Bill"
says is safe, may not be.
To demonstrate this, years ago I put a half ounce of black powder in a copper
pipe and buried most of it in the ground, leaving the open end facing up.
We were standing over 100 feet away and behind a large tree. The explosion
created a large hole in the ground and the pipe, nor pieces of it were ever
found. That was just a cooper pipe. Steel / iron pipe will do the
same thing.
Real cannon barrels only, using the correct
black powder and correct amount.
9. Recoil... be prepared for the cannon jumping backwards. Some cannon flip over! The recoil is much greater when firing a ball.
10. Check with local laws before shooting a cannon. It is against the law in many towns and cities, simply because of a noise ordinance. Even BigBang® carbide cannons may be illegal to shoot.
11. If you are shooting a ball, be extra careful. You don't have a clue where it will go on the first shot. Some lead, mold poured cannon balls aren't perfectly round, and they can veer left, right, up or down in flight...
12. If you allow someone to use your cannon, be certain they know how to use it correctly.
13. Not all fuse is the same.... read this!
|
Please check out this link.. Fireworks laws .... Injuries... etc. |
Disclaimer
What you elect do with a cannon is beyond my control. Under no circumstances will I, the distributors or manufacturers be liable for any accidents that result from the use or attempted use from any cannon sold through this site. |
Keep the tradition alive by keeping it fun and safe.
