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As a newbie, I think this is an appropriate question-
I have a small muzzle loader cannon - 1/4 inch bore, 5 inches long, from an estate. With decades of target shooting I have a rough idea of how to proceed.
Where might I go to get the right kind of powder, fuse etc and advice on how to safely load and fire it? Just want to initially use it as a "signal cannon" in honour of the deceased owner.
I have no idea, but I'd like to hear about this. If you get it working, please make sure to post a video.
You might want to take a gander here.
https://www.bing.com/search?q=Instru...ANNTA1&PC=ASTS
I started here I have 1” bore cannon use long fuse first time. Then inspect cannon for any damage
https://www.go2gbo.com/threads/shoot...sories.180220/
I made one as a kid in machine shop, only used black powder and started with small charges with a paper wad to hold it in.
I was never able to find cannon fuse in Canada, and made my own with masking tape and smokeless powder. Using black powder burnt way too fast for a fuse.
I just sprinkled a line of smokeless powder onto a creased piece of paper, then stuck the tape onto that, pulled it off and folded it together. Make a bunch and play with them first to see how fast they burn and how much you want to use.
My Grandfather had a small training cannon he got from a scuba diving on Spanish Galleon in the English Channel. He used black powder, I believe would be around a 2F but not sure, he just used a touch stick on the primer hole, no wick. Be sure you have the real thing before you use black powder, if there are casting marks its probably not usable for firing.
Black powder is getting pretty hard to find. The Goex plant blew up. Pyrodex should work, but do your research. A lot of small gun shops seem to have cannon fuse. Found some at cheshers in Belleville and accuracy plus in Peterborough this past summer.