What makes a gun into a cannon? (what differentiates them)

[PremiumG]

What makes a cannon a cannon rather than a gun or machine gun? Is it bullet size? Bullet velocity?

 

[mozirry]

I believe it's based on the purpose of the weapon

 

[keird]

capable of 'splodey bullets = cannon?

 

[Evadman]

barrel length vs bore size.

 

[alkemyst]

HAR! thanks you axed matey.

a gun you can fire off y0 hip, even sideways (da way I prefer since tis far more accurate)...

a cannon now, mate...you need to tie down else it be flyin' back and shit and blowing out your roll on da sea.

HAR!

Å

 

[OUCaptain]

I say if it's to be pointed at people, it's a gun. If it's to be pointed at objects, it's a cannon.

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: OUCaptain
I say if it's to be pointed at people, it's a gun. If it's to be pointed at objects, it's a cannon.

Many cannons can use a variety of shells, and some are destined for groups of people, such as shells that contain copious quantities of shot.
edit: then again, a cannon is a gun, but a gun isn't necessarily a cannon. Although in military terms, saying 'gun' is referencing a cannon of some sort, be it on a tank, towed artillery, or naval ship. Typically, hand-held firearms aren't referred to as guns, but rather, as the type of firearm it is, be it rifle, pistol, machine gun, etc etc. At least, around the types I've been around that's how it is.

+

 

[SagaLore]

I thought the difference is that a gun uses bullets with have the explosive material attached to them, where as a cannon uses projectiles with the means of firing them managed by the cannon?

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: destrekor

Originally posted by: OUCaptain
I say if it's to be pointed at people, it's a gun. If it's to be pointed at objects, it's a cannon.

Many cannons can use a variety of shells, and some are destined for groups of people, such as shells that contain copious quantities of shot.
edit: then again, a cannon is a gun, but a gun isn't necessarily a cannon. Although in military terms, saying 'gun' is referencing a cannon of some sort, be it on a tank, towed artillery, or naval ship. Typically, hand-held firearms aren't referred to as guns, but rather, as the type of firearm it is, be it rifle, pistol, machine gun, etc etc. At least, around the types I've been around that's how it is.

+

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrapnel
point that at people

 

[IEC]

They all do what they're meant to do. Does it matter what you call death?

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: Spartan Niner
They all do what they're meant to do. Does it matter what you call death?

yea but if someday u ask for a cannon and get handed a gun you'll be so

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: SagaLore
I thought the difference is that a gun uses bullets with have the explosive material attached to them, where as a cannon uses projectiles with the means of firing them managed by the cannon?

A musket is a gun.

 

[BoomerD]

Cannons ARE guns...BIG Fucking Guns..but folks I knew who were in Artillery called them guns, they've been referred to as "Guns" throughout history. (The Guns of Navarone)

 

[Journer]

a cannon is a gun, just not one you typically can carry.

 

[IronWing]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cannon

 

[uclaLabrat]

Originally posted by: keird
capable of 'splodey bullets = cannon?

This. Cannon shells blow up, normal bullets don't. Major difference between machine guns and cannon on aircraft, anyway.

 

[EarthwormJim]

Originally posted by: uclaLabrat

Originally posted by: keird
capable of 'splodey bullets = cannon?

This. Cannon shells blow up, normal bullets don't. Major difference between machine guns and cannon on aircraft, anyway.

Not all canon shells blow up.

Cannons are usually used to refer to smooth bore, muzzle loaded guns.

Wikipedia has a good description about cannon terminology. Cannon originally referred to a gun that fired a 42 pound shot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannon

 

[Gibsons]

Originally posted by: EarthwormJim

Originally posted by: uclaLabrat

Originally posted by: keird
capable of 'splodey bullets = cannon?

This. Cannon shells blow up, normal bullets don't. Major difference between machine guns and cannon on aircraft, anyway.

Not all canon shells blow up.

And then there are mortars.

 

[0roo0roo]

about rational as the names for ammo..which is pretty convoluted...

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: Gibsons

Originally posted by: EarthwormJim

Originally posted by: uclaLabrat

Originally posted by: keird
capable of 'splodey bullets = cannon?

This. Cannon shells blow up, normal bullets don't. Major difference between machine guns and cannon on aircraft, anyway.

Not all canon shells blow up.

And then there are mortars.

which could almost be described as backpack-able artillery, ultimately a type of cannon.

+

 

[theeedude]

Well, According to Webster's definition of cannon, guns and mortars are types of cannon.
Cannon:
1. a mounted gun for firing heavy projectiles; a gun, howitzer, or mortar.

Of course you can also say that a cannon is a type of a gun:
Gun:
1. a weapon consisting of a metal tube, with mechanical attachments, from which projectiles are shot by the force of an explosive; a piece of ordnance.

 

[TehMac]

Its the side of the caliber: for example, a 50 .Cal machine gun is 12.7mm--thats a machine gun. Cannons become cannons I'd say when its around 17mm or higher, because thats when you can put incendiary and explosive rounds in them that really perk up a firefight.

The most common caliber for a cannon (a modern autocannon) is around 20mm. After that its 20mm, 25mm, 30mm, 37mm. There could be a variety of calibers in between these, but those are the more common ones.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: TehMac
Its the side of the caliber: for example, a 50 .Cal machine gun is 12.7mm--thats a machine gun. Cannons become cannons I'd say when its around 17mm or higher, because thats when you can put incendiary and explosive rounds in them that really perk up a firefight.

The most common caliber for a cannon (a modern autocannon) is around 20mm. After that its 20mm, 25mm, 30mm, 37mm. There could be a variety of calibers in between these, but those are the more common ones.

But there are larger weapons which are called "guns", such as anti-aircraft guns or anti-tank guns. The 16" guns on Battleships were called guns, not cannons.

 

[biggestmuff]

Alright, I need some help. Where's the original thread? This thread is too funny to not be a parody.

 

[CottonRabbit]

Then would a hand cannon or a culverin be a cannon or a gun ?