STICKY: References: Books, the web, and "How to build ..."

[Cat Whisperer]

References - here is a place for references to topics related to mortars and cannons.  As it grows, we'll organize according to topic.  Let one of the moderators know of references that are accessible and we'll post them here.

HOW TO BUILD (links to):

CJ’s 1-1/2” bore 1/3 scale 6 pounder:
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,18274.0.html
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,13258.0.html
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,13760.0.html

Ellswworth Cannon:
http://www.nwtskirmisher.com/useful-extra4.shtml

Golf Ball Coehorn:
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,52532.0.html
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,54573.0.html
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,65636.0.html

Linstock:
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,65288.0.html

Mop:
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,36465.0.html


Quills:  
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,59198.0.html
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,95774.0.html

Powder Chamber Design:
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,63899.0.html
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,65321.0.html

Reaming a bore:
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,38410.0.html

RIFLING MACHINE:  
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php?topic=108012.0.html

Trunnion attachment:
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,60155.0.html

TRUNION STRAPS:  
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,95901.0.html
http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.php?topic=122939.0.html

Bowling Ball mortar:  
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,36962.0.html

Other cannons projects:
10" Gribeauval mortar drawing
Yorktown Mortar Drawing
The Tannenberg Gun
Soda can Coehorn
GGaskill Golf Ball Mortar Contest Entry
CU_Cannon Golf Ball Mortar Contest Entry
Cat Whisperer Golf Ball Mortar Contest Entry
DD Golf Ball Mortar Contest Entry
How to make a nice set of mortar handles
putting the mortar base together
Repost of much earlier pix of bending trunion straps
Making small capsquares or trunnion straps
12 pdr coehorn project
Carriage paint formula  
cardboard tube powder storage containers
Rolling your own paper quills
more: quill
Paper straws for quills
My Somewhat improved Linstock
Yet another linstock
Today's Project--Linstock
Slowmatch
Making NC Lacquer
KNO3
Lead acetate for Slow Match
How to use a linstock and make slow match
Weld Seam Liners
A Breech loading Swivel Gun
SAMCC Cannon plans
How to shoot the SAMCC Cannon
24pdr CS Mortar Drawings (Frame type bed)
Trunnion Pockets on a Drill Press
500gr powder measure
Powder funnel
Lots of Cannon plans from Dan
Gary casting a bronze cannon
Gary's Sabot
Powderkeg's Treatise on Drilling  



BOOKS (alpahbetically by title):

"Artillery Through the Ages", by Albert Manucy. Published by Division of Publications, National Park Service, Dept. of the Interior.

“Artillery and Ammunition of the Civil War”, by Warren Ripley, published by Promontory Press 1970.

“The Big Guns”, Civil War Siege, Seacoast, and Naval Cannon, by Edwin Olmstead, Wayne E. Stark and Spencer C. Tucker. Published by Museum Restoration Service, 1997.

"Cannons", An Introduction to Civil War Artillery, by Dean S. Thompson. Published by Thomas Publications, Gettysburg, PA.

“Field Artillery Projectiles of the American Civil War”, by Thomas S. Dickey and Peter c. George, Arsenal Press 1980.

“Field Artillery Weapons of the Civil War”, by James C. Hazlett, Edwin Olmstead, and M. Hume Parks, published by the University of Delaware Press, 1983 & 1988.

“The Lifesaving Guns of David Lyle”, by J.P. Barnett with a Preface by Harold L. Peterson.

"Round Shot and Rammers", An Introduction to Muzzle-loading Land Artillery in the United States, by Harold L. Peterson. Published by South Bend Replicas, Inc. (Great for anybody wanting to build their own carriage. There are lot's of diagrams that can easily be scaled.)


