[Eaker]

Give me the specs on the bowling ball and I will crunch the numbers. I will do a time & motion study that will include adjustable legs.

I can probably get the pipe for free and have the welding equipment to build it!!!

YOU find the range that will let us shoot it!!!!!

[Eaker]

El Roy,

You want in to some of this action????

Looks like fun!!

[Mulder]

Give me the specs on the bowling ball and I will crunch the numbers. I will do a time & motion study that will include adjustable legs

I wonder what that bowling ball would do to a UN vehicle driven by turd-worlders who are trying to disarm the American people?

[Squantos]

I want to take out a million dollar life insurance policy on ya Eaker before ya light that sucker ......figure I'll just have to make one premium payment........:o)

Stay Safe

[Oberon]

YOU find the range that will let us shoot it!!!!!

The thing to do is take it to the beach, in winter. Pick a nice tall dune to get on top of, and pretend you're an artillery gunner at Fort McHenry.

[Travis McGee]

This looks like SERIES fun!

[Atchafalaya]

Make your tube out of brass and it will ring like a bell every time you charge and fire.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

I am pi$$ed you didn't ping me to this! I assure you I can come up with some haevy wall pipe and a place between here and Austin to fire it. I can even get a couple of cops and a judge to go with us and keep us out of jail.

All you need is the welding, powder and shot.

[RightWhale]

I can probably get the pipe for free and have the welding equipment to build it!!!

Warning. This can become a disaster instantly. Not for casual weekenders. If one wants a safer hobby, offer to fly Rutan's SpaceShipOne on its first 100 km sub-orbital.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Remember:

"Bowling balls" AREN'T all the same weight -

Though the finger holes will throw it slightly off center, I don't think (hint!) the minor eccentricity will affect the trajectory as much as the relatively large gap between barrel and ball.

Bowling balls will have their weight stamped on the ball: 12 lbs kiddo balls up to 16 lb adult-sized ones.

The calculated pressure will be greatest with the smallest possible gap, and highest weight ball.

Biggest problem would an explosion in a pipe with a suddenly stuck ball. Lube the barrel to reduce the likely hood of sticking - (greased wrapping paper as in the British muskets?)

[Stonewall Jackson]

Try the Knob Creek Gun Range here in Kentucky. They hold a semi-annual machine gun shoot where there is almost always a couple of mortars, flame-throwers, and field guns.

A guy showed up a few years ago with an old French 75. I don't know where he got it, but it shot just fine.

The gun range was originally built as a test ground for the naval guns built at the Louisville Naval Ordinance Plant. They would load them onto railroad cars, run them down to the range, and pop off a couple of rounds into the sides of the hills (the only thing on the other side is the Fort Knox impact area). If you ever get there, take a look at outer walls of the office building and concession stand. They are about 15-20 inches thick and built of reinforced concrete to protect the test crews against a faulty breach explosion.

Here's a picture of some guys with what appears to be a black-powder cannon.