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S.S.A.A. (QLD.) Inc. CANNON COEHORN MORTAR RULE BOOK

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S.S.A.A. (QLD.) Inc. CANNON COEHORN MORTAR RULE BOOK S.S.A.A. (QLD.) Inc. CANNON and COEHORN MORTAR RULE BOOK 2015 Edition TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Aims and Objectives Page 1 2 Firearm Specifications Page 1 3 Ranges Page 2 4 Targets Page 2 5 Ammunition Page 2 6 Safety Page 3 7 Range Commands and Loading Procedures Page 5 8 Misfires Page 6 9 State Championships Page 6 10 Trophies and Prizes for State Competitions Page 6 11 Scoring Information and Procedures Page 7 12 Records Page 7 13 Cannon Competition Rules Page 7 14 Coehorn Mortar Competition Rules Page 8 15 Protest and Appeals Committee Page 9 1. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1.1 This Discipline covers the safe operation of, and Competition with Black Powder, Smooth Bore Muzzle Loading (BPSBML) Cannon and for (BPSBML) Coehorn Mortars. 2. FIREARM SPECIFICATIONS 2.1 Equipment types: These Rules identify two types of Cannon and one type of mortar. 2.1.1 Demi Canon. Those cannons up to and including 19mm (.75 inch) calibre and which may use a patched ball. 2.1.2 Cannon. Those cannons over 19mm (.75 inch) and are to use a round ball with sufficient windage to roll freely down the bore. 2.1.3 Coehorn Mortar. Cannon with a lower calibre of 25mm (1 inch); internal barrel limit of four calibres with a charge chamber at the base of the barrel; elevation fixed at 45 degrees with range varied by charge weight. 2.2 All Cannons/Mortars to have a minimum total length of 75 centimetres. 2.3 All Cannons must be registered and conform to the specifications laid out in Weapons Categories Regulation 1997. 2.4 Regardless of Class, all Cannons shoot the same Competition – whether they shoot together or separately is the decision of the Match Directors. 2.5 Cast Cannons are to be equipped with a plugged steel liner. 2.6 Sights, if used, are to be typical of the historical period. Gun control and laying instruments typical of the period may also be used. PAGE 1 3. RANGES 3.1 Competitions may only take place on an approved Cannon Range. 3.2 Matches with either size Cannon and Coehorn Mortar are not to be shot over a distance greater than 200 metres. 4. TARGETS 4.1 Approved targets are to be based on the targets which would have been fired upon by these equipments during an engagement. 4.1.1 A cannon target will be a representation of a fort stencilled on a section of cardboard, corflute, particle board or similar penetrable material 2.4m by 1.2m and engaged at up to 200 metres. A door measuring 450mm high and 300mm wide will be drawn centred on the bottom edge of the target and windows measuring 200mm high and 200mm wide will be drawn and situated with the bottom edge of the window 800mm from the bottom edge of the target and the side edge of the window 300mm in from the edge of the target. 4.1.2 A typical mortar target would be a point target representing a gun emplacement, indicated by a flag bearing stake 1.8 metres high. 5. AMMUNITION 5.1 Projectiles 5.1.1 Only cast malleable or soft frangible balls are permitted for Cannon. 5.1.2 Only plastic or metallic cylinders filled with concrete are permitted for Coehorn Mortar. 5.1.3 No stabilising device is to be attached or incorporated in a Coehorn Mortar projectile PAGE 2 5.2 Propellant 5.2.1 Only commercially manufactured Black Powder or Pyrodex is permitted. 5.2.2 Demi Cannon charges are to be contained in cartridge paper or aluminium foil 5.2.3 Coehorn Mortar charges are to be loose powder. 5.2.4 Cannons in excess of 19mm (.75 inch) are to use charge containers constructed of a minimum of one ply of aluminium foil, all folds and pleats to face towards the muzzle of the Cannon and the base of the charge is to be marked with an “x”. 6. SAFETY All Members of the Gun Crew are to observe the following safety Rules :- 6.1 All Members are to wear eye protection. 6.2 Hearing protection is strongly recommended. 6.3 Adequate enclosed footwear is mandatory. 6.4 All Members are to wear protective leather gloves. 6.5 No Member is to move forward of the Cannon muzzle at any time. 6.6 When ramming home the charge/ball the Member will stand to the side of the Cannon using only one hand on the ramming device. 6.7 Gun crews will observe a time delay of one minute between sponging out and reloading. No Cannon is to be reloaded while other Cannons are firing. 