On Sun, 09 Jun 2013 16:41:33 -0500, Ignoramus20041
wrote:
On 2013-06-09, Paul K. Dickman wrote:
"Ignoramus20041" wrote in message
...
Made this at work with kids today. Barrel approx 0.33" OD, 1.25" OD.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-e...609_153812.jpg
I want to have some idea of how much gunpowder I can put in there, and
what is the best way to make some safe projectiles like wads of paper
or some such. I want a modest BOOM and as little destructive power as
possible.
There is a small hole on top for putting in an igniting cord.
i
You can probably pack it full without much worry. It is short enough that
it'll blow most excess out the muzzle.
However, the rule of thumb with black powder guns is one grain per caliber
(50cal gets 50grains of powder) and work up or down from there.
OK, I figure that I will fill the length equal to appx. 2 times the ID
of the barrel. Can I use a better gunpowder than blackpowder?
Something that does not cause so much rusting?
i
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_powder_substitute
Hodgdon's Pyrodex was the first widely available substitute on the
market. Pyrodex is less sensitive to ignition than black powder, and
uses the same shipping and storage guidelines as smokeless powder.
Pyrodex is more energetic per unit of mass than black powder, but it
is less dense, and can be substituted at a 1:1 ratio by volume for
black powder in many applications.[1] Pyrodex is similar in
composition to black powder, consisting primarily of charcoal, sulfur,
and potassium nitrate, but it also contains graphite and potassium
perchlorate, plus additional ingredients protected by trade secret.
Originally available as loose powder in two granularities, RS
(Rifle/Shotgun) equal to FFG black powder, and P (Pistol) equal to
FFFg black powder, Pyrodex is now becoming available in Select and
solid pellet varieties. While Pyrodex offers improved safety and
increased efficiency (in terms of shots per pound of powder) over
black powder, the level of fouling is similar; Pyrodex is caustic and
corrosive.
Hodgdon also makes Triple Seven, one of the family of sulfurless black
powder substitutes. Triple Seven and Black Mag3 are more energetic
than black powder, and produce higher velocities and pressures. Still
burning carbon, the carbon-based fuel burned here is from the sugar
family, not from charcoal.
Western Powders Company introduced Blackhorn 209 in 2008. Like many
other black powder substitutes, it is made to be a volumetric
substitute of black powder. It is dispensed in "black powder powder
measures" for muzzleloading applications. Blackhorn 209 is essentially
non-corrosive, low-fouling, very consistent in gas generation, but
non-hygroscopic.[2]
Most of those (other than Pyrodex) require more "containment" so you
would be pushing more wadding in the barrel and packing it tightly.
There really isnt a need for cleaning such a cannon. When done
shooting it..simply hit it with the garden hose and then give it a
shot of PB Blaster or anything that will not evaporate until the next
time you use it.
gunner
--
"You guess the truth hurts?
Really?
"Hurt" aint the word.
For Liberals, the truth is like salt to a slug.
Sunlight to a vampire.
RaidŽ to a cockroach.
Sheriff Brody to a shark
Bush to a Liberal
The truth doesn't just hurt. It's painful, like a red hot poker shoved
up their ass. Like sliding down a hundred foot razor blade using their
dick as a brake.
They HATE the truth."