[GeoStL] Re: [GeoStL]Now: gunpowder, was: Our world has gone crazy!!!!!

  • From: "Dru C Reeves" <drur@xxxxxxx>
  • To: <geocaching@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2004 09:57:50 -0500

-
I remember when I fired a 155mm Howitzer. It makes a really big BOOM! Those
nuclear rounds fired from the 155 have a nice pretty mushroom that really
makes it worthwhile. :)

Dru 

-----Original Message-----
From: geocaching-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:geocaching-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jim Everman
Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2004 9:48 AM
To: geocaching@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [GeoStL] Re: [GeoStL]Now: gunpowder, was: Our world has gone
crazy!!!!!

-
GC-RGS wrote:
> 
> -
> Jim,
> 
> I used to buy all my gunpowder supplies (sulpher and saltpeter) at Old
> Orchard pharmacy in Webster. We learned that adding powdered aluminum
along
> with the charcoal make it burn much brighter and worked great in our
little
> pipe and carbide cannons. This was in the early 50's before drugs so it's
> all we had to keep busy.
> 
> Rich

 I built a cannon using two sizes of plain water pipe sweated
together. I tried just one first and it didn't burst, so I used two.
:-)

 My dad reluctantly agreed to let me fire it - we lived far out in the
Ohio country - as long as I used ONLY my home made black powder. He
knew I could make gun cotton and that was specifically forbidden for
use in the cannon. We had a blast with it. hahahahaha

 Anyway, at some point I worked out a way to make black powder in
granules that did not need to be tamped to the exact consistency to
burn properly. I loaded the cannon with it and proceeded to remove the
breech plug (regular plug in small pipe, cap on large pipe, gap filled
with sand).

 To my relief, I had lit the fuse, sighted the cannon and then for
whatever reason, decided to step off to the side. Usually I just fired
it with the touchhole. One of my smarter moves...

 Geo Jim

-- 
   Jim Everman       mailto:everman@xxxxxxxxxxxx
                     http://webusers.Anet-STL.com/~everman/
 
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