6.8 Cannon wheels are to be chocked or otherwise secured to prevent excessive recoil. 6.9 Fuses are to be kept well clear during loading and priming. PAGE 3 6.10 No loading direct from the powder horn or flask – an intermediate measure is to be used to accomplish this task – larger Cannons are to use pre-made charges. (refer to Rule 5.2) 6.11 Coehorn Mortar firing is to be done by either fuse or percussion cap. 6.12 Coehorn Mortar Crew are to retire behind the line of the rear of the Mortar base, before firing. 6.13 No more than the hand of either of the Gun Crew is to be positioned in front of the Muzzle except for sponging out and ramming, and then only for the minimum amount of time. 6.14 The following safety devices for the Crew are to be present and used: 6.14.1 Leather Gloves 6.14.2 Eye Protection 6.14.3 Hearing Protection 6.14.4 Safety or contoured rammers - which are to have no sharp edges and are to have a contoured swell to throw the hand away from the Muzzle should a premature discharge occur. Grasp is to be in the gloved hand with the thumb pointed forward. A safety rammer can be of bent non sparking material or of a two piece manufacture. The operating portion can then be grasped over the rear of the barrel with the thumb facing to the rear. 6.15 The lanyard is not to be handled until directed by the Range Officer. PAGE 4 7. RANGE COMMANDS and LOADING PROCEDURES Range Commands and Loading Procedures to be used are as follows: 7.1 The bore is to be searched with a worm prior to the initial loading and once every three shots thereafter. 7.2 All loading and ramming is to be done from behind the muzzle of the barrel. 7.3 LOAD - The Gun Crew, keeping behind the Muzzle of the Cannon load the powder charge and the ball. 7.3.1 One Member of the Crew is to serve the vent by sealing it with a gloved thumb while any work is being done inside the barrel to prevent any spark remaining in the bore from igniting the loaded charge. 7.3.2 Following the initial shot, the Gunner ramming the charge is to do so in one smooth movement, release the ramrod and remove their hand from in front of the Muzzle for ten (10) seconds before the continuation of the reload. 7.4 AIM - The Number One of the Cannon Crew aims the Cannon at the designated target. 7.5 PRIME - The Number One of the Cannon Crew pushes home the pricker, piercing the charge, and either inserts a fuse or trickles a priming charge down the vent. 7.6 READY - Indicated by the Number One of the Cannon Crew raising the left arm vertically and verbally replying “Ready”. 7.7 FIRE - The Number One of the Cannon Crew fires the Cannon by applying the lit linstock to the primed vent or pulling the lanyard 7.7.1 Cannons are to be fired in succession from either the left or the right using one linstock only. 7.7.2 The lanyard is not to be handled until directed by the Range Officer. PAGE 5 7.8 CEASE FIRE - Command given by the Range Officer when a breach of safety occurs or the Range Officer considers that there is sufficient reason to order it. 7.8.1 All Cannon Crews are to immediately cease any and all actions and are to retire to a position behind and away from the Cannons until such time further orders are given by the Range Officer. 7.9 SPONGE-OUT – All Cannons, once fired, are to be sponged out using one wet sponge and one dry sponge and the vent is to be dry brushed. One Member of the Crew is to serve the vent by sealing it with a gloved thumb. 8. MISFIRES 8.1 With successive firing, misfires become immediately obvious and the Number One of the Cannon Crew will immediately notify the Range Officer by raising the left arm vertically and reporting verbally “Misfire” and continue to hold up the arm until the report is acknowledged by the Range Officer. 8.2 The misfire is to be rectified under the direction of the Range Officer at the completion of that shot by the entire detail and if two attempts are not successful then the charge is to be flooded and the Cannon is to take no further part in the firing practice. 9. STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS 9.1 The programme for the Event is to be established by the Host Branch, in consultation with the Discipline Chairman and published at least two months prior to the Event. 10. TROPHIES AND PRIZES FOR STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS 10.1 Place getters in each Event will receive appropriate S.S.A.A.
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