Badger Busting Cannon

[hotfxr]

Buddy and I went with our wives to the local rennaisance fair, we saw a small catapult, which he remarked was similar in size to my cannon.  After a mead or two, we began wondering is there is a possible projectile similar to a water balloon to fire at each other. We may have to settle for catapults but the idea of a water balloon mortar duel seems like fun.

Knowing just a bit about hydrology and knowing what an exploding depth charge feels like and why, I can firmly state that water and cannons will not mix. The only way you could shoot water would be inside a can, which means you are now shooting a can at someone or ice, which can do a lot of damage (but leaves no evidence when it evaporates). Even if there was some way to shoot a water balloon and defying the laws of physics it stayed intact, it would do almost as much damage as a normal projectile when it hit. I think the only thing that would be guaranteed to happen with a water balloon in the barrel is that barrel is going to blow up. Not might, going to. Please do not even think of trying it. Now a catapult sounds like a lot of fun and I ran into a guy that is building one and wants my help with a couple of things on it so it looks like it's time to learn a bit about them. I should have some free time after I dispatch that annoying Red Badger guy into the firmament. If you get involved in one, be sure to chronicle your adventure here, we love stuff like that.

[beowulf]

catapults and trebuchet seem to be a rather common thing today ! seems the brits cant be trusted with fire arms ,but pre black powder artillery is fine  . https://youtu.be/oaZRhoxtHKY

[Watauga]

"seems the Brits cant be trusted with fire arms"

Yep beowulf............... Perhaps the Brits recall what happened when a bunch of Brits had enough back in 1776??  

[hotfxr]

Now I am zeroing in on completion of the first Badger Blasting Cannon in the West. Held together with baling wire and thumbtacks, I took it out for a ride to get some critiques on the wheels and the planned fastening methods. Plus I just wanted to see how much trouble I could get into with a covered cannon in the back of my (ex) little red S-10 before I sold it. (The truck, not the cannon.) Seems some people can really get their dander in an uproar when they see a cannon driving down the road. It looked pretty innocent to me.



Went through my brother in law's recycle bin and found the handles and made backing plates for them. Still have to make some iron hooks to hang the rams on both sides of the cheeks and maybe a couple of loops at the tail for an aiming pole. I had an elevation control started. It seems that a hand wheel from a treadle sewing machine is the perfect size and looks cool enough to be close to correct and we just happened to have a treadle machine in the house, just sitting there in the hallway folded all up, covered with mail & keys. I figured who would miss it? I found out who would miss it when I had to put it back on the machine. I ordered one off of Ebay and as soon as it gets here, it will be complete. Paying $25 for the wheel brings my material cost of the carriage up to, now let's see, add this, divide by that, take the square route of the old road, and we get, oh yeah, $25. Red Badger, you are going to be decimated by a discounted bargain basement cannon my friend.









As long as they are not picking tomorrow, we are going to shoot a projectile up into the vineyard across the driveway with a mini load (half ounce of 3FFF) just to get an idea of the trajectory and to see if it happens to hook or slice or just heads straight on out. Now if I can find some RWS musket caps with out having to take out a loan on the house, I can start on some alternate ignition systems. I am getting kind of burned out on building or I would tackle making some friction fuses. And I certainly don't want to have to pay a buck a piece for them at this point in time.

[pilgrim]

      http://www.cannonfuse.com/store/pc/Fuse-c2.htm

      http://www.firefox-fx.com/kits.htm

     

[Watauga]

hotfxr    That is one fine Badger Buster! A true work of Art!     
  But Badgers are Sneaky & Tough Critters!  So you might need to get a Limber  and a few caissons to Haul Ammunition and move quickly as you are chasing down the "Dreaded Red Badger"      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limbers_and_caissons


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limbers_and_caissons#/media/File:CWlimberSIDE.jpg

[beowulf]

you`ve acheived wonders on that massive budget   

[punjab]

This "war"is starting to remind of the phony war in late 1939 early 1940 all talk no action,then everybody got into it I hope this thing doesn't end up the same way.Hauling a cannon around in the back of a pckup in California is my idea of living dangerously.

