since this is welding and fabrication i thought id ask in here. I currently have a barrel made from a old hydraulic cylinder witch is approx 1/4 inch thick it is also seamless so i know its strong but not sure if its strong enough for say oxy/acty ? or possibly black powder ? what wall size and schedule pipe would be best for this application ? For the butt end i would like to run at least 1/2 thick or possibly bigger ? if any body has any experience making anything like this please chime in. i know this is dangerous but i accept the risk so id like to make this as safe as possible.

 

i dont think anyone is going to recomend you anything. seeing as how it could kill you. and you could say well he told me too. but you couldnt because you might be dead. good luck. try google alot of people make cannons.

 

Don't even try. Seriously, don't.

 

Ive made cannons out of gas pipe,

I made one that shoots a .54 cal minnie ball. Took the correct size pipe for the round and then layered it with another pipe about 1/3 of the length of the barrel and then another pipe about 1/4 the length and layered it on top. MIG welded them all together. Drilled a hole for the fuse and capped it off with a 1/4" thick piece of steel that was MIG welded on for the back plate.

You have to remember, black powder doesn't have much pressure like today's smokeless powders.

Its as accurate as any smooth bore rifle. Hits a target at 50 yards without an issue.

PS: Anything you do, you do at your own risk. Please read and understand the properties of the materials you'll be using.