INTERNET:
The Handbook of artillery, 5th Edition, 1863:  http://members.cox.net/ltclee/Roberts.htm
Shooting Procedures:
http://www2.control.com/~emoore/marty.html
http://www.civilwarnews.com/artillerysaftey.htm
Gibbons Artillerist's Manual http://www.civilwarartillery.com/books/GIBBON.PDF
National Parks Historic Weapons Manual http://www.nps.gov/stri/upload/19thCArtyDrill2009-02-22.pdf

HISTORY:
Military History Institute: http://carlisle-www.army.mil/usamhi/
Military History, US Army Center of: http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/

C.W. HISTORY:
http://www.civilwarartillery.com/
http://www.civilwarhome.com/
http://www.civil-war.ws/artillery/
http://robinsonsbattery.org/4001.html

Spanish-American War:
http://www.spanamwar.com/

MUSEUMS:
Army Museums Directory: http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/Museums/museums.htm
The U.S. Army Ordnance Museum at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD.:  www.ordmusfound.org
The National Civil War Museum:  http://nationalcivilwarmuseum.org/
The Smithsonian Institution: http://www.si.edu/
Toy Cannon Museum: http://www.ray-vin.com/frmuseum.htm
US Army Museum Websites: http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/Museums/links.htm
Watervliet Arsenal (and Museum):  http://www.wva.army.mil/

Pre 1899 Cannon Post:
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=42824

Math/Calculations:
Round ball weight per alloy type calculator:  http://www.beartoothbullets.com/rescources/calculators/php/roundball.htm
George's Round Ball Calculator http://lassengunsmithing.com/html/ShotWeight.htm.

AIS/SAE Steel Numbering System:
http://www.carbidedepot.com/formulas-aisi-sae.htm

Properties of selected steels:

Weld Seam Liners

Estimated Mechanical Properties and Machinability  
of AISI and SAE Carbon Steel Bars http://www.macsteel.com/mdb/general_information/estimated_mechanical_properties_and_machinability_of_aisi_and_sae_carbon_steel_bars.htm

Estimated Mechanical Properties and Machinability Ratings of Selected Cold Drawn Alloy Steels http://www.macsteel.com/mdb/general_information/estimated_mechanical_properties_and_machinability_ratings_of_selected_cold_drawn_alloy_steels.htm

Machinablitiy of steels
http://www.carbidedepot.com/formulas-machinability.htm

Material Properties:
MatWeb, Your Source for Materials Information  http://www.matweb.com/index.asp?ckck=1

Links to Types of Brass:
Cartridge Brass
http://www.anchorbronze.com/c26000.htm

Links to Types of Steel:
12L14 (a resulfurized steel as is 1144sp )
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Campus/8262/htdocs/steels/12L14.html

4140 (used in barrels)
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Campus/8262/htdocs/steels/4140.html

1018 (often referred to as cold-rolled, but can also be hot rolled.)
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Campus/8262/htdocs/steels/1018.html

8620 (used in M-16 bolts - tough stuff!)
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Campus/8262/htdocs/steels/8620.html

Steel used in rifle barrels:
http://www.riflebarrels.com/products/default.htm
http://www.hartbarrels.com/
http://www.rifle-barrels.com/
http://www.gmriflebarrel.com/
http://www.badgerbarrelsinc.com/
http://www.montanarifleman.com/barrels.htm
http://www.barsto.com/
http://www.schuemann.com/ (check out the barrel steel listing)
http://www.obermeyerbarrels.com/steel.html

Computing bore size:
To compute the proper bore diameter for a given object to be used as a cannon projectile:
 
Measure the diameter of your perspective projectile.  Divide diameter by 39.   Multiply the result by 40.

Bore Size of commonly used items for cannon projectiles:
A bowling ball gun with proper windage would need a minimum bore of 8.815 inch.
Circumference of a bowling ball.  Max 27.002 inches.  27.002 xi .31831 = 8.595 maximum diameter of a bowling .  (8.595/39)x40= 8.815 inches http://www.topendsports.com/sport/tenpin/dimensions.htm

The Pressure tank need to make the expansion chamber for a bowling ball mortar for is the 300 CF, DOT 3AA2400 made by Taylor Wharton.
  
