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Offline Evil Dog

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Finally got it started
« on: September 24, 2005, 02:07:49 PM »
I've been wanting to get started on this mortar for well over a month now but just haven't had the time.  Well.... now it is indeed a work in progress.



It's a 2 1/4" bore based on the 1861 siege mortar.  Note the carefully placed powder can for size reference.

I managed to sneak out to the range today but only had enough time to get off 4 shots..... hey, that's better than not shooting at all !!!  Tried 100gr GOEX FFg, 125gr GOEX FFg and 150gr GOEX FFg.  This bore was made to use the same 2 1/4" cast zinc ball as my half scale Napoleon... weighs right at 1 1/2 pounds.

With moderate elevation, the 100gr load put the ball out around 70 yards... slow enough that it could be seen it's entire flight.  Not much muzzle flash and a very mild report.



With the same elevation 125gr put the ball out closer to 100 yards and I never did see it in the air... a lot more pronounced report.  150gr put it well over 130 yards and was very loud.

My camera ran out of battery after the first short video so only have the one pic..... will have more as progress continues.
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Evil Dog

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Offline Cat Whisperer

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« Reply #1 on: September 24, 2005, 03:22:39 PM »
Cool shootin' iron, Dude!

What were your times of flight running?  

And, what does it weigh?  (I'm getting old enough now to draw a limit at what I attempt to haul.)
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Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
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Offline Terry C.

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« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2005, 04:19:46 PM »
Quote from: Evil Dog
Note the carefully placed powder can for size reference.


Pfffft...

That's not a powder can.

This is a powder can:

http://users.wayxcable.com/~terryandpam/images/misc/clabbergirl.jpg">
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Offline uz2busmc

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« Reply #3 on: September 25, 2005, 03:22:15 AM »
Nice work, I like the fact that it looks overly beefy.
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Offline Cat Whisperer

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« Reply #4 on: September 25, 2005, 03:45:42 AM »
Quote from: uz2busmc
Nice work, I like the fact that it looks overly beefy.





cute on steroids
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Offline GGaskill

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« Reply #5 on: September 25, 2005, 09:44:19 AM »
Looks like all it needs is some black paint.  (-:

Love the powder cans.
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Offline Double D

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« Reply #6 on: September 25, 2005, 09:52:32 AM »
E.D and Terry, when Blaster see's those powder cans you are going to be in so much trouble!!!! :)  :)  :)  :)
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Offline Evil Dog

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« Reply #7 on: September 25, 2005, 05:43:03 PM »
Yes, I suppose that it is a bit on the overbuilt side.... sorta reminds me of either a thimble on steroids or a demented coffee cup.  The barrel itself is 6" diameter by 7 3/4" long.  With the oak bed it weighs right at 70 pounds... pretty much my tote-it-for-any-distance limit.  Hopefully before too long my friendly neighborhood blacksmith will have upper and lower trunnion straps made.  I've also considered wrapping the bed edges in strap iron but I'm really not sure I'm all that good a metal bender.... guess I won't know until I give it a try.  As George suggested, it will be getting a coat of "satin" black paint but first I think I would like to cover the welds with bondo and smooth out the transition contours a bit.

I wasn't paying all that much attention to the flight times, but as I recall it was about from 8 to 15 seconds depending on the distance.
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Evil Dog

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
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Offline Blaster

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« Reply #8 on: September 26, 2005, 07:25:02 AM »
Quote from: Double D
E.D and Terry, when Blaster see's those powder cans you are going to be in so much trouble!!!! :)  :)  :)  :)


Great job Evil Dog.  I'd sure like to have a mortar just EXACTLY like that.  And DD, now don't you get me in trouble.  I guess a can IS a can. :wink:
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Offline NONYA

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« Reply #9 on: September 26, 2005, 07:54:02 AM »
Very nice looking piece!i would use lead to fill instead of bondo so it doesnt seperate on you after the recoil and temp change of firing it.
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Offline Powder keg

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« Reply #10 on: September 27, 2005, 05:45:26 AM »
I never thought of lead for a filler? Does it require a special flux to get it to stick? Will any lead work, or is there a special product made for this purpose? Thanks,
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Wesley P.
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Offline GGaskill

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« Reply #11 on: September 28, 2005, 09:21:57 PM »
You said your maximum charge so far is 150 gr.  Have you determined what the capacity of the powder chamber is?
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Offline Evil Dog

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« Reply #12 on: September 29, 2005, 02:24:50 AM »
No, haven't actually filled it up yet.  The powder chamber appears to be around 1" x 1".  It is just a guess at this point but I should imagine 350+ gr.  I will probably stick with the lighter charges though as it is a lot more fun to actually watch the ball in flight.
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Evil Dog

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Freedom is a well-armed lamb contesting that vote. - Benjamin Franklin (1759)

Offline GGaskill

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« Reply #13 on: September 29, 2005, 06:18:40 AM »
...it is a lot more fun to actually watch the ball in flight.

That is what I love about bowling balls, although there are people who claim to not be able to follow a bowling ball in flight.
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Offline Powder keg

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« Reply #14 on: September 29, 2005, 01:47:34 PM »
I've lost track of a couple of bowling balls before :shock:
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Wesley P.
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Offline Cat Whisperer

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« Reply #15 on: September 29, 2005, 03:23:03 PM »
Quote from: Powder keg
I've lost track of a couple of bowling balls before :shock:



And I admit that I've put a few concrete filled soda pop bottles out of sight and a bit further than I should have deep into the National Forrest.
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Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
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Offline Evil Dog

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« Reply #16 on: October 01, 2005, 02:14:14 PM »
All painted up and ready to go.... well, almost.  Don't have the trunnion straps from my blacksmith yet.



I am still very seriously considering wrapping the sides with iron strap.  It's very shootable as it is now though.
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Evil Dog

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Freedom is a well-armed lamb contesting that vote. - Benjamin Franklin (1759)

Offline Powder keg

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« Reply #17 on: October 01, 2005, 02:38:15 PM »
I like it!!! Great another project :-D Nice job!!!
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Wesley P.
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Offline Double D

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« Reply #18 on: October 01, 2005, 03:05:28 PM »
Look at the drawing and pictures and you will see those old mortars had no trunnion caps.
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Offline Evil Dog

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« Reply #19 on: October 02, 2005, 04:59:24 AM »
No trunnions or no trunnion straps?
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Evil Dog

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Freedom is a well-armed lamb contesting that vote. - Benjamin Franklin (1759)

Offline Double D

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« Reply #20 on: October 02, 2005, 06:29:06 AM »
error noted and corrected...trunion caps, they have no trunnion caps.
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Offline Evil Dog

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« Reply #21 on: October 02, 2005, 09:14:01 AM »
Ah, much more understandable.  I was having the devil of a time figuring out how it was supported without trunnions..... maybe leaned up against a dirt bank?  I've done that a time or two.
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Evil Dog

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Freedom is a well-armed lamb contesting that vote. - Benjamin Franklin (1759)

Offline GGaskill

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« Reply #22 on: October 02, 2005, 11:19:47 AM »
The trunnion caps were more integrated into the overall design of the M1861 siege and seacoast mortars.



8 Inch Siege Mortar
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Offline Double D

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« Reply #23 on: October 02, 2005, 04:23:27 PM »
Okay so only the Model 1841 Seacoast Mortars didn't have trunnion caps



The 1861 and 1841 Siege guns all have trunnion caps
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