Re: HMR Has Balls

[onegreatshot]

After you blast these zinc G/B off, how in the heck do you find them? I've lost a couple dozen G/B's already. I stand behind the mortar to see if I can see the projectiles path, can't find it. What do you guys do? put a gps in the ball???

[IvarForkbeard]

You order more..... or as is my case, use the zinc ones for precision shooting, IE don't fill the powder chamber and watch it fly, I find that 37 grains of FFg in my mortar and I can land it in half a 55 gal drum at about 75 yards.

[GGaskill]

One thing you could do is drill a hole in the shot and screw in an eye screw.  Then tie a couple of feet of 1/2" red nylon web to the screw.  It will reduce the range somewhat but you will be able to find the shot easier.  Use steel fish leader so the blast will not burn it.

[Double D]

After you blast these zinc G/B off, how in the heck do you find them? I've lost a couple dozen G/B's already. I stand behind the mortar to see if I can see the projectiles path, can't find it. What do you guys do? put a gps in the ball???

If you can;t see the mortar ball fly then you are missing half the fun of shooting a mortar.  Reduce you load to say 25 grains and start working up until you get 100 yards out of your shot.  You will find it is much more enjoyable to watch that ball fly and hit. then you can start pointing it at targets and see if you can hit them.

FWIW if you  shoot your mortar and cannot see them fly and land then you are violating that basic shooting rule of know your back stop.

That of course is not the same as shooting and seeing the ball land and not being able to find it afterwards.  Southpaw has a piece of ground at his farm where we shoot, that the balls bury them selves in the ground.  We find 9 out 10.  There must a dozen of my zinc balls stuck in his field.

[Victor3]

I find that 37 grains of FFg in my mortar and I can land it in half a 55 gal drum at about 75 yards.

 Really? How many times have you been able to do that? 

[IvarForkbeard]

 
 Really? How many times have you been able to do that? 

After five shots to get it dialed in, seven in a row.

[Victor3]

 That's some incredible shooting! I doubt that anyone else here has ever been able to place 7 shots in a row into 22.5" diameter at 75 yds with a BP mortar.
 
 Could you share some tips on how you acheive this level of accuracy?

[onegreatshot]

The red ribbon sounds like a fix for me. As to my background, I shoot at the Pro Staff Gun Range in Las Vegas Nv. The problem was with the tan and white ground cover, hiding the ball. Also I has some inconsistent launches some went about 150 yards some maybe 200 (range finder numbers) then a couple in the 75-80 yard range. Going to try the tin foil loading to see if that will help. My problem might of been the cover wad over the powder not being a consistant pressure.

[Double D]

Two things. 

What is the diameter of you bore?

Why are you using a wad over the powder?

[IvarForkbeard]

That's some incredible shooting! I doubt that anyone else here has ever been able to place 7 shots in a row into 22.5" diameter at 75 yds with a BP mortar.
 
 Could you share some tips on how you acheive this level of accuracy?

Loose powder, no wad so "Compression" is not an issue, well established shooting position to be reset to each time, a large board anchored to the ground with spikes and the position of the first "Good" shot pencil drawn around it. Consinstancy is your friend. When trying to impress people with multiple well aimed shots from a motar, I ALWAYS allow the chamber to cool so even that is not a factor. Seven shots take about half an hour.

[intoodeep]

The red ribbon sounds like a fix for me. As to my background, I shoot at the Pro Staff Gun Range in Las Vegas Nv. The problem was with the tan and white ground cover, hiding the ball. Also I has some inconsistent launches some went about 150 yards some maybe 200 (range finder numbers) then a couple in the 75-80 yard range. Going to try the tin foil loading to see if that will help. My problem might of been the cover wad over the powder not being a consistant pressure.

 OK, I am a local. Not of the "crazy type" with an "o"     I believe the range you are talking about is between Henderson & Boulder City. Anyway, I have a few toys like yours. I would like to find an area where I could burn a little powder without the frowns if you know what I mean. 

 I would like to meet others in this area with a similar disfunction... Oh, I mean mind...    So, if you would like PM me and lets see if we can get together as, my wife and I go to BC to trap shoot on a fairly regular basis.