A golf ball gun with proper windage would need a minimum bore of 1.723 inch.
The diameter of a golf ball is 1.68 inch. .  (1.68/39)x40=1.723
http://www.learnaboutgolf.com/beginner/balltypes.html

A popcan mortar with proper windage needs a bore of 2.667.  
A Diet Coke can is 2.6 inches in diameter.  (2.6/39)x40=2.667

Dimensions and weight of cannon ball sinkers.
http://www.barlowstackle.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=6&Product_ID=1572&CATID=59

Dimensions of Pool Balls
All balls must be composed of cast phenolic resin plastic and measure 2 ¼ (+.005) inches [5.715 cm (+ .127 mm)] in diameter and weigh 5 ½ to 6 oz [156 to 170 gms]. http://wpa-pool.com/index.asp?content=rules_spec

measurement conversions
Convert: http://www.joshmadison.com/software/convert/ handy little free ware program to convert all sorts of units of measurement

References to Handgonnes and Hand Cannons
Handgonne
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/1945/Guns/Hgonne2.htm

Handgonne  Faustbüchse, Tannenberg, Danziger, Ballistic Pendulum, glowing poker wire, and more.
http://www.musketeer.ch/blackpowder/handgonne.html

Pole and hand cannons - Chinese & Vietnamese
http://bronzecannon.net/chinese_cannons.htm

handgonnes, matchlocks
http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~dispater/handgonnes.htm

Handgonne - Tannenberg
http://lassengunsmithing.com/html/tannenberg.htm

Weird Lenny's Place - lots of info
http://www.handgonnes.com/id75.html

WHOMISIT'S GONNES PAGE
http://www.geocities.com/whomisit/gonnes.html

Tabor Musket:
http://www.witchery.com/claypipe/tabor1.jpg
http://www.witchery.com/claypipe/tabor2.jpg

Teleocera's Pages:
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/1945/Guns/BP.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/1945/Guns/Hgonne.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/1945/Guns/Hgonne2.htm

References to Mortars
6-Funt Russian Mortar model of 1707
http://www.xenophon-mil.org/rusarmy/artymuseum/arty066s.htm

Coehorn mortar HISTORY
Baron van Coehorn (1641-1704), a Dutch Officer, designed a mortar first used at the siege of Grave in 1674; and SBML 10-inch
http://riv.co.nz/rnza/hist/mortar/mort2.htm

British 4.52 - Inch Coehorn Mortar
http://www.cannonsonline.com/product_pgs/barrels/features/britishCoehorn_mortar.htm

Thunder Mug - signal mortar
http://bronzecannon.net/mortars.htm

16-inch bronze stone mortar, Model of 1839.
13-inch seacoast and Navy mortar, Model of 1861
10-inch seacoast mortar, Model of 1861.
10-inch seacoast mortar, Model of 1840
10-inch seacoast mortar, circa 1807.
10-inch siege mortar, Model of 1861.
10-inch siege mortar, Model of 1840.
10-inch siege mortar, circa 1807.
8-inch siege mortar, Model of 1861
8-inch siege mortar, Model of 1840.
24-pounder iron Confederate Coehorn mortar
24-pounder bronze Coehorn mortar, Model of 1838.
12-pounder wooden mortar Made of oak and iron bands, mortars like this one were used at Petersburg
http://www.cwartillery.org/ve/mortar.html

1841 24 pounder (6”) Current location: Fort Point. San Francisco Bay.
http://www.nps.gov/prsf/coast_defense/third_system/thirdsys_cannons/smmortar3.htm

13” Seacoast “Dictator”
http://www.nps.gov/pete/mahan/Dictator.html


References to Cannons

Carronade
http://riv.co.nz/rnza/hist/car.htm
http://www.hms.org.uk/nelsonsnavycarronade.htm
http://www.palmersarmoury.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=40


