Aside from being longer pieces than cannons, coulevrine types of the same diameter/caliber than cannon had thicker chamber walls, therefore a a heavier powder charge could be used. All this in order to have a greater range. This is why they were usually naval pieces as chasers in the bows. At broadsides, their length could be problematic in the recoil. Also used as coastal defence pieces. They were too heavy for field artillery and not really useful as siege artillery, where powder economies could be important.
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