Regulation for Loading Cannons and Handling the Black Powder
This regulation serves the purpose of enhancement of security by shooting and handling with cannons. This regulation does not cover loading cannons according to historical sources, which may vary in many aspects.
It is necessary to approach cannons as very direct firearms which, thanks to their caliber and amount of used black powder, might cause – if mishandled – very serious consequences.
Each cannon used in the event must be certificated for shooting with black powder a must go through the technical check by the organizer. The organizer can only allow exceptions. The weapon and its holder MUST comply with some parts of the Czech Arms and Ammunition Act.
It is necessary to approach cannons as very direct firearms which, thanks to their caliber and amount of used black powder, might cause – if mishandled – very serious consequences.
Each cannon used in the event must be certificated for shooting with black powder a must go through the technical check by the organizer. The organizer can only allow exceptions. The weapon and its holder MUST comply with some parts of the Czech Arms and Ammunition Act.
- It is forbidden to pour a dose of black powder into the barrel with a scoop of a ramrod and to handle the open black powder. By firing the cannon, flaming residues fly away and they might initiate an explosion of any open black powder.Therefore, it is ordered to use paper cartridges fixed with a paper tape. Allowed composition of a cartridge is: black powder filling separated from the packing by a thin paper (e.g. toilet paper), the packing must consist of flour, hay or straw.
- It is forbidden to use long-burning shot-firing sticks. We recommend using quick-burning shot-firing sticks, which allow rapid and safe shot.
- Both loading and wiping must be carried out so that the gunner does not stand directly in front of the nozzle, by loading the gunner’s one hand must be protected with a glove. It is forbidden to use ramrods with iron endings. Before the first shot, the cannon crew must check the barrel by wiping, the must not be any foreign objects inside it. While loading or wiping the touchhole must be sealed with a finger protected by a leather thumb-stall or a glove in order to prevent blowing of flaming residues.
- Only an experienced crewmember is allowed to fire the cannon. He must permanently check the area in front of the barrel and watch the safety by each shot. He is supposed to hold the smoldering match as far as possible from the barrel and the cartridge box. It is forbidden to open fire if there are persons situated less than 30 meters in front of the barrel. By firing, the nozzle must be always aimed above heads of persons standing opposite.
- While firing, the ammunition box must be placed at least 3 meters behind the cannon and under permanent supervision of the cannon crewmember.
- If the crew has to leave the loaded cannon, at least one of the crewmembers must remain present from security reasons.
- After the shot, the crew must pull out the rest of the round and wipe out the barrel with water (a part of the cannon equipment must be a contemporary water bucket and a wiper supplied with absorbent material). Wiping with water is necessary in order to eliminate flaming residues after the shot otherwise next inserted round could explode right during the loading.In case of misfire the crew must wait at least 60 seconds (delayed shot is possible). Then it is necessary to clean the touchhole carefully with a pin, insert a new shot-firing and touch off.