Dahlgren Guns & Rifles
http://www.cwartillery.org/ve/dahlgrens.html
http://civilwar.bluegrass.net/ArtilleryAndArms/dahlgrenguns.html
http://www.virtualology.com/apjohnadolphdahlgren/

Napoleon
http://www.nps.gov/vick/interp/lhcannon.htm
http://www.galenahistorymuseum.org/napoleon.htm
http://usa-civil-war.com/Civil_War/definitions_2.html (scroll down to Napoleon Cannon)

Rodman
http://www.nps.gov/fowa/mammoth.htm
http://www.clpgh.org/exhibit/neighborhoods/strip/strip_n41.html
http://www.cwartillery.org/ve/tjrodman.html
http://www.pghhistory.org/historycenter/hc_education/pc-rodmancolumbiad.html
 (note the diagrams of the casting process)

References to Testing of Shootin' Irons

Pressure testing equipment:
http://www.oehler-research.com/
http://www.oehler-research.com/wizard.html

Test procedure - catastrophic testing
http://www.hpwhite.com/101-00.pdf

adequacy of the design features of a specific model of gun to resist those factors which result in firearm accidents. http://www.firearmsid.com/Feature%

References to Ignition Systems

Descriptions of Ignition Systems:
http://riv.co.nz/rnza/hist/gun/firing.htm

References to ORGANIZATIONS

Royal New Zealand Atrillery Old Comrades' Association
http://riv.co.nz/rnza/index.htm

Austrailian Artillary
http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-army-today/arty.htm

Forts and Cannon of the UK
http://www.palmerstonforts.org.uk/

LIBRARY Search Engines

Cornell University Library
http://library8.library.cornell.edu/moa/

[Double D]

Warning and disclaimer: Shooting cannons is not like shooting a big over sized muzzleloader.  There  is a completely different set of internal ballistics  involved.   Read up on cannon shooting before you acquire a cannon. Suggested reading is THE MORE COMPLETE CANNONEER  By M.C. Switlik with selected excerpts from other artillery manuals
The book can be ordered from these two suppliers.
The Complete Cannoneer from Matt Switlik
and
South Bend Replica

National Safety Rules and Procedures
for Shooting Muzzleloading Artillery, as adapted by the American Artillery Association March 2000

1. Powder charges should not exceed 2 oz. of Fg or 3 oz. FFA or Cannon Grade Goex powder per inch of bore diameter. No excessive charges. Use black powder only.

2. Prepare powder charges in advance using heavy duty aluminum foil. Baggies may be used inside the foil, taking care not to allow excess air in the baggies and removing excess plastic where unnecessary.

N-SSA National Rules for Cannons

10.8.1 CHARGES
Maximum powder charges for all cannon shall be limited to that amount permitted by the chart as published below in Table 10.1. Only commercially manufactured black powder of American standard Fg granulation (150,000 granules per pound/ or 220 granules per 10 gr. wt. (avdp.) sample), or a coarser granulation, may be used. Charges must be wrapped in a powder “bag” fabricated of at least one complete layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil.

For specific load for you bore refer to N-SSA National Rules for CannonsTable 10.1. Page 71 of 194 in the PDF file.


Moderator note: These rules applies only to guns over 2 inch bore. For guns smaller than 2 inch THE MORE COMPLETE CANNONEER compiled Agreeably to the Regulations of the War Department as published in "Artillery Drill" by George Patten, 1861 and Containing Other Observations on Antique Cannon By M.C. Switlik with selected excerts from other artillery manuals Appendix I has a load chart which is posted here by permission of the author.



This load chart is maximum load of a unpatched ball attached to a sabot.

Addendum For mortars and howitzers the the diameter of the powder chamber is the considered the bore diameter.

Click on this link to be taken to the post on loading cannon cartridges

Making Cannon Cartridges