The Big Daddy is a well made bit of ordnance.I got mine and was surprised by how heavy it was and how well it was made. It seems very safe and would be hard to damage even if overloaded. It does take a bit of practice to zero in on the optimal report but that has to do with the large bore and not the design. For my money you can't do better than this even for many times the cost.

This cannon has quality written all over it. I agree, when I picked it up, I almost dropped it, this cannon is heavier than I expected! I guess that's a good thing. The reason I gave it 4 stars, is because I am having trouble packing it. I can't seem to pack it properly to get the "Boom" that it is suppose to produce. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the wide 2" opening. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. I'm sure once I get this figured out, I'd be more than happy to give it 5 stars.

I pack a dry paper towel or two (with a big dowel) on top of a good amount of powder....then pack a wet one on top. Took a few tries to get the mega boom, but this thing can really make noise.

To pack the Big Daddy thundermug I use black powder (Fg or FFg), two and one half sheets of standard newspaper, a one and fifteen sixteenths inch ash ram rod and a brass mallot. The key is to pack the unit extra tight (when you think it's packed. pack it down some more). The first couple of times I didn't pack it tight enough and while it did go boom it was nothing like when it's packed sufficiently. The amount of powder needed can be determined through trial and error but is generally between two and three 35mm film canisters for maximum effect.

I like to have a fake finale when I do a show, let everything get dark before I fill the sky one more time - so I needed a second Big Daddy Thunder Mug. (one for each finale) I take a different approach to loading than those listed above so far ... fuse it first! - 1/2 full of FFFF BP - I do not pack (want to keep the oxygen in the powder for faster ignition, and I like to keep my limbs and fingers attached) top with Cremora for resistance, cover with 2 layers of Duct Tape (layer 2 diagonal to layer 1) 20 seconds of fuse so I can get away casually and not worry about tripping... the Cremora adds both a THUMP and usually a nice smoke ring...

It took me about a year to get this thing to really crack... I use about 3 film canisters of FFFG... a single layer of car shammy to keep power dry... then pack the rest of the cannon with damp clay/sand mix...Tamp that all down with a 1 inch wooden dowel...Tamp hard!!! The neighbors...They love me!

Much success with the big Daddy loaded with hodgedon triple 7 FFG. Packed good with paper towels...then topped with a wet paper towel. Wondering what else people using (cheaper powder) in this thing to get that MEGA boom.

I made the mistake of lighting mine across the street from my apartment complex; when it went off my right ear was ringing badly and there were people looking out of their windows probably wondering what was going on. I used two 35mm film containers full of fffg Pyrodex, I packed it down real good with newspaper than packed a rag on top of that. I put clear box tape across the top to give the rag and newspaper a little more compression against the black powder, needless to say, this sucker is loud.

This thunder mug is so loud, it will set off alarms a block away! Cover your ears or they will ring for days!

I am impressed with this noise maker!!!! I got the best results with 1/3 - 1/2 cup of Pyrodex P (FFFG) (a 35mm film canister is about 1/8 cup so about 3 of of these). I topped with powdered coffee creamer for smoke ring effect topped with damp paper towel. Use 5 strips of Gorilla tape for resistance. Kerrrrpowwww....

have only touched it off twice, but im using GOEX FFFFG, 2 35MM Film canister scoops, and the last show was paper towels, somewhat moist, balled together then wrapped up in a sheet of paper shop wrags to make a solid wad of paper, what a boom! and they are not lying, pack this thing like your life depends on it!

this thing is awesome! buy it