Blowing up cars with a Civil War Whitworth cannon.wmv

[agentgreengnome]

the sound of the ball plowing through the air is awsome

[alternatehistories]

Hmm...what are the small explosions on the ground just to the side of the vehicles before they blow up?

[piutesteve]

@alternatehistories As you probable know explosive projectiles are illegal. The shots from the cannons are hitting the cars but the explosives are triggered remotely. We used to set the detenators in the cars but sometimes the cannon shot hit the electronics and stoped the detonation. So all the triggering stufff is placed about 10 feet to the side safe from the cannon shots.

[alternatehistories]

@piutesteve No, I wasn't aware that exploding shells were illegal...but I understand now what is going on. Thanks 4 the clarification. It must be nice to be able to own one of those. I'm sure it weren't cheap!!! Keep the vids coming.

[Civilwarbulletguide]

nice!!

[Ettoredipugnar]

This is why I love america. : )

[fmj29redux]

i've herd the whitworth bolt makes a distinctive and terrifying sound as it flys through the air.

[piutesteve]

@fmj29redux I have heard that also. We are going to set up a camera by the target so you can see the bullet leave the muzzel and hit the target. That video will have sound.

[Sindrio2]

Were the cars rigged with explosives?

[piutesteve]

@Sindrio2 Yes they were.

[Gerg424]

Great video - do you have one that shows how much recoil your cannon has for normal shots?

[piutesteve]

@Gerg424 If you watch the proof testing video the last shot is typical recoil for my load. I shoot 8 oz of 2f black powder with an 11 pound bullet. The Civil War load was 1.75pounds of powder. I have shot that Load and it rocks your world!!! The cannon comes back about 10 feet on hard level ground. It tooooo expencive for a working man to shoot that much powder. Check out the rest of my videos. Thanks Steve

[pwn4fly]

crazy americans ! / from sweden =)

[Nitricthunder]

that shit is too cool!

[piutesteve]

The original projectiles were cast iron. I do not have the capability to cast iron so mine are lead (wheel weights) They weight 10 pounds 11oz. That is about the weight of the originals.I shoot 10 oz of ff black powder. The original load was 1.75 pounds. You can see my mould on some off my other videos. just search for (piutesteve)  thanks Steve

[Nitricthunder]

@piutesteve Is this lone pine, CA becuase i used to live in bishop.

[ethix123]

@Nitricthunder i was born in Bishop :)

[1joshjosh1]

This is great!!!

What type of projectile was that,it is hard to learn about all the different civil war

shot types with out seeing them live fire.You can read about it 10 times in a book

but its nice to see the boom at the end of the range.

Thank you for this posting

[JagdtygerII]

That is all right there Piutesteve, just let me know how the mixed load works. I am curious about that.

[JagdtygerII]

I was watching that car explode, was that a live 12 pdr shell? If so, how much powder was in it and how is such exempt from BATF>??

[piutesteve]

@JagdtygerII It was just a lead bullet . The explosives are already in the car. If you look close you can see the priming charge go off to the left of the car.

[JagdtygerII]

@piutesteve

I thought that might be the case as I did see the priming charge go off and wasn't sure if it was not a secondary flash. Sure looked real enough and a lot of fun though. How come you only use FFg instead of a mix of F or FFg and something like the Pyrodex pellets, would it be too much pressure? Many of our Civil War Cannon used Prismatic Powder so I was not sure.

[piutesteve]

@JagdtygerII I tried all the grades of black powder. The only thing I could get any accuracy with was FF or even FFF. Not FFFA  just FFF pistol powder. I shoot FFF in the muzzel loader (Diego) Thats the only way I can get the hollow base bullets to expand into the rifling. I get alot of shit about too much pressure with FFF pistol powder so that's why I proof test so hot. 3 to 4 pounds of powder . My barrels are NOT cast Iron They are ordnance steel with 4140 or 8620 heat treated breeches

[JagdtygerII]

@piutesteve

I wasn't trying to give you $hit about using pistol powder. I was genuinely curious as the Civil War Ordnance did use preformed Pellet type powder to acheive higher velocities and more even burning. I agree with you that even though you are using alloy steel in place of cast Iron, proof testing with double and even tripple powder charges and a double weight shot is a good safety test to proof a barrel. Especially if I or someone I love is going to be pulling the lanyard.

[piutesteve]

@JagdtygerII I am Sorry, I was not saying you were giving me $hit. My local cannon buddies are the ones that give me a hard time about it. I have thought about mixed powder loads and it seems like a good idea. There are so many variables with the cannons I just haven't tried it yet.

[piutesteve]

@JagdtygerII I am Sorry, I was not saying you were giving me $hit. My local cannon buddies are the ones that give me a hard time about it. I have thought about mixed powder loads and it seems like a good idea. There are so many variables with the cannons I just haven't tried it yet.

[piutesteve]

@JagdtygerII I am Sorry, I was not saying you were giving me $hit. My local cannon buddies are the ones that give me a hard time about it. I have thought about mixed powder loads and it seems like a good idea. There are so many variables with the cannons I just haven't tried it yet.

[JagdtygerII]

@piutesteve

In addition, the mix I was asking about was one in which about half the charge was FFg or FFFg for fast ignition and Pellets for smoother and longer pressure curve in the barrel. The loose powder would reliably ignite the pellets and hopefully expand the king sized minie ball you use while the pellets would maintain a slighly lowe max pressure for a longer time than your current load.

[TexDad1971]

holy mackerel. Those cars were toasty toast.

[JeffHokie]

The Army of Northern Virginia used two of these at the Battle of Gettysburg. They were stationed behind the line and shelled Union supply wagons from over 2 miles.

[KeiPyn24]

Cool was that a disappearing gun on the right?

[piutesteve]

@KeiPyn24 No, but it does look loke one.

[piutesteve]

@KeiPyn24 you can get a better look at the gun if you check out my videos. You can see the proof testing of that gun

[zr700]

Sweet!