http://kutv.com/topstories/local_story_272113834.html



WHITE CITY, Utah (AP) _ A 21-year-old man was killed when a homemade cannon blew up, possibly because the wrong kind of gun powder was used.

Mark Reeder was killed Monday evening when struck in the torso by the blast, or by shrapnel from the cannon, said Salt Lake County sheriff's Sgt. Rosie Rivera.

The body was found 30 feet away, but it wasn't known where he was standing at the time.

Reeder and his friend Greg Hunt were preparing to fire their cannon in a field near Hunt's backyard in White City, near Sandy. Hunt, the brother of Reeder's girlfriend, was not injured.

It was not known whether the cannon exploded when they attempted to fire it or while they still were preparing to do so, Rivera said.

The blast at 5:45 p.m. blew the cannon in two and was heard blocks away.

Rivera said the cannon had a 2-inch barrel made from pipe. It was about 2 feet long and welded to a triangle-shaped frame, to which wheels were attached.

The smokeless powder the men used, according to Rivera, may have been a factor in the explosion.

"Smokeless powder burns at a slower rate and builds up tremendous pressure," said Steve Gallenson, owner of Gallenson's gun shop in Salt Lake City. "It'll blow the barrel off or split the barrel of a cannon or muzzle loading gun."

Smokeless powder, which he calls a progressive burning powder, is used in cartridges, such as shotgun shells and rifle and handgun cartridges. Black powder, which burns quickly in a flash, is used for cannons and muzzle loading guns.

"It makes me sad that a young man like that made the wrong assumption when dealing with something this dangerous," Gallenson said.

I have 2 words.
DARWIN AWARD

Ouch! A lady was killed a few years ago in lower MI by one.

It happened in Utah?

"Don't use smokeless in a cannon,
Dum dum dum dum dum!"

"Hey Ya'll........watch this!"

BOOM      

Quoted: I have 2 words. DARWIN AWARD

Yup evolution in action.

Let's hope this happened before he had time to breed.

Ouch.

Quoted: I have 2 words. DARWIN AWARD

+1

Sometimes it DOES pay to read the directions!!!

Note to self:


Don't use smokeless powder.

Damn. now that didn't turn out too good did it..............................

Quoted: Note to self: Don't use smokeless powder.

Don't get near people who make homemade cannons, it could be hazardous to your health.

Quoted: Quoted: Note to self: Don't use smokeless powder. Don't get near people who make homemade cannons, it could be hazardous to your health.

Why?

I just wonder how many people have died within a minute of saying "hey, you wanna see something REALLY cool?"

...this that guy who was hunting deer with canister?


edit:

this dude?

crazy dude

Don't use smokeless powder.

I know a couple of guys that use it since they can't find black powder for sale anywhere.  I've been to most of the gun stores in the state, and I haven't seen any in years.  Also, I've never seen it for sale in a gun show.z

Quoted: Don't use smokeless powder. I know a couple of guys that use it since they can't find black powder for sale anywhere.  I've been to most of the gun stores in the state, and I haven't seen any in years.  Also, I've never seen it for sale in a gun show.z

... then what do black powder hunters use

Quoted: Don't use smokeless powder. I know a couple of guys that use it since they can't find black powder for sale anywhere.  I've been to most of the gun stores in the state, and I haven't seen any in years.  Also, I've never seen it for sale in a gun show.z

Wally World has it in Western NC.

Quoted: "Hey Ya'll........watch this!" BOOM      h.gif

either that or "hey hold my beer and watch this"

Where'd that post go about hunting whitetail with a 12 pound cannon?? What about the kid with the homemade flamethrower??? I think some of these guys may be copy cats, just not as smart.

Wally World has it in Western NC.

Are you sure about that?  I've been in a lot of Wally Worlds in SC & NC and have never seen it.  Some do carry Pyrodex, but that isn't the same.  I'd love to find some black powder to use in a 45/70 single-shot rifle a friend of mine gave to me.z

Quoted: I have 2 words. DARWIN AWARD

Damn, but he was a Bush supporter, at least he could have waited til after the election.

They did last time I looked. When I am back home next weekend I will try to swing by and check, if not there is a local shop I am 100% certain that carries it just outside Asheville. I will get ay the info and price.

Quoted: ...this that guy who was hunting deer with canister? edit: this dude? crazy dude

WTF? That's high on the goofy meter.

www.buckstix.com/howitzer.htm




OMFG!

Had a kid try to build a pipe bomb a few years ago using Double base smokeless shotgun powder.

He was either trying to tamp the powder with a metal rammer, or screwing the cap on the pipe when it functioned not as designed.

With luck (and a lot of medical $ and therapy) he's now able to use his grafted big toe and his ring and little fingers to get some function out of the hand.

Saw double base as the charge in a pipe bomb @  bomb investigation school. Very effective, and much more powerful than black powder.

And I'm sure the liberal media will explout this as another example of "gun owner safety"

Quoted: Quoted: Don't use smokeless powder. I know a couple of guys that use it since they can't find black powder for sale anywhere.  I've been to most of the gun stores in the state, and I haven't seen any in years.  Also, I've never seen it for sale in a gun show.z ... then what do black powder hunters use

Pyrodex and Triple 7 are the common substitutes these days, they are made as black powder substitures, Pyrodex isn't bad but Triple 7 is a bit expensive!

It's a shame, but it was his life ............

I use Pyrodex black powder substitute in my "homemade" cannon.  Nothing wrong with a homemade firearm if you do it right and proof test if correctly.  I dye penned mine and will again from time to time.

that lil bitty thing?
you guys should see the homemade mortar that  some guys built in AZ.
Ive seen it at a few of the AZ ARFCOM shoots out in Casa Grande.
this mortar shoots a 16 lb bowling ball a mile!!
Ive witnessed a few close calls with faulty elevation adjustments that had people on the line diving under cars and benches!!!
They pull the cord to ignite it about 10 ft away, i always made sure i was 100 ft away when that thing went off. no way would i fire it.
Its a cool lil device, but scary as hell at the same time.

"A Geologists dream, a fortune in precious metals and chemicals, but I would trade them all for a hand phaser......or a good solid club"- Capt. Kirk            

Just before he builds a cannon out of sulpher, charcoal and salt peter and some bamboo.