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Offline jay29

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Mortar loading question....
« on: August 23, 2009, 03:45:26 PM »
I have a Dom soda can mortar that I haven't fired yet. When I load the powder in the chamber and there is space left over in the chamber not filled by powder, do I need to take up that space with newspaper or other material like cream of wheat? I know in a black powder rifle the ball has to be snug up against the powder. Is it the same for a mortar?
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Offline Cat Whisperer

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Re: Mortar loading question....
« Reply #1 on: August 23, 2009, 03:51:10 PM »
Nope.  Not the same.  A bit of space is of no consequence.  (There is windage in shooting a mortar, but not with a muzzle loading rifle.)

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Offline jay29

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Re: Mortar loading question....
« Reply #2 on: August 23, 2009, 04:01:26 PM »
The reason why I ask is that I will be shooting at 100 yard targets with a soda can and the powder would be considerably less than what the powder chamber can hold. So i guess I can just put the powder in the chamber drop in the can...
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Offline Cat Whisperer

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Re: Mortar loading question....
« Reply #3 on: August 23, 2009, 04:03:43 PM »
Exactly, putting something (like leather) between your thumb and the touch hole to keep the air pressure from blowing your powder out the vent when dropping in the can.
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Offline BoomLover

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Re: Mortar loading question....
« Reply #4 on: August 23, 2009, 04:55:29 PM »
CW, just to make sure I understand the answer to the question...unlike a cannon or howitzer, the powder can be poured loose in a mortar? No need for a foil packet, and especially no need for wadding? Hate to be redundant, but I personally wouldn't want to make a dumb mistake! I like folks to think I at least look like I know what I'm doing when I fire! BoomLover
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Offline jay29

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Re: Mortar loading question....
« Reply #5 on: August 23, 2009, 07:09:38 PM »
I just hope it wouldn't go off as an obstruction without the added wadding between powder and projectile.
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Offline Ex 49'er

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Re: Mortar loading question....
« Reply #6 on: August 23, 2009, 07:19:43 PM »
I've got a long funnel that fits in the powder chamber of my mortar. Stick a length of fuse in the vent, set the funnel in the chamber, drop in the powder, remove funnel and drop in concrete filled can. Same funnel works in golfball and soda can mortars. Don't need no wad. No problemo.
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Offline brokenpole

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Re: Mortar loading question....
« Reply #7 on: August 24, 2009, 04:00:23 AM »
I have always used an peice of old rubber hose that fits into the chamber to place the powder.
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Offline Cat Whisperer

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Re: Mortar loading question....
« Reply #8 on: August 25, 2009, 03:59:54 PM »
Quote from: BoomLover on August 23, 2009, 04:55:29 PM
CW, just to make sure I understand the answer to the question...unlike a cannon or howitzer, the powder can be poured loose in a mortar? No need for a foil packet, and especially no need for wadding? Hate to be redundant, but I personally wouldn't want to make a dumb mistake! I like folks to think I at least look like I know what I'm doing when I fire! BoomLover

Partially filled powder chamber is OK.  Loose powder is OK.  (as well as full powder chamber and 'foiled' powder)

The 'windage' (clearance between the ball and the bore) both allows some blow-by (reducing pressure some) and doesn't provide that extra tightness at ignition (thereby not increasing the pressure as it would if it were patched tightly).

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Offline A.Roads

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Re: Mortar loading question....
« Reply #9 on: August 25, 2009, 04:46:44 PM »
Jay,  I think if you do top up the powder chamber with cream of wheat (I use bran & a cardboard  disc over that) over your loose powder your projectile will travel much further & you'll therefore use less powder. This is certainly the case with my mortar which is a similar size to yours. Adrian
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Offline BoomLover

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Re: Mortar loading question....
« Reply #10 on: August 25, 2009, 07:36:58 PM »
CW, thank you for the very clear answer...My main concern is that everyone knows the difference between the muzzle loader rifle, which needs a patched ball, and a mortar, which needs to have the windage to prevent build-up of dangerous back pressure.
And A. Roads, thank you for the info about the filler and the cardboard disk. We all like using less powder to get better results! Ya can learn something new just about every day on this forum! BoomLover
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