I would like to enter the "Walk the walk" mortar shoot, but it will mean putting together a Golf Ball Mortar in order to do so.
So this is my quandary, I have gone back through all of the back pages of posts, all 68 or so, and looked through the reference sections at the beginning of the forum. I pretty much read everything that seemed to be about GB mortars, including the posts on the last mortar contest.
What I would like to build is a GB mortar of 2 to 2 1/2 bore diameter length specifically to shoot golf balls, possibly blank loads, and no solid balls. I am looking for a maximum range of aprox 100 yds and obviously to ability to accurately shoot to 30 yards for the contest. I would use 35 to 45 degrees of elevation for the barrel.
What I found was mortars with bore diameters ranging from about 1.68 to 1.75 bore diameter, powder chambers ranging from bore diameter down to 1/2" by 1", powder charges ranging from 10 grs. to 100s of grs., and max distances ranging from a couple hundred yards to Earth orbit. I am afraid I don't have the time to put together several test designs before the contest deadline.
The following is an excerpt from this post:
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,97389.0.htmlIt is posted by Double D:
"Reason to fire a golf ball mortar.
1. Smoke...yep it will do that (I like smoke!)
2. Noise...yep it will do that although not real load (I don't need a real loud noise to deafen spectators)
3. To watch the ball fly, yep you can do that. (I like that)
4. To watch the ball the ball land (Or to see how close you can get to a target}. (I don't see too well, so short ranges are good)"
"In this case don't think max charge think how far do you want to shoot.
With a 1/2 chamber you can accurately lob a golf ball 30 yards with 24 Grs of FG. Start with that load and work up one grain at a time and see how far the ball will go for specific charge until you determine the maximum range you want to lob the golf ball. You don't need a chamber much longer the 3/4 inch for launch golf balls. Anything longer is just unneed and a waste of powder if used."
This sounds like exactly what I am looking for. The last contest entrys remarked on the fact that it takes a very small amount of powder to go 100yds, and the smaller charges get erratic trying to keep the range to 30yds, If everyone pretty much agrees with Double D's assessment (no offense intended Double D) then I will use his chamber size and just go away. If not I would appreciate very much to hear from anyone who has a GB mortar. I would like to know the bore diameter and length, powder chamber size, powder charge, and some kind of idea what distances you shoot and what changes you would make to what you have. I am hoping with this information I can figure out a configuration that will fit my requirements for the contest and some fun shooting.
Thank you very much for your consideration,
MikeR C
PS I am assuming at some point Double D will look at this post, (and if he doesn't take vast offense to my impugning his GB mortar designing skills and deletes my account and has my mouse confiscated), I would like some clarification on the "Walk the Walk" rules. Are we allowed to use sabots on the golf balls, this would help with bouncing after impact, failing that is it cheating to set the pin in a plowed field?