Hernando Sportsman’s Club Cannon Shoot

[Cpt Ed]

Under overcast skies and the threat of thunderstorms, we had some hardy cannoneers show and mounted 8 cannons and mortars on the firing line. Many thanks to Randie, the President and Rangemaster of the club he provided us with another super automobile (blue van), as our target. In proper respect for us older folks the target van was placed out at 100 meters rather than the usual 200 meters. Wow this really made a difference for we plastered the heck out of it. To make it even more interesting one of the members placed a pumpkin on the top of the van to celebrate Thanksgiving. The pumpkin went home untouched, however, the owner of the full scale Confederate Mountain Rifle brought with him and placed on and around the van about 24 old red fire extinguishers. When these were hit they exploded with a good size white cloud that covered the entire van. What fun and a real morale builder for us when we hit one of the extinguishers.  The weather, rain was all around us until around 1:30pm. That pretty much ended the shoot for this event. Many thanks to Randi and all who came out. GBO member “Sergiomalatesta”  came in from the Tampa area, was able to purchase the Goex 1fg powder that he needed. He even brought with him his Dom Carpenters GB mortar and was able to put it on the line and participate with us. Speaking of Dom’s cannons there was a total of 4 of his very fine creation there on the line placing many holes in the target van. Here are some pictures from this event. On the right side of the firing line you will notice two compressed air cannons that were entered. The one on the six wheeled carriage had interchangeable barrels for golf and or tennis balls. The smaller one was tennis balls only.

Loading Dom’s Dahlgren Boat Howitzer.


The target van.


Firing Line.


Target Van with additions.


Dom’s GB Mortar.

[intoodeep]

Thanks for the photos. Looks like fun! I wish I could have been there..... 

[cannonmn]

Nice, thanks.  Betcha one of the members has a video-capable digital camera to set up next time so you can share it live.

Loading Dom’s Dahlgren Boat Howitzer.

Good way to avoid back problems later.  Obviously the HF shop crane arrived in a different, larger vehicle or trailer.

[Cpt Ed]

Loading Dom’s Dahlgren Boat Howitzer.

Good way to avoid back problems later.  Obviously the HF shop crane arrived in a different, larger vehicle or trailer.

John, Too late, two hernia ops later and an old sore back, I purchased the shop crane used from the craig's listing and paid the seller another $20 to deliver it to me.

[KABAR2]

From the number of Dom cannons at this shoot it should of been renamed the Dominic Carpenter shoot!

[Cpt Ed]

Dom’s custom built Dahlgren Light Boat Howitzer.

I used 1.50 oz of Cannon Grade Black and a 16 oz lead ball.

Dressed up for show.


Ready for live firing.


Hernando Cannon Shoot Dates for 2010 (mark your calendars).

Sunday ----- May 23, 2010
Sunday ----- October 24, 2010

[gulfcoastblackpowder]

I showed up, though I'm afraid I never properly introduced myself to some of the people there.  I took a little video, and a few pics, but I spent most of the time just enjoying the shooting, since I thought I'd have more opportunity for pictures and video later, so unfortunately, I don't have some of the guns being shot.  Most people cleared out around 1:30, but the guys with the big gun stuck around until about 2:30, when it started to sprinkle a little stronger.  For the record, the pumpkin ended up getting shot through the hole you see it sitting in in the picture of the van.  I really want to get some projectiles for the next event so I can bring my cannon.  Here's highlights of what I got.

I think this was after the van got hit by your Dahlgren Light Boat Howitzer (I know for certain it was one of the two golf ball size cannon)

Resetting the targets (notice the pumpkin in the van - it disappeared shortly after)






Some video!

[RocklockI]

Awsome video

That Don Dalgren Boat Gun !!!!!  wow the wheels look sweet ,very nice .

In the VERY last second of the first vid. you can hear the bronze mortar really ring but then the vid quits and you dont hear the church bell part of the ring . Thin walled Bronze guns 

Gary

[Cannoneer]

Capt Ed,
It's a shame about the rain, but other than that it looks like you all had a good time.
Is that your mortar next to the boat howitzer? If it is; what are the specifications on it?


Gulfcoastblackpowder,
Thanks for posting the vids.

[gulfcoastblackpowder]

It's his aluminum-bronze soda can coehorn.  He fired mostly half size cans, but a few full size as well.  It was about the only thing I could actually track in flight.  I'm sure he'll give you the details.

[Cpt Ed]

Boom J

Here is the information on this mortar as was provided to me by its creator who was offering it for sale several years ago. He only made two like this, one for himself and has never fired it because he didn’t want to change its nice new appearance, and a second one for his close personal friend, now deceased, who fired it often.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“This is very nice solid bronze mortar with all brass hardware on the teak wood mortar bed.

The mortar tube was machined from a 65 lb. piece of solid 4 1/2" diam. bar stock, the trunnion is 1 5/8" diam., reduced to 1 1/2" at the cheeks. The back of the mortar tube was machined to accept the trunnion as a press fit and was then TIG welded into place & hand ground to finish. The bottom of the tube has a reduced size chamber of 1" diam. The tube is 12" overall length and 4.355" od.

The mortar bed or carriage is built from 1 3/4" solid teak wood and is 24" long and 8" from cheek to cheek. The tie bolts are 1/2" diam. brass and run all the way through the bed from side to side. the trunnion straps are brass formed by a purpose built die jig, The elevation assy. is also solid brass.

The materials cost for the bronze tube alone was close to $300 at surplus prices and the brass hardware added another $100 to the cost. The tube is aluminium bronze which is much tougher and harder to cut than brass. It shines up like brass but requires carbide tools to cut and took two days to cut the bore.

The bore is sized for concrete filled soda or beer cans with .025" windage. A nice charge is a full scoop made from 1/2 of a .50 cal BMG shell which I will include and comes to about 140 grains of 2f powder.

The complete mortar weighs 54 lbs.”

[dominick]

Ed,  I like your shop crane arrangement.

[Cannoneer]

Thanks, Cpt Ed; your mortar is definitely worthy of being called a beauty.