For Casper Wyoming shooters, a mortar question

[entsminger]

For any of you Casper mortar shooters out there who might read this post I am looking for someone who owns and shoots a Hern reproduction 8 inch 1861 mortar. I'd like to know your opinon of Herns 8 inch mortar.
  Also, is there another forum you Casper mortar shooters might subscribe to ?

  Scott

[Double D]

Scott have you ever went out to Ft. Shendadoah and asked the fellas out there about  Hern?

Not only might those guys be able answer all your question, they might know where is a gun is for sale.

[entsminger]

I have been to the skirmishers mortar shoot at ft. Shenandoah  but found no one who knows anything about hern 8 inch mortars. Of course it's hard to talk to many folks who are shooting as they get pretty busy. I talked to Charlie Smithgalls regiment who shoots an origional 8 incher but found no one who knows much about big repro mortars. Paulson Brothers sells a repro. 8 incher for about $7500 and Herns is about $6050. Both seem to have good reputations? Is there a quality difference worth the extra $$. Who knows? I think both are made from gray iron. I can find no one who ownes either. I asked Hern for a list of some people who have bought theirs so I could talk to some owners and they said they would send me one but it hasn't happened so far.
  I guess I thought that there would be lots of people out there who own reproduction 8 and 10 inch 1861 mortars, but maybe not?? Anyway I'm still leaning towards getting a 10 inch barrel ( I can make the carriage) if I can get one in the neighborhood of $5000 ( I may have that much saved by end of summer if all goes well) and if not I'll have to settle for an 8 incher. But from who and where, I don't know yet?

  Scott

[guardsgunner]

entsminger,

   Have you looked into having a barrel turned? The pre civil war seige mortars were alot like the coehorn. The trunnion mounts from behind.
Goes on a Wood sled.
   I know of one which started at 18" dia. bar stock. (10")

There are a few seige mortar's around but not lots by any means. The truck and required and thier weight makes them a pita.

[Dictator]

Scott,
 I don't know if this will help, but I ran into Keith Frederickson in New Ulm, MN. last year at their live shoot. Keith is the mortar team that is on the "Artillery Games" DVD from the History Channell as the Lichtfield Heavy Artillery Battery that won that year. He has made an 8" & 10" exact replica himself with his sons, They are on this sight as Freddy from time to time. I talked to Keith last year in New Ulm, & he said to get a hold of him if interested in a large scale mortar. Unfortunately, I don't have his phone number, but he can't be too hard to find. He is the "Lichtfield Heavy Artillery Battery" in Lichtfield, MN. They were shooting their 8" mortar below---They won the mortars. It was a ton of fun watching the heavies fire. If you're coming out to Casper, I will be with the Iowa 2nd Light Artillery on our 6lb Ordinance Rifle. Sorry for all the pics
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[entsminger]

I have talked to the Fredericksons and they said they could make another 10 inch barrel but as they are not a company who makes cannons to sell but rather just made an 8 and a 10 for their own use so the cost they quoted me was out of my price range. I was sort of hoping to visit them or Paulson Brothers this summer but that may not happen as they live in Minnesota and Wisconsin and I live in Va. which is roughly some 1900 miles away and I may not have time this summer to go up there?

 Scott