Since we are talking about building cannons here I thought would I try and find some plans for those of you who want to have a gun built.
I checked on the internet for plans and found several sites with plans to build a beer can mortar. The prices ranged from $5 to $12 for the plans. I ordered a set and they came yesterday. It appears that all these plans come from the same source.
These plans are simple copy of the plans that appeared in Guns Magazine in March 1974. They are copyrighted by Delta Press in 1977.
Now if you do machine work as a hobby or profession, you don't need these plans. If you are going to have someone build you a gun these plans will be helpful.
There is one thing I would check before building this gun. Measure the diameter of a pull tab beer or soda can. The original article was written to use the old steel rimmed beer can. They were a different diameter than the current aluminum pull tab can. I don't have any measuring instruments with me right now to check these figures. If you do build to the listed dimensions and the new cans won't fit, you can use Campbells soup cans for projectiles.
There is one other item of concern I saw in the plans. The say to use 2x4 fir or pine lumber for the carriage side boards. I suggest you use 2x6 and oak if you can find it. This gun has a heavy recoil and those side boards must be strong. They will break, my oak ones did on my first gun.
I have placed a link on the resource board for Delta Press
