No, no Ernie don't tell them that!
We were trying replicate a rare Boer strap mortar...yes that's it a strap mortar.
I can't believe we stood out in the hot sun for three hours and only fired 10 shoots.
Lots learned yesterday about the M-1841. It took 3 round to find out where the 9 oz slugs shoot. Those slugs are a slip fit. Add paint and they are hard to seat. Even harder if the bore is not throughly and completely cleaned of fouling. We found two fired slugs, one from the 4th of July shoot-unpainted, and one from yesterday's shoot. The painted lead slug howed clear signs of obturation. I'll try and get some pictures this evening to show it. As you can see for the frame capture and video the heavier tighter fitting slug gives heavy recoil and keyholes when it hits the target.
I am going have to build another base plug for this mould. 20-25 years ago when I shot this cannon regular, it shot pretty good as hollw base slug, doesn't shot for beans as a solid.
The round ball load shoot okay. No problem with windage. You can hear the ball roll all the way down the bore when loaded. The gun recoils a whole bunch less. I'll try and get some video posted tonight.
A bit of confession here, the gun now has a front sight post.
The Target was at 300 yards in 1/6th scale.
(50 yards actual)
