Author Topic: 2007 New River Valley Mortar and Cannon OPEN firepower demonstration (Read 7526 times)

EL Caz 66 · « **Reply #30 on:** June 15, 2007, 05:50:48 PM »

Sorry Men, I'll be in Boulder Colorado July 1st. till 7Th. $:-\$ I was looking forward to meeting all.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #31 on:** June 16, 2007, 01:24:14 AM »

Bummer!

But there will come a time ....

Captain Earl · « **Reply #32 on:** June 16, 2007, 03:52:09 AM »

I sure am looking forward to the shoot. I really want to check out the Seacoast boys guns. I cant wait to talk artillery with new friends. I just saw the picture lance posted of us and my gun. Just wanted to let everyone know, that is probably the dirtiest my gun has ever been. I had just come back from a reenactment and was doing a living history for an historical society here in Va. so, I didnt get a chance to apply any elbow grease. Although, I dont put a real good polish to it before living history events as the first thing folks do to a shiney tube is put their hands on it. I am leaving the house right now to do another grave dedication and fire a salute to the brave boys that gave their all.

lance · « **Reply #33 on:** June 16, 2007, 04:14:56 PM »

El Caz, maybe this will turn into a yearly event, or maybe every six months, wouldn't that be something??? see ya at the next one. Earl, sorry, that was the only picture i had of just you and me, wanted people to see what we looked like.any chance you might also fire a round of grape or canister? i can cut you out a bunch of six foot cardboard union men, with a seven foot stake at the back. maybe Jeffro could paint'em blue, i hate to paint. Tim, how's things looking on locations??? i also have a special request, i do like to sit and look through my photo albums, real albums, not some computer screen. anyway, i'd like if possible, a group photo of everyone there.........

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #34 on:** June 17, 2007, 01:28:09 AM »

A group pix is certainly in order.

Location - I'll hear from two sources on Monday. I do have a third in mind as well. If none of those pan out there is always the public (although minimally used) range down in Wytheville (right off I-77 just before the tunnel through Big Walker Mountain). There are 10 shooting benches - with 100 yard and 25 yard ranges combined 5/5 in one wide range.

That picture was great! You can see polished cannons in ANY museum - but how often do you get to smell the sweet smell of sulpher?

Captain Earl · « **Reply #35 on:** June 17, 2007, 03:29:34 AM »

Great minds think alike Lance. I am going to try some canister rounds. I have been wanting to make some "dummy" rounds anyway for presentations. I am going to cast up some lead .69 round balls to use as the shot and I have a small wood lathe to make the bases with. I may need some help with the metal end plates but that shouldn't be a problem. I'm thinking 1/4" thick aluminum discs. I have some friends in machine shops that can help with that.

GGaskill · « **Reply #36 on:** June 17, 2007, 06:43:59 AM »

I'm thinking 1/4" thick aluminum discs.

Those will be some dangerous projectiles by themselves. Maybe try a quart paint can or some other kind that is a close fit.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #37 on:** June 17, 2007, 07:34:09 AM »

Quote from: GGaskill on June 17, 2007, 06:43:59 AM

I'm thinking 1/4" thick aluminum discs.

Those will be some dangerous projectiles by themselves. Maybe try a quart paint can or some other kind that is a close fit.

For safety we'll stand BEHIND the cannon, not in front of it.

Captain Earl · « **Reply #38 on:** June 17, 2007, 09:57:32 AM »

I don't think the end plates will be anymore dangerous than the several pounds of .69 lead balls that the gun will be spraying. I want to try to make these as close to the original as possible. Original canister rounds had iron end plates.

lance · « **Reply #39 on:** June 17, 2007, 03:24:09 PM »

Gentlemen, take a moment and think about all the metal flying back then-and the courage to charge and take a gun..............Tim, i'm hoping you get a location in the back woods, a nice country setting. but, we'll have to take what we can get..............Earl, since a golf ball is kinda the same size as a grape shot, if i quilt up a stand of [grape balls] will you shoot it? if you will, that will be a sight! you'll just have to holler FORE!!! a bunch of times really fast.

Captain Earl · « **Reply #40 on:** June 18, 2007, 09:25:42 AM »

If you build it...they will shoot. Yea Lance, that sounds like a hoot. We'll just holler 36 (4 x 9), and let 'em rip.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #41 on:** June 18, 2007, 02:20:32 PM »

Update on the site. Not finalized yet. One place we were looking at is planted in corn. Haven't heard about the other site near Pilot, perhaps tomorrow I'll hear. That leaves two public ranges (Blacksburg and Wytheville) as backups that can always be used, but it would be good to have a site that's close in and private.

lance · « **Reply #42 on:** June 18, 2007, 04:03:12 PM »

Quote from: Cat Whisperer on June 18, 2007, 02:20:32 PM

Update on the site. Not finalized yet. One place we were looking at is planted in corn. Haven't heard about the other site near Pilot, perhaps tomorrow I'll hear. That leaves two public ranges (Blacksburg and Wytheville) as backups that can always be used, but it would be good to have a site that's close in and private.

Tim, i don't think the corn will be much of a problem,Captain Earls canister rounds can cut it down. well if we had an ideal of just how many people were bringing something to shoot??? that might help the land owners make up their mind. i might bring a mortar or two, but i mainly want to meet you and the seacoastartillery guys. darn, Capt Earl will see this................ well, i'll know some of the guys there, to be fair i guess i should shake hands with whoever shows up.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #43 on:** June 19, 2007, 03:51:50 AM »

We have a spot - tentatively - initial response was positive. Near Pilot, VA.

