# Could you make a functioning cannon out of concrete, or stone?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-make-a-functioning-cannon-out-of-concrete-or-stone/683265>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 9, 2014, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-make-a-functioning-cannon-out-of-concrete-or-stone/683265 "2014-03-09T13:23:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-make-a-functioning-cannon-out-of-concrete-or-stone/683265/21 "2014-03-10T16:59:25Z")

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> [@bob\_2](#):
>
> Think about how they blast rock? They bore a hole, pack some explosive in, bung up the exit, and BANG! The rock shatters. Ok, that’s a relatively small hole with a load of explosive - cannon used to explode if the gunners got a bit overenthusiastic with the gunpowder.

There’s a substantial difference between “propellant” and “high explosive.” Fill a mine bore with gunpowder, and you probably won’t break the rock. OTOH, replace the gunpowder in a cannon with high explosive, and you will reliably create a Very Large Grenade.

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