On the Range with the Traditions Mini Ironsides Cannon

Full disclosure, this kit was sent to me by Traditions to build on the channel. I do not benefit from the sale of this kit.

We’re on the range with our miniature, but fully operational, cannon. Following the Traditions safety manual, we can have some powder-burning fun. According to the book that comes with the cannon, Traditions recommends real black powder, Pyrodex, or Triple 7 powder for this cannon. If using Triple 7 (777) powder, reduce your charges as stated in the manual to stay within the safe charge size. Traditions recommends we stick to 20 grains of 2F or 3F powder (reduce for Triple 7) and use a max size .490 pure lead groundball with a .010 patch.

A cannon fuse is something you’ll need and probably don’t have. Traditions sell their own cannon fuse, but I sourced mine from Flintlocks LLC. Apart from the load data for the cannon, the cannon fuse and fuse safety is the #2 safety priority for this cannon. When you purchase a new lot of cannon fuse, you want to test it to make sure it burns at a safe rate. According to Traditions, their cannon fuse burns at a rate of 40 seconds per 12 inches of fuse. I found the fuse I purchased to burn at a rate of ~36 seconds per 12 inches of fuse. In my experience, this was a slow enough burn rate to use the fuse safely. Your mileage may vary.

I found the combo of 20 grains of 2F powder (I used GOEX for the first time on the range) and a .490 ball and a 0.10 patch was still a little tight in the .50 smoothbore barrel. You might have an easier time with some .485 balls or by using no patch and instead using some wadding on top of the ball.

Accuracy isn’t the focus of this little cannon, but I was still able to hit an outdated campaign sign (generally free after election season is over, always get permission from the homeowners before taking their sign) from 10 yards a few times. With the utilitarian smoothbore barrel, we can have fun with several combinations of loads, including some faux “canister shot” loads like those unfortunate regiments would have seen while marching across the battlefield.

If you are looking for a ceremonial use for the cannon, you don’t need to load this cannon with any projectile at all. Loading the cannon with powder and wadding is a great way to have a ‘ceremonial’ cannon to celebrate birthdays or other holidays. Each year you’ll see many muzzleloading enthusiasts celebrating Independence Day by firing their cannon with simple wadding made from paper towels.

This was certainly a small experiment, but friends of the program have already recommended some fun ideas from miniature battleships to recreating canister shot. I’m excited to do some more research and dive into miniature cannonering in the future.