Anyone have Grey-Star or Hern Iron works Mountain Howitzers?

[rufus mcfly]

I am new to the forum and new to black powder cannons and would like to know if any one knows about them.  Are they of shootable quality and if so at what powder charges?  Also I can't even find anyone selling balls for a 3 inch or 3.5 inch bore.  Thanks for any help you can give me, I know I have a long road of research ahead of me on a lot of things, but want to know if these are quality before I start.

[Double D]

I am new to the forum and new to black powder cannons and would like to know if any one knows about them.  Are they of shootable quality and if so at what powder charges?  Also I can't even find anyone selling balls for a 3 inch or 3.5 inch bore.  Thanks for any help you can give me, I know I have a long road of research ahead of me on a lot of things, but want to know if these are quality before I start.

There have been some issues reported on this board with  Gray-star barrels.  They offer welded seam liners which may have an issue with corrosion failure in the seam over long periond of time.  Thy also have had a difficult time with there liners getting misaligned  during the casting.

Search google using this search term:   site:www.gboreloaded.com/forums graystar .  Try try variations in spelling greystar, gray-star, grey-star, gray star, grey star.

[KABAR2]

 Hern Iron Works has been casting cannons for a long time, while not the best exterior finish I would say they are well made and a good starter cannon to get your feet wet with, the 12 Lb mountain howitzer is underbored…. So it does not look quite right to those who know…. Also you have a lot of extra weight for the size gun you might be better off with their 6 pndr…. I know a few people with Hern barrels and have never heard a complaint…..

[Doc Brown.]

Where would you go to get a Herns barrel steel sleeved?
 

[Cannoneer]

Hern's barrels come with a liner.

[rufus mcfly]

Thanks for your help!  I'm thinking Hern sounds a little higher quality.  I'm looking at there mountain howitzer bored at 3 inch, the other question is were do you get balls for those?  Or do you all cast your own? Can't help but think that lead would be hard to cast that size and give you higher chamber pressures.  Would zinc be the other option its cheaper but who makes molds for it?  Thanks again for all your help, just don't want to get a cannon and not be able to shoot it!

[GGaskill]

Zinc would be better.  Lighter weight and usually reusable.  Some of our sponsors can make the moulds.

[Doc Brown.]

Hern's barrels come with a liner.

I can't find anything on herns site about there liner or any mention of it.

[Cannoneer]

This is a KABAR2 post culled from a 2009 thread; he had contacted Hern by email.

my first experience was with a friend's Hern cannon back in 1974 purchased on a steel carriage from Dixie Gun Works, 

here is the email I received back form Joel Brown,


Hi Allen,
 
Thanks for your interest in Hern Cannon Barrels. We have been making cannon barrels for over thirty years and would love the opportunity to make one for you.
 
1)    All Hern Barrels have cast-in-place steel liners. Our full scale barrels, such as 1841 Six Pounder, 10-Pdr Parrott Rifle, 20-Pdr Parrott