getting short charges to go in straight when loading

[Rickk]

I'm sitting here waiting for Friday to end at work so I can go home and shoot a bit.

One thing that has frustrated me in my mortar (2.25 inch - no sub chamber) is that with charges for live loads the pre-made aluminum foil wrapped charges are about 2 inches in diameter but only an inch or so long, and it is harrd to get them to go down straight. When I start ramming I am probably smashing the charge sideways as often as the intended way. This has to lead to significant shot to shot variation.

With blanks this is not a problem cuz with a couple of cardboard over-powder wads in the charge bag it is almost 3 inches long.

Anyway, has anyone else had this problem and how do they deal with it?

A few minutes ago I thought about maybe taping the charge to the ball with a single layer of masking tape around the whole thing, somewhat like people are occationally doing with sabots. Being a mortar, it should just slide down and bottom out with no need to even ram.

Anyone have any other ideas?

[Double D]

With no sub chamber and bagged charges I would just tape the charge to the ball...but you said that already!

[CU_Cannon]

I would say that the tape is you best bet.  Another option would be to dump the powder in loose.  This could be a safety hazard but as long as you treat it as such you should be safe. 

The AAA has this to say about loading a mortar:

IV. Safe Loading Procedure

D.  Empty powder from safety container into a long funnel to ensure placement of charge in chamber.
1. Always position hands, face and body away from muzzle during loading.

[jeeper1]

I have a long funnel is use because my mortar has a powder chamber. I pre weigh the charges and store them in film cans with the load info written on the outside.

[Dictator]

I ran into a similar situation on one of my mortars. I tried pouring the powder in loose w/ the barrel elevated to 90 degrees, but the powder would fall to the bottom of the bore when it was lowered back to firing position. I now attach the powder bag to the ball & it works much better.

[Rickk]

A few minutes ago I taped a powder charge to a ball with a single strip of 3/4 inch masking tape and slid it thu my ball gauge. At about 30 degrees is slide, so in the 45 degree mortar it should slide under it's own powder no problem.

I am used to ramming a powder charge (with a welding glove on), but a bit nervous about doing that with a 2# lead ball above the powder. I am hoping that the ball will do the ramming for me and I can just drop it in place. I'll give it a try tomorrow if the rain holds off.

If it doesn't seat nicely (I'll know that when I punch the vent) I'll run to the hardware store and get some "stuff" to make a U shaped rammer. In fact, I probably should make one anyway, "just because". The local hardware store only hires cute 18-22 year old girls to work there so I guess I need a reason to go there anyway 

[jeeper1]

The local hardware store only hires cute 18-22 year old girls to work there so I guess I need a reason to go there anyway

That is reason enough.

[EL Caz 66]

Hey Rickk,

I didn't know HOOTERS went into the harware business, I though it fast-food & airlines. Well I can wait till they open one in my area.

Ed

[intoodeep]

EL Cazador 66,

 Don't forget HOOTERS Hotel & Casino....

[Rickk]

Yhere is a new Home Depot that just opened up in town. I still go to the other place with the cute girls. Figure that marketing strategy out will ya?

[Rickk]

I went and visited the cuties at the hardware store and came home with parts to make this...



the vertical pieces are 1 inch wooden dowel, the 90's and horizontal piece are brass.

[EL Caz 66]

HHhhhMMmm thats a good idea

[Santa Dave]

I picked up a couple of old, wood walking canes,(new ones can be found cheap too) shortened them (I Have A LIL-Cannon) and they work fine. Ajlmost any eatery has a couple canes that have been there for YEARS! If your bore is less than 34 incths lonig they work fine!
Dave
Thinking on it, if you put a sleeve on the end so it could move up a little it could hold the charge centered then push the charge into the chomber when it bottoms
Clear as mud, right?

[Michael Az]

Nice work, but I want to see the photo of the cuties.
Michael

[Rickk]

I'll work on the cute photos.

Dave, if it was a field cannon it might work, but on a mortar some sort of retainer would be needed. I thought the same thing, but havn't come up with something slick and easy yet.

Anyway, the masking tape should work. If the weather breaks this weekend I'll try the theory out.

[Artilleryman]

I don't have any experience with mortars that are less than 12 pdr, so I am not sure why you would need a packaged charge and a rammer.  We put the powder in loose and set the shell on top of it.   Rammers were not listed as part of the equipment for mortars.   I suppose a rammer would be useful for wads on top of a blank.

[Rickk]

Artilleryman,

I assume you have a more traditional mortar with a powder chamber. I also would assume your bore is so big you can get your hand in there and burning residue is not going to go by unnoticed.

Mine is only 2.25 inches bore and no sub-chamber. If I just dump the powder in it won't sit very nicely on the bottom of the bore.  Plus, my hand wont go in there to really wipe things down to make sure there is nothin in a little nook or cranny that is glowing (although the chamber does get soaked really well between shots). It also keeps the powder dry if there is a bit of residual dampness left after sponging.

The aluminim foil is an added safety precaution that, believe it or not, is legally required in the state that I live in. The reason that it is required is sort of not well thought out when applied to a sub-chambered mortar...mortars weren't even considered by the rule makers I don't think. I must admit it is sort of convienient in non-sub-chambered guns where lining up into a subchamber isn't an issue. A couple of us I know are using aluminum foil prepared charges even in our mini-dictators (1 inch bore) and it sure does save the hastle of messin with loose powder on the range.

Whatever works I guess.