Loading Cannon Cartridges

[Double D]

C. Peter Jorgensen Editor of the Artilleryman has kindly granted us permission to post copies of an article published in the Artilleryman in 1988 on how to make cartridges for the Cannon.

Thanks Pete!

[Double D]

Getting ready for tomorrow and making charges for the 1841 Cairo gun. I had to make up some gear for rolling cartridges.  Using the guidelines from the Artilleryman article, here's what I came up with.  The measurements here are for a 1 inch bore.

First I cut a length 3/4 copper pipe.  I deburred the pipe inside and out.  Then I weighed out a charge and put it in the sandwich bag pushed it down the pipe.  I measured the depth of charge in the pipe and marked that on the outside of the pipe. Then I added a mark the diameter of the pipe to the first mark and figured the total length including the fold over on the end.  For this charge that measurement was 3 inches. 

With my cutting board and cutting wheel I cut a 3 inch wide strip.  I already knew from past experience, I would get three wraps.



I rolled the foil around the copper pipe former using the long mark as a guide and folding the end over as I went.



When the entire cartridge was rolled around the former, I used a dowel to compress the folds.



Next with the powder in the corner of the sandwich bag I inserted it in the pipe.



After powder “bulb” was in the pipe I twisted the bag and cut off the excess.



Then with the dowel, I pushed the powder bag down into the foil cartridge, pushing the now loaded cartridge off the pipe former.



I twisted the top of the foil cartridge closed and trimmed the foil tail with scissors.



Next step, smoke and fire!!!!

[Ex 49'er]

DD,    My approach is similar to yours for my 1" bore. I use a length of white PVC pipe cut to length of cartridge 1 - 2 inches.
         Wooden dowel fits inside of pipe. I roll the foil on the dowel, fold end over and tamp down. Add powder,
         fold foil over the top, insert dowel and tamp again. It fits nicely inside of a film canister until it's needed.
         On the top of the film canister is a colored garage sale label with the powder charge weight written down.
         
         Everybody probably has a favorite way of doing this and there are as many ways of doing it as there are stars in
         the night sky. Some are simple and some are very elaborate.

[Double D]

That's the deal with this board, we all have ideas how to something.  We may have worked something out, and then someone comes alongs and shares their way and does the same thing, better.

I have learned a lot from this board.

 

[BoomLover]

Used a 1 1/4" dowel to wrap the foil (3-4 wraps) around when making packet charges for a 1 1/2" bore. Used 1 1/2 oz. Fg, twisted and trimmed both ends, and picked up another idea, using a 18 count egg carton as secure transport for all the rounds we needed! Works great, and got some made up for the 4th! Hope everyone has a safe and happy Holiday! BoomLover

[navygunner]

I haven't been using the baggies as my artillery unit doesn't use then but I just might try that. I like the idea of using the egg carton crate as a means of transport. I'm wondering if the plastic egg containers they use in the RV industry might also work.

NG

[KABAR2]

I haven't been using the baggies as my artillery unit doesn't use then but I just might try that. I like the idea of using the egg carton crate as a means of transport. I'm wondering if the plastic egg containers they use in the RV industry might also work.

NG

Some believe that placing BP in a plastic bag and then inside aluminum foil sets up the possibility of an electrical field, perhaps cannonmn can chime in on this.
I never used plastic in mine either, but there was no need as they were being used right away.

[Victor3]

 This is the 1" setup I use. I originally made these tools up to do nitrated paper cartriges, but foil works just as well.

 The parts are made from scrap plastic I had. The white rod is teflon and has a slight taper on it to make it easy to remove the formed tube...

[Ex 49'er]

Victor3, That is a good looking setup. I'll have to give it a try w/loading the ball into the foil.
Never would have thunk that one by myself. Thankyou for that tip.

[navygunner]

That is a sharp fixed round, have you tried loading shot for a cannister round??
 
geo

[Victor3]

 I've tried it with shot (bird and buck) using a cardboard disk between powder and shot. It works okay, but I was underwhelmed with the performance. A cylinder bore 12 ga shotgun does better.

[Double D]

Is the ball undersized? Any problem with tightness loading?

[Victor3]

 I made my ball mould .975", bore is 1". No problem loading, even with a few wraps of foil.

[Double D]

Okay, so does it shot better with or with out the ball in foil?

[Victor3]

 I haven't done any accuracy testing between ball in/ball out. I may try next time out.

 Having it in the foil does prevent the ball from rolling out when I shoot down into a wash at one of my shooting spots though.

[Double D]

   Having it in the foil does prevent the ball from rolling out when I shoot down into a wash at one of my shooting spots though.

That may be an issue in Montana.

[subdjoe]

Am I correct that the only purpose of the plastic bag is to prevent grains of powder from getting into the folds of the foil and smouldering?   

[Double D]

Am I correct that the only purpose of the plastic bag is to prevent grains of powder from getting into the folds of the foil and smouldering?   

That's correct. It's only a solution to a problem that occured.

[subdjoe]

Am I correct that the only purpose of the plastic bag is to prevent grains of powder from getting into the folds of the foil and smouldering?   

That's correct. It's only a solution to a problem that occured.

Thank you.  Since the back end of the cartouche that we worm out goes into the sponge bucket, that isn't really a concern. I believe our reenacting club does not want us using plastic because some who have tried it have had moderate sized globs of melted plastic/foil amalgams going at least 30 yards downrange.  Kind of amazing what can survive the blast and heat.