[hotfxr]

This "war"is starting to remind of the phony war in late 1939 early 1940 all talk no action,then everybody got into it I hope this thing doesn't end up the same way.Hauling a cannon around in the back of a pckup in California is my idea of living dangerously.

I drove that cannon around in the truck just for you, given your earlier post about transporting cannons. And being in the U.S.S.C. and living close to San Francisco I do believe I was taking my life in my hands, but really I just wanted to see how much trouble I could cause. Doggone Red Badger set the range for our duel at 1000 yards. I still am not sure I can find a place in this state where firing it off won't bring out the swat teams or even being able to find a 1000 yard range to shoot it at. But between me and my equally crazy friends I am sure we will come up with a safe area soon.If anyone knows of a sanctioned area that isn't more than a couple hour drive north of San Francisco, please let me know. If I have to make the 1800 mile drive to OK to duel it out in person, I will be somewhat miffed.

[pilgrim]

      I talked with a co-worker, about your cannon and told him about the duel.  We discussed the problem of the 1000 yard shot, he suggested goin to the beach  and positioning a rowboat at sea, 1000 yards and shooting from the land to the floating target.  Could maybe need to make a floating, pontoon target,  BUT will the USCG permit it???    Or maybe a privately owned Lake.

      It would make it a bobbing, wobbling  unsteady target,  BUT  I am certain that the Badger would not set still either.   I'm sure he has bobbed and wobbled a few times.   especially after seeing the cannon of his DOOM.

[Dogshirt]

This "war"is starting to remind of the phony war in late 1939 early 1940 all talk no action,then everybody got into it I hope this thing doesn't end up the same way.Hauling a cannon around in the back of a pckup in California is my idea of living dangerously.

I drove that cannon around in the truck just for you, given your earlier post about transporting cannons. And being in the U.S.S.C. and living close to San Francisco I do believe I was taking my life in my hands, but really I just wanted to see how much trouble I could cause. Doggone Red Badger set the range for our duel at 1000 yards. I still am not sure I can find a place in this state where firing it off won't bring out the swat teams or even being able to find a 1000 yard range to shoot it at. But between me and my equally crazy friends I am sure we will come up with a safe area soon.If anyone knows of a sanctioned area that isn't more than a couple hour drive north of San Francisco, please let me know. If I have to make the 1800 mile drive to OK to duel it out in person, I will be somewhat miffed.

As your second I offer the use of MY State. 1; we have LOTS of open space to go out to 1000 or even 2000 yards, and 2; we don't give a rats behind WHAT the USSC does or DOESN'T like! We, on MY side of the state, don't care what SEATTLE does or doesn't like! In fact, we don't care what ANYBODY may or may not like!
So make the shorter drive up here, we'll put YOU up, put the BADGER to rest, and have some killer craft brews while we're at it!

[Hawken50]

   Brother all kidding aside. That is one fine piece . Hats off to ya.

[ErikPrice1@msn.com]

Man that is one SWEET looking cannon. I most definitely have cannon envy. If you don't have proper cannon storage I'll volunteer one of my many fine storage facilities for it. 

[Red Badger]

In all seriousness: I am amazed at what you have produced and executed with almost no financial investment.  Just looking at the artillery piece you have created reminds me of how dangerous a determined human being can be...  When I suggested the cannon as my choice for this duel it was said in jest to get some conversation started as well as some bragging on my part.
While my cannon has a bit of history behind it - yours will gain it's fair share!  and it is homemade... You have the build photos and the thread to prove it's provenance.  my hat is off to you my friend!  now we just need to see a range report so go blow up some grapes

 

[gunmaker]

We got lots a OPEN SPACES over here in "the gravel pit" (Nevada) and our club shoots those big mouths, maybe 5-6 guns in spring mt. free trappers club here & will shoot for score at Nov. rondy...ya'all come....Tom