How to Aim and Fire Cannons Accurately

Mounting on a Carriage

A cannon must sit on a Cannon Carriage to be aimed. Place the carriage first, then mount the welded cannon on top. The carriage allows you to adjust elevation and traverse. For fixed emplacements, you can skip the carriage but lose the ability to track moving targets.

Loading Sequence

1. Open the breech (sliding or quick-firing type).

2. Insert a Big Cartridge or Empty Powder Charge filled with propellant.

3. Insert the projectile — AP Shell, HE Shell, Shrapnel Shell, Smoke Shell, or Bag of Grapeshot.

4. Close the breech.

5. Apply a redstone signal or use the carriage controls to fire.

Compensating for Recoil and Drop

Cannons have significant recoil that pushes the carriage backward — leave clearance behind the gun or bolt it down. Projectiles also drop over distance, so aim slightly above distant targets. For long-range shots, use a spotting scope or fire a test round and adjust elevation. The Drop Mortar Shell and Mortar Stone are specialized for high-arc indirect fire when you need to hit targets behind cover. Primed Propellant and Pitch Contraption are related mechanics for unconventional launch methods.