Captain Earl · « **Reply #44 on:** June 19, 2007, 09:55:01 AM »

Great news. Personally, I much prefer a farm field to a public shooting range.

lance · « **Reply #45 on:** June 19, 2007, 02:46:58 PM »

TIM, that is great news, Pilot Va. is basically between me and Earl, and not far from the interstate for the folks coming from far away. i'm with Earl, a farm setting is so much better than a public range.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #46 on:** June 20, 2007, 05:29:59 AM »

All -

The 'range' in Pilot (read: field) IS AVAILABLE, but on SATURDAY, July 7th.

We'll have to work out a time acceptable to most folks.

lance · « **Reply #47 on:** June 20, 2007, 02:34:35 PM »

Tim, what do you think about noon till dark? i can be there all day to help out and shoot. Capt.Earl will have to give his thoughts, i know he has a gig that day. it dosen't get dark till about 9:00 pm, should be plenty of time for Earl to make it..................

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #48 on:** June 20, 2007, 03:26:54 PM »

I'm waiting for Earl to check his calendar for his commitment that day, which we'll work around.

Three to four hours of shooting should be adequate for 4 to 5 guns - more of course if needed by popular demand.

I'm planning on bringing several mortars and hand-gonnes, each of a different caliber. (I do have over 400 golf balls, but we'd reach a point quickly where that would get old.)

Rain could be an issue. Not too many places for indoor mortar shooting!

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #49 on:** June 21, 2007, 02:09:54 PM »

On Saturday I'll be looking over the area for the shoot.

There may be an issue with backstop capability. While it doesn't take much to stop a mortar round coming down from the sky, it's quite another story shooting at low angle - it's easy to 'skip' the cannon ball if there's not a good back-stop.

If I have ANY question about SAFETY, we will NOT attempt doing something potentially stupid.

SO, we're still in the planning stage with nothing definite.

lance · « **Reply #50 on:** June 21, 2007, 05:05:26 PM »

Tim, wish i could go with you saturday, but more over time, will be getting off from the 4th to the 8th though. all i'm bringing is mortars, i'll try and not do something too stupid............

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #51 on:** June 22, 2007, 05:10:02 AM »

Looking now at a patch of ground (level shooting area - valley - wooded hill in the back). Will see in on Saturday!

lance · « **Reply #52 on:** June 22, 2007, 03:03:20 PM »

Tim, you are always welcome anytime to shoot here, i just can't put on a big show. but i do have a neat mortar spot, small hill about 10 feet high to set mortars on. across a small valley with creek is a hill about 50 feet high. we can pretend the hills are earthworks..........just don't have room to shoot big cannons, but mortars are fine.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #53 on:** June 24, 2007, 05:11:42 PM »

Thanks, Lance, most considerate of you. We will get together to shoot.

Concerning the range. I did not get a chance to look at the new site (near Willis) but having been there before I think it will work out well. Good parking, terrain and nearby indoor plumbing! Might even consider bringing a grill.

lance · « **Reply #54 on:** June 24, 2007, 05:35:39 PM »

Tim, that almost sounds like the old iron furnace that was built in the 1700's, it's near willis, the owners built a big pavillion, for family reunions. also built bathrooms with showers. only about a hundred yards from the big stone furnace, one of the most historic places in floyd county. the furnace was used during the American Revolution. it's way out in the woods, lots of room to shoot, and we hold our camp picnic there................

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #55 on:** June 25, 2007, 12:05:26 AM »

It's at a friend's in-law's home.

But where you describe sounds interesting. If it's public, an event might could be scheduled by talking to the right folks; but at this time it's a bit close. Any road, it sounds like a place I'd like to checkout - THANKS!

lance · « **Reply #56 on:** June 25, 2007, 04:06:41 PM »

Tim, the iron furnace property is private owned. i know the owners, and can show you around. i'd say it is probably booked that weekend. usually you have to reserve it months in advance, because lots of family reunions are held there, also church groups use it. our SCV camp has it booked Aughust 4th for the camp picnic, we had to reserve it back in Jan just to get a date. most dates were already taken. you would like the furnace, looks like a stone pyramid about 40 feet tall. now about your Willis site, is it a done deal? has the time been set?

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #57 on:** June 26, 2007, 12:23:44 AM »

Lance -

We HAVE the site available in Willis. I haven't seen it for a year, but as I recall it is GOOD. We had a skeet shoot there and I brought the 4.5" coehorn. The first 100 yards or so is down-hill to the creek, some areas open past that and then a hill in the background that is wooded. There should be some places where the hill is steep enough and wooded enough to be a good backstop. There will be some good 200 yard shots as well.

Tossing out a number for a starting time, I think 3:00 pm would be good. That would give Earl time to get there later (he has a commitment at noon elsewhere).

Sounds like the furnace is similar to the one over at Foster Falls.

lance · « **Reply #58 on:** June 26, 2007, 03:50:32 PM »

Tim, 3:00 sounds good. Willis is great, only about 12 miles for me. i don't know where in Willis, but i'm sure you'll post directions as time gets closer.

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #59 on:** June 26, 2007, 04:30:59 PM »

Saturday the 7th at 3:00 P.M. Got it. The Willis site sounds really good. Now if only I could carve a Union Monitor out of a piece of 2 X 6 lumber and glue a tunafish can on top, you Virginia boys could really get MOTIVATED as it forced a passage down the creek! I need something to do as Mike drives down the Maine coast toward New Hampshire. See you guys soon.

Tracy and Mike