Mini cannon?? That exists? Does it actually fire? Do I need a license? How does it work? Where do I get “ammo”?…

First Things First: Miniature cannons are NOT firearms under federal law (in USA). Our products are NOT weapons and are not sold as such! All of our products are sold as novelties. The kits for sale on our website do not contain explosives, black powder, or fireworks. Instead, our firing kits include a safer alternative referred to as “black powder SUBSTITUTE”.

We get lots of shoppers that have never heard of mini cannons before and are overwhelmed by all the info. If you are here to buy a gift for someone (or yourself) and want to make sure you have everything, you are in the right place. Don’t worry! We’ve got everything you need! And it’s easy!

First of all, yes, the mini cannons we make are real, meaning they can use powder propellant to fire a real (yet tiny) cannon ball. It is important to note that mini cannons are not toys and can be dangerous! Oh..and they’re LOUD!

Ok, so you’ve come to the realization that a mini cannon is the coolest thing you’ve ever heard of and you must have one! We understand, and you aren’t alone! So what do you need?

When you choose a mini cannon on our website, check the “Include a 10 round firing kit” box next to the “Add to Bag” button, and you’re all set!

There are a few things that you’ll need that aren’t included but you should have them around the house, and those are:

• Safety Glasses

• Paper Towel (for wadding)

• Cotton Swab (Q-tips)

• Lighter or fire starter

The Mini Cannon will include the necessary implements (tools) and firing instructions. As long as you purchase a mini cannon and one of the Firing Kit options on our site, you’ll have all the essentials. Our Deluxe Firing Kit includes all the essentials and a few extras to make loading easier, like a funnel and a large powder jar.

If you want more ammo we have larger ammo kits available here> Ammo and Accessories

If you are new to this hobby we recommend starting with our Reenactor III Mini Cannon with a 10 round firing kit add-on. Our favorite color is Olive-Drab Green as that’s the historically accurate choice.

At this point we need to stress the importance of the Instruction sheet that comes with your cannon. Read it carefully and thoroughly. Many of our customers are surprised on how much there is to the process of firing a mini cannon. The instructions walk you through, step by step, on how to properly load and fire your cannon. We’re dealing with 18th century technology here, which can be a little finicky and take some practice, but most of our customers have no problem getting good to great results on the first shot. Just take your time and enjoy the process!

You can find a copy of the included instruction sheet below. We highly recommend you download a copy and read through it a few times before you get your cannon.

“Why are they so expensive?” and/or “Why not just buy a cheap one on amazon?”

As any of of past customers would tell you our quality speaks for itself. Each and every cannon is precision machined from premium materials and meticulously hand finished. Each cannon has several hours of hand work put into it by our skilled craftsmen. Like we said, these aren’t toys. They are meant to be fired over and over again and will last a lifetime. We have several long-time customers who update us frequently on their MCT cannons. We know of a few MCT cannons that have over 2000 rounds though them and are still going strong. But in the event that they do wear out or get scratched up, every cannon we make is backed by our Lifetime Warranty. Make sure to watch the video below, showcasing some of the process to make a mini cannon.

Note from the owner: “Studying artillery and creating scaled models was a passion of mine for many years before I even thought about starting Mini Cannon Tech. I made miniature cannons for myself as gifts for friends and family. I would make them one at a time, meticulously, in my garage. Word quickly got out that I was making true-to-design miniature cannons and I started receiving phone calls to place orders. I had to design a whole new process to make my models more efficiently yet retain every bit of quality and craftsmanship that went into the mini cannons I made just one at a time. It took years to develop a larger scale production system. I’m a stickler for quality, and I will never sacrifice quality and precision just to make an extra buck. We live in a world that prioritizes instant gratification over everything else, unfortunately. I will never sacrifice quality for speed. I want to make a product that people are proud to own and last a lifetime. ” - A. Sarnowski

The scientific reason Mini Cannon Tech makes the “best” mini cannons available.

We believe the quality itself gives us authority to say this however, we can legitimately say we make the most powerful BB caliber cannons on the market and here’s why: There are several factors that go into making one cannon more powerful than another. The key factors are barrel length to bore ratio, projectile tolerance, and most importantly for mini cannons (cannons under 50 cal.) the ratio between the vent diameter (fuse hole) and the bore diameter. Our cannons have the highest vent diameter ratio on the market. The smaller the vent diameter, the less pressure loss there is. When a cannon fires, some of the pressure from the burning gunpowder is lost through the vent. To minimize this, our cannon’s vent is as small as it can possibly be (.062 of and inch!). The mini cannons you’ll find on amazon have a vent diameter of .08 or higher. This doesn’t sound like much, but this makes a HUGE and very noticeable difference. Cheap mini cannons made with oversize vents (like those on amazon) sound and perform terribly. Our M6 barrel has the highest bore to length ratio, giving the projectile much more time to accelerate, ultimately increasing muzzle energy and accuracy. Lastly, the machines that make our cannon barrels are some of the highest quality CNC machines in the world. This allows us to keep super tight tolerances and ensure the highest quality possible. All of this adds up to the most powerful and accurate BB caliber cannon money can buy. This may be more info than you need, but we take this seriously and it’s what makes Mini Cannon Tech products the finest on the market.

This bring us to one the most common questions we get: “Do I need a licence or gun permit?” If you live in the United States, the answer 99% of the time is NO. Our cannons are classified as muzzle loading replicas and are not considered “Firearms” under federal law. Therefore, as long as you are 21 years old, you should be good to go. However, please check your local laws before purchasing.

If you have any other questions please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions & Contact Us Page