Max Charge for GB Mortar

[walter t]

Hi All,
Just finished a golf ball mortar and am wondering what would be a good charge for this puppy. The motar is 7" long and 3" o.d. steel round bar stock bored to 1.70" with a 1" x 1" powder chamber and a bore depth of 4". What would be a safe max charge using Goex FFG powder. I shot it yesterday with 100 grains and it worked pretty well but seems like it could handle a hotter charge. Also I have been useing 100 grains of Goex ffg in my .50 caliber bronze cannon turned from 1 1/2" bronze shafting, it has a 3/8" x 3/4" powder chamber ,is this a resonable load for this one.
Thanks,
Walter t

[NVWalt]

100 grains of 3f sounds like a lot to me. More like wasteing good powder. I easily get 100 yards with my GB mortar angled pretty high and can get around 200 yards angled at 45 degrees with 30 grains of 3f. I f I double the load to 2 45ACP cases full about 60 grains I can just get to 300 or around that with it. But 1 45ACP case/30grains is easy to watch the ball go about 200 up and 100-125 yards out.
 These little GB mortars sure are fun and not expensive to play with. I know, take a picture. I shall when I go out again. I seem to forget the camera when I go to the range to play. More interested in playing.
 Walter t, My GB mortar is pretty much like yours with a 1x1 chamber and about the same length bore machined to 1.70 and made out of 3 inch steel, so you should get about the same results with yours
 ...Walt

[Double D]

NVWalt has given you good advice. 

Make you self a load chart. Start with 20 grains and increase by 5 grains and work up from there until you get a result you are looking for.

You can trust us when we say that these mortars are fun to shoot when you can see the ball in flight and you can aim them at hit a target.But when you load them up and make the ball disappear, boring!!!

[walter t]

Hi All,
I am using Goex FFG, not FFFG powder, I shot it at 150 grains yesterday and it semed to work well,100 grains seemed a little light for the beast, makes a real good crack with about a foot of recoil with the sled sitting on the ground. I read on the GB Mortar  plans page of someone using 400 grainsof FFG, that seems like ALOT of powder. Will post pics soon of arsenal,
Walter t

[Artilleryman]

How far did the ball go?

[NVWalt]

Walter,
 Looks like I better clean my glasses or take a remedial reading course. Yes indeed it says 2 f . Anyways, try a can of 3 f and see what you think. Probably won't be as loud or shove that little piece back as far but it works well .
 Gonna try out some glow-in-the-dark golfballs tonight after it gets dark and see if I can track them up and out. And try to take a pic or two of the mortar.
 I have a grand total of just over 9 whole dollars invested in this great little homeland security weapon. Couldn't find the nuts and washers on the jobsite at the time and had to go to the hardware store and "Buy" some hardware..Walt

[walter t]

Hi All,
I have $22.00 Cad. into my weapon of mass disrutpion (WMD), best $22 I have spent in long time. I always wanted a cannon, finally bought a lathe about a month ago , now I am on WMD #5.  These things are too much fun! Next project is going to be a brass 18"  ships cannon with a 1" or so bore 3" at the breach with a nice taper,,, I have paintball cannon #2 on the lathe now, I want a couple to target shoot with some buddies  out back.
Walter t