Cannon Steel

[burch]

I`m working a job right now and found some solid stock. I have 5 pieces that range from 2" dia. to 3" dia. Some of it is round and some is octagonal. The shortest one is around 2 1/2' long. My question is: is this stuff good enough for making cannon barrels ?

burch

 

[buzz]

what matters is the carbon content of the steel want low carbon steel like1018 works well and remeber the bore should be no more then 1/3 the dia

 

[burch]

My wife is a non ferrous metal buyer for a major corp. She has a gun that measures metal content so i`ll have to get her to bring home her gun. If this is good stuff i`ll have enough to make several cannon barrels or maybe just sell the stock cheap enough to get the rest of the supplies to make myself one. I have a mini cannon that I use for fun and no projectile. I really wanted a golfball cannon. :thumbsup:

 

[Blizzard of '93]

until around 1890 cannons were cast iron - before that (until around 1650) they were brass or bronze so your rolled steel material is good for cannon but keep the powder charge on the low side and work up carefully

 

[TheDoubleD]

until around 1890 cannons were cast iron - before that (until around 1650) they were brass or bronze so your rolled steel material is good for cannon but keep the powder charge on the low side and work up carefully

There were specific formula for both the Gunmetal bronzes and the cast steel guns used in the old guns.

Because of metal fatigue each type of metal has a specific number of rounds that could be fired before the guns was taken out of service.

Cast iron was rejected very earlier on as too brittle in gun use.

Experimentation went on in casting crude steels back in the 17th century. As advancements were made in cast steels they were incorporated in cannons.

Not all modern steels are suitable for gun barrel use even at blackpowder pressures. 1018 is considered the preferred steel as it has all the qualities need for a cannon barrel-tensile strength, ductility, and weldablility.

The 4140 class steel also know as ordnance steel used in modern arms is not desired for the hobbyist cannon maker as it requires special welding techniques to avoid embrittlement around the welded areas.