Newbie

[Iron Balls]

Thought I had best introduce myself. I have always been interested in bang, always liked cannons, but just recently got serious. Been reading the post here and been learning things but still have a lot of questions. Heck, I never even knew that there were new cannons being cast. The only thing I knew was that people were making BB mortars from gas tanks. But I never knew you had to make a chamber. I just thought you drilled a hole for fuse and went to the range.
So, a month ago, I found a medical oxy cylinder at a garage sale. It is a 3AA2015 spun. It is 26 inches to the top of the neck and 4 1/8 inch OD. I do not know the ID or wall thickness. I will not know this until I get back to my shop in MN. and cut the bottom off. Anyway, when I saw this cylinder I thought; "That would make a nice little cannon." I have so many questions. If the search feature worked I could track a lot of things down, but I guess I will just have to start a thread and ask as I go.
So glad I found this site.
 
Do people really shoot golf balls or is this just an easy way to give the bore dia? Cause I have a lot of golf balls and always finding more.

[RocklockI]

It can be a measurement of bore dia. . They are used for ammo as well . Mostly out of mortars . A gun (cannon) is not too impressive in 1.750" size shooting golf balls as they usually go wild and wide .
 
If you go with a gun you will probably end up using Fox Balls (see sticky) they are steel mill balls that work as "match grade ammo" being very round and very smooth .
 
Good Luck this is the place to learn !
 
Gary

[Iron Balls]

Thanks for clearing that up for me, Gary. I had to ask, I am so ignorant, I had heard about bowling ball mortars but when I first saw a post about a BB mortar, I thought; "Damn, that's a tiny little mortar." LOL. Funny you should bring up mill balls because they used to come through here by the car full. I had been thinking about them.

[Double D]

Hit the Stickies at the top of the board and you will find a lot useful info.

All the info there has come from folks here on the board.  One of the most usefull items post was the google search term post  by Shred.

Here is what you need to paste into the search window on Google to find bowling ball mortars  here on GBO:

 site:www.gboreloaded.com/forums Bowling ball Mortars.

If you read the FAQ sticky you will find the specification for the correct tank to use for a bowling ball mortar.  The tan you have is not correct.  The correct tank size is listed in the stickies.

[Iron Balls]

Thanks Double D. Yeah, I pretty much knew it was not fit for a BB mortar. As I said, it is only 4 1/8 OD. I was thinking more on the lines of a small mountain howitzer type of cannon. Not to scale and not the correct looks, but just kinda like. I do not have access to an engine lathe so I will have to farm out the breech plug and a few other things I am thinking of. I am beginning to wonder if building a tube might be more expensive than buying one. I will have to check on machining costs when I get home. I know a greasy little machine shop that can turn out anything.
I know things I have/will ask may seem stupid, But I lay awake nights thinking about this thing.
 

[Double D]

Thanks Double D. Yeah, I pretty much knew it was not fit for a BB mortar. As I said, it is only 4 1/8 OD. I was thinking more on the lines of a small mountain howitzer type of cannon. Not to scale and not the correct looks, but just kinda like. I do not have access to an engine lathe so I will have to farm out the breech plug and a few other things I am thinking of. I am beginning to wonder if building a tube might be more expensive than buying one. I will have to check on machining costs when I get home. I know a greasy little machine shop that can turn out anything.
I know things I have/will ask may seem stupid, But I lay awake nights thinking about this thing.

There is an old saying---the only stupid questions the one you don't ask. 

May I suggest for a first cannon contact our sponsors and get one of their cannons.  It is a good place to start. Prices are reasonable and guns are safely built. 

Learn the basics and go from there.  Cannons and cannon shooting is a lot of fun but can also be a lot of work. Find your limits and stick with them.

I do not think I would bother trying to make a cannon from one of the those little oxygen cylinders...too difficult for  construction, too hard to maintain.

[Iron Balls]

I hear you Double D. Believe me I am going to take a close look at the cost. But I have some ideas of what I would like to do with this tank. I am sure that I will not only need a breach plug with a charge chamber, but also a sleeve. Right now I only see the cylinder as providing esthetic's. I like the shapes I see in it.

[RocklockI]

Thanks Double D. Yeah, I pretty much knew it was not fit for a BB mortar. As I said, it is only 4 1/8 OD. I was thinking more on the lines of a small mountain howitzer type of cannon. Not to scale and not the correct looks, but just kinda like. I do not have access to an engine lathe so I will have to farm out the breech plug and a few other things I am thinking of. I am beginning to wonder if building a tube might be more expensive than buying one. I will have to check on machining costs when I get home. I know a greasy little machine shop that can turn out anything.
I know things I have/will ask may seem stupid, But I lay awake nights thinking about this thing.

   That's the spirit ! Soon you maybe powerless agianst the powers that be !
 
I can second the idea of buying a nice little cannon from a vender . It was a Brooks firecracker mortar that hooked me ! Just kinda figure some of this out B4 you start handling
Oz.s at a time .
 
50 grains will burn you BIG TIME it will make you cry .It will blister your hand instantly and probably pop to where you have loose skin hanging . (DD MAY not cry, but he would surley want to. )
 
These things can get out of hand pretty quick . For a one man operation I would draw the line at about 75 lbs total . NOW IF you have a crew thats something else .
 
Oh yea and light your fuses from the side not straight on ...... more burns
 
I would really recomend a Golf Ball mortar or smaller ,you can see a golf ball fly out of it and watch it land with about 20-30 grains of powder. Then you walk out and pick them all up .
 
At 8000  7000 grains per pound you will get lots of practice .

(struck for obvious reasons) but it is still alot of shooting !
 
 
 
 

[jeeper1]

At 8000 grains per pound you will get lots of practice .

7000 grains to the pound.

[Iron Balls]

Thanks for the replies and encouragement. I think you are right on about getting a GB mortar.  It would help keep up my interest too. I know, from experience, that a guy can get used to sitting on the john and looking at bare studs. LOL.
Now I will have to start researching GB mortars for sale.
But I will still be thinking about that tube and I will still be asking questions like; "What kind of GB is best for launching? ProVI's, Bridgestones, maybe Top Flites for practice shots?" LOL
 
Thanks again,
Dale

[Doc Brown.]

I love to take my kids out and have them help shooting the golf balls. They really love it! Its great fun and only requires a tiny amount of black powder.  Mortars are my favorite. I would wish you luck on finding a nice mortar but with the stickies here you wont need any luck.

[Iron Balls]

Just got back to spend my Summer in MN. Going to order a GB mortar soon. Stopped at Gander Mt. today to see what they stocked in BP. They had, I think it was, FFS at just under $27 a pound. And pyrodex at, around, $20. But, if I can order BP at just under $16 and pay the hazmat price, it wouldn't take many pounds to better those prices, even if they could get FX, which I do not know if they can.
Also, a friend of mine wired a foundry where they make balling mill balls. They have 3 sizes. I am going to stop in and see what they have and if they will fill a small order.
 
Fire as they bare.

[Iron Balls]

Well, today I pulled the trigger. Sent Dom a money order and he will be shipping me a GB Mortar tube. Then I will have to build a sled or a base and then, bye bye golf balls.