Traditions Cannon User Manual

Caution: Be sure to seat ball completely. Any gap or

space between the projectile and powder charge can
cause a dangerous burst barrel. Possible bodily injury
could result.

4. Determine your target.

Caution: It is recommended that the cannon be
secured to ground prior to firing.

5. Cut approximately 6 inches of cannon fuse and
place in the touch hole. Be sure the fuse runs down
into the powder charge. The cannon is now ready to
fire. Note: To insure that the fuse is well into the pow­der charge, it is also acceptible to install the fuse
before loading the propellent.

Caution: Do not stand directly behind the cannon
and do not let spectators gather near. Announce to all
that you are about to fire.

8. Light the fuse and all stand away at least 6 feet.
Never stand directly behind a cannon.

9. After the cannon has been fired, take a swab
dampened with a muzzleloading cleaning solvent and
run it down the bore and vent to extinguish remaining
sparks within the barrel.

10. Reloading should not commence for five minutes
after the previous shot has been fired. This will allow
sparks or glowing embers in the barrel to die out prior
to reloading.

DANGER

If the cannon should fail to fire after approximately 30
seconds of fuse burning or if it appears that the fuse
has gone out, do not approach the cannon. It is pos­sible that a bend or tear in the fuse has prevented it
from burning completely. The fuse may still be glow­ing internally and could reignite. Wait at least five min­utes after such a misfire has taken place to allow the
fuse to reignite or completely die out. Then approach
the cannon cautiously, remove the unburned fuse,
pour a little powder down the touch hole and insert
fresh fuse and continue to follow the firing procedure.

CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE

C

ANNON

S

HOOTING

I

NSTRUCTIONS

&

W

ARRANTY

I

NFORMATION

1. Black powder fouling is extremely corrosive and can
rust the barrel in a short time. All muzzleloading can­nons must be cleaned thoroughly after each firing ses­sion is completed.

2. Black powder solvent or hot soapy water or bore
cleaner can be used. Flush cleaning solution down the
barrel and out the touch hole.

3. Follow by running a patched cleaning rod down the
bore for a thorough cleaning. Depending on how your
cannon is equipped, use a brush and/or cleaning patch
on ramrod to aid in cleaning.

4. Wipe firing residue off wooden parts.

5. Thoroughly dry all parts. Note: In certain situations it
may be necessary to separate the barrel from the car­riage.
Note: Gold cannons should only be polished with a soft
cloth. Many metal polishes contain abrasives which will
remove the gold plating from the barrel.

SHOOTING NOTES:

CANNON WARRANTY REGISTRATION

FUSE SELECTION

It is strongly recommended that you use Traditions
Cannon Fuse, A1264, which is manufactured to U. S.
Government specifications to have a burn rate of 1 foot
in 30 seconds

+

-

5%.

Important: Before firing your cannon, cut a 1 foot
length of fuse, select a safe area, light it and time its
rate of burn. It should nearly equal 30 seconds. If not
do not use that lot of fuse. Always test each new lot of
fuse, Never use homemade or fuse of uncertain origin.

VERIFYING IF CANNON IS LOADED

OR UNLOADED

Caution: Always keep barrel pointed in a safe direction.

1. Put on shatterproof shooting glasses and appropri­ate hearing protection. A cannon may shower sparks
or fragments when fired.

2. Check to be sure the cannon is unloaded:
a. Place a rod down the barrel and place a mark

on it exactly where it exits the muzzle.

b. Remove the rod and lay it along the outside of

barrel while lining up the mark at the muzzle.

c. The opposite end of the rod should reach

down the barrel and extend slightly past the touch
hole. If the ramrod is short of lining up with the touch
hole, the cannon is either loaded or obstructed and
should be disarmed and cleared before proceeding.

LOADING THE CANNON

Caution: Never smoke while loading, shooting or han-

dling propellants. Always follow the manufacturer’s
safety precautions as listed on the propellant contain­er. Avoid all potential ignition sources.

1. The shooter and any bystanders must wear shoot-

ing glasses and hearing protection.

2. Hold the muzzle upward, with right side toward you.

Be sure no part of the body is over or in front of the
cannon. Pour a measured charge of powder into the
barrel (see load chart).

3. Lubricate a cloth shooting patch with Traditions

Wonder Lube 1000 Plus

TM

. Center patch onto the muz­zle. Place the ball on top of the patch centered over
the muzzle. (If cast balls are being used, place sprue
(flat surface) facing upward.) Use a ball starter to
apply moderate pressure to push the ball and patch
into the muzzle. With a ramrod, continue to push the
ball and patch into the barrel until it is firmly seated
against the powder charge.

TRADITIONS PERFORMANCE MUZZLELOADING

P.O. Box 776

1375 Boston Post Road

Old Saybrook, CT 06475-0776

Rev. 4/98 - 800I

PROPELLANTS

Important: Black powder or Pyrodex

®

are the only
suitable propellants to be used in your Traditions
muzzleloading cannon.

Propellant types and granulations that are recom­mended for use with your Traditions muzzleloading
cannon are:

1f/fg Black powder - The coarsest granulation

available for use in cannons.

or

2f/ffg Black powder or Pyrodex

®

RS - The standard

granulation used in Traditions cannons.

A finer granulation (3f black powder or Pyrodex

®

P)
available for use in smaller caliber muzzleloading
rifles. May also be used in small caliber cannons.

Store propellants according to the manufacturer’s
instructions listed on each container. Local fire regula­tions should also be followed. Always store propellants
in a secure place well away from children.

PROJECTILES

The only recommended projectile to assure accuracy
and consistency from your cannon is a round ball of
the proper caliber (cast or swaged) of pure lead.

RECOMMENDED LOAD CHART

PROJECTILE PROPELLENT

Black Powder - 1f/fg -2f/ffg

Round Lubed or Pyrodex®- RS

Ball Patch Minimum Maximum

Caliber Diameter Thickness Grains Grains

.69/.70 .690 .015* 45 85

.50 .490 .015* 10 20

Loads are to be measured with a graduated (in grains)
powder measure intended for muzzleloading firearms.
Both black powder and Pyrodex

®

, when measured by

this method, are used in equal amounts.

Caution: The term ‘black powder’does not refer to any
powder black in color. Modern smokeless powders are
also black in color but are of a very different chemical
composition. Use of smokeless powder in any cannon
will result in excessively high pressures and can
cause serious damage to the cannon and serious
injury to the shooter and bystanders.

TRADITIONS CANNON SHOOTING

INSTRUCTIONS & WARRANTY INFORMATION

1. This manual contains instructions, cautions and dan­gers for the safe handling of Traditions cannons. Be cer­tain to read, understand and be willing to follow all of
them completely.

2. When properly handled, a cannon is safe and enjoy­able to shoot if you follow a few basic rules.

3. There is no way to build a cannon to absolve the user
of the need to use good judgement. Do not abuse or
carelessly handle your cannon.

4. Your cannon should always be treated with the
respect due every firearm plus your strict adherance to
the cautions and dangers in this manual.
Note: If, after reading the instructions, you are not will­ing to accept the responsibilities involved in the safe
shooting of a muzzleloading cannon, return the cannon
to your dealer before firing, or write directly to
Traditions, P.O. Box 776, Old Saybrook, CT 06475,
explaining your particular situation.

Note: If you sell, trade or give this cannon to another
person, make sure that you give the new owner a copy
of this manual. Free copies are available upon request
from Traditions.

TRADITIONS PERFORMANCE MUZZLELOADING

P.O. Box 776

1375 Boston Post Road

Old Saybrook, CT 06475-0776

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

e-mail: [e-mail]

www.traditionsmuzzle.com

ONE YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY

To activate your warranty, please fill out and return

the warranty card within 15 days of purchase.

Traditions warrants this product to be free of defects in
material or craftsmanship for one year from date of
purchase. In the event of a problem, Traditions will
repair or replace, at its option, product or parts which
are returned at owner’s expense to the Traditions
Customer Service Department. Please enclose a full
and detailed explanation of the specific problem.

Traditions is not responsible for incidental or conse­quential damage to its cannon or any of its parts, as a
result of accident, careless handling, improper loading,

corrosion, neglect, misuse, alterations from original
manufacturer or improper packaging for return ship­ment. Damage to metal or wood that is not the fault of
manufacturing or craftsmanship is not covered due to
the inability of Traditions to control use and storage
conditions.

This cannon warranty will remain in force unless

any of the following is determined by Traditions.

1. Use of any propellant other than black powder or
Pyrodex

®

.

2. Use of any propellant charges in excess of those
recommended in this warranty and shooting instruc­tion booklet.

3. Modification of parts as they were shipped from the
factory.

Serial Number ______________________________

Is this your first cannon purchase?

 YES  NO

Do you own muzzleloading rifles or handguns?

 YES  NO

Will you use your cannon for…

Shooting? 

Decoration? 

Both? 

Name _____________________________________

Street _____________________________________

City _______________________________________

State ______________ Zip Code _______________

Purchased From:

Store Name ________________________________

Street _____________________________________

City _______________________________________

State ______________ Zip Code _______________

Note: This card must be returned within 15 days of
purchase or receipt to validate your limited one year
warranty. Complete all information above and mail to:

TRADITIONS PERFORMANCE MUZZLELOADING

P.O. Box 776

1375 Boston Post Road

Old Saybrook, CT 06475-0776

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

e-mail: [e-mail]

www.traditionsmuzzle.com

Referencing the label on the end of the
carton, please write in the last 5 digits
located on the right half of the UPC
code into the boxes below.

40589

Model #

IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

1. Always wear shatterproof glasses and prop­er ear protection.

2. Always keep muzzle pointed downrange.
Treat every cannon as if it is always loaded.

3. Use black powder or Pyrodex

®

only.

4. Never fire a cannon unless the appropriate
projectile is firmly seated against the powder
charge.

5. Never exceed recommended maximum pow­der charges.

6. Never lean over or point muzzle toward your­self or anyone else.

7. Treat a misfire or failure to fire as if the can­non could fire at any moment.

8. Be sure all spectators are well behind the
firing line and are aware when you intend to fire.

9. Never smoke while loading, shooting or han­dling black powder or Pyrodex

®

. Always guard
against any open flame, spark or ignition
source.

10. Avoid taking drugs and alcoholic beverages
before and during shooting.

11. Keep the cannon and all shooting supplies
well out of the reach of children at all times.