Author Topic: yorktown mortar (Read 2788 times)

jj1 · « **on:** May 17, 2004, 12:19:57 PM »

i finally got around to finishing my yorktown mortar
kit that i ordered from cannon-mania. its a nice little
kit for the price. the bore is 1 inch and it has a small
powder chamber. sanding, staining, polishing and
final assembly only took a couple of hours, but i managed
to stretch that out to about a week. 15 minutes or so a day.
the more work you put into it the better it will look. i guess
that logic applies to most everything.

Double D · « **Reply #1 on:** May 18, 2004, 12:48:41 AM »

Looks good!! Nice picture, nobody would suspect that it is a 1 inch "hip pocket size" mortar. Makes a nice looking piece.

Have you fired it?

BADGER BOB · « **Reply #2 on:** May 18, 2004, 08:28:09 AM »

hi, jj1..nice job on the yorktown mortar.I was thinking about one last week and thought it looked like a lot of bang for the buck.does it take a full 1" projectile or need to be a little undersized for windage?I guess when the "cannon bug" bites ya just can't have enuff things that make noise.by the way I removed any marbles,shotgun shells,mothballs---anything I might be tempted to shoot through my yacht cannon per your advice.Keep makin' noise.bob

jj1 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 18, 2004, 09:22:53 AM »

thanks for the compliments. :grin:
i have not fired it yet but i plan to in the
near future. i think a c size battery will fit
but i don't have one around the house to try.
the bore size is exactly 1 inch so i will have
to find projectiles slightly undersized.

BADGER BOB · « **Reply #4 on:** May 27, 2004, 11:17:25 AM »

jj1--Your little mortar looked so good, I had to order me one.Takin' it on vacation with me to try out.Some notes on "ammo"-I found if you peel the "skin" off a "c" cell battery it will fit nicely in the bore with a little windage.I also figgered out that a 3/4" copper pipe cap (solder type fitting) will fit perfectly.it could be filled with lead,concrete,drywall mud,etc. I'll let ya know how it shoots when I git back.Bob

jj1 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 27, 2004, 11:28:09 AM »

hey badger bob, i have been itching to try mine. i just
have not found a spot around here to shoot yet. on the
fourth i plan on shooting a couple of blanks off the
back porch. the noise will just blend in with all of the
other fireworks. :wink:
i picked up a couple of super cheap c batteries at the
store a couple of days ago. these seem to fit just fine
with the wrapper on. hopefully i will have a range report
in the near future.

Blaster · « **Reply #6 on:** May 27, 2004, 02:59:37 PM »

jj1....very nice mortar and you did a great job finishing it. I think I'll have to order one also. How was the service with Cannon Mania? I had ordered stuff from them (Davis Ross, the owner/operator) and he was pretty quick filling the order if the items were stocked in his store. Just wonder how long your order took from order time to receipt time. Hey, enjoy that mortar and be sure to let us know just how much powder charge you used to shoot those batterys and if they held together OK, providing you are able to ever locate them after firing. Blaster (Bob in CO)

jj1 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 29, 2004, 08:40:37 AM »

service from cannon-mania was great. i called and placed my
order instead of online just to make sure they had the mortar
kit in stock. it was shipped either that afternoon or early the
next morning because i had it in 3 days. :grin:

BADGER BOB · « **Reply #8 on:** June 09, 2004, 12:14:39 PM »

Well........ I tried my baby yorktown at the beach at Daytona.Used the recommended 25 gr ffg bp with a paper wad blank...it made more of a POOT

than a bang!.Then I tried one of one of the copper caps and not much difference. I was going to try the battery when the beach patrol busted some people up the beach for shooting fireworks soooooo I kinda slid my mortar in my pocket and sauntered on back the other way.
I think the manufacturer was recommending a VERY safe load .
Anybody got any ideas :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: ? Keep on makin' LOUD noises. Badger Bob.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #9 on:** June 09, 2004, 03:51:22 PM »

Quote from: BADGER BOB

Anybody got any ideas :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: ? Keep on makin' LOUD noises. Badger Bob.

I used to, that is to say, I no longer do this, and don't try this at home.

My first mortar - beer can caliber (old style large-rim cans) was pressed into service one (or more) 4th of July. In town. So, instead of the usual sand or concrete filled can, I opened the top of the can completely, filled it with water. When fired, it went up 75 feet, tipped a little, dumped the water and the empty can floated down 'safely'; as the roar of the mortar echoed off the mountain on the other side of the valley and up and down the valley. Warning - too much powder forces the sides of the can outward - scraping the walls of the tube. Could be dangerous with too much powder, therefore (all the disclaimers apply here) for a powder charge you need to work it up and determine what is 'safe'.

BADGER BOB · « **Reply #10 on:** June 10, 2004, 02:42:51 AM »

I know what you're sayin',C.W. Anybody else had a chance to try this little banger?I saw a post about touchole size-my fuse is a relatively tight fit,would that make anydifference?They are a really nice piece of artillery and would appreciate any input.I'm gonna pick up some 1" wooden dowell and cut some 1 1/4" pieces and try them for projectiles.I'll let ya"ll know how it progresses.Badger Bob

michbob · « **Reply #11 on:** June 16, 2004, 12:48:08 PM »

MUST.....BUY....TINY....LITTLE.....MORTAR..... :lol:

Assuming they're legal around here, that is....

Michbob.

michbob · « **Reply #12 on:** June 18, 2004, 01:42:23 PM »

Holy Carp! They are out of stock till the start of July. That's what procrastinating gets you....

Michbob

Evil Dog · « **Reply #13 on:** June 18, 2004, 01:55:10 PM »

So has anyone actually fired one yet? If so, what projectile and powder charge? How well did it work?

BADGER BOB · « **Reply #14 on:** June 25, 2004, 10:03:01 AM »

Well,I shot my baby mortar yesterday... I increased load 5 gr to 30gr ffg and tried the 3/4"solder type copper cap filled with mortar- little improvement over the POOT previously discovered.couldn't see cap fly to see how far it went. Then tried 35 gr--did kinda POP! and a good little cloud of smoke.skeered to try much more.To be honest,I was a little disappointed .I did find a 1" i.d. wire pipe cleaning brush does a good job cleaning bore.Every time i shoot mine the fuse burns the wood carriage somewhere,you'all might try covering it with foil or something to keep from damaging it. :wink: Badger Bob.

Evil Dog · « **Reply #15 on:** June 26, 2004, 06:04:13 PM »

Hey Bob..... Sorry to hear that you were somewhat disappointed with this little mortar. I'd seriously considered buying one, but after your unbiased evaluation I'm probably going to pass. The only reason that I hadn't bought one yet was not having located a proper size round ball mold. Guess I will just stick with my 1.75" Coehorn throwing 1 pound lead balls (wheelweight).

michbob · « **Reply #16 on:** June 27, 2004, 11:33:14 AM »

Has anyone tried lead fishing sinkers? I'm thinking that an egg sinker of the appropriate weight and diameter would work nicely, though it would most probably tumble in flight.

Michbob

Evil Dog · « **Reply #17 on:** June 27, 2004, 12:03:38 PM »

The problem would be finding them in the proper diameter. They do make a mold for a 1.700" round fishing weight that weighs a pound when cast. Fits nicely in a golf ball mortar. Could always have a mold custom made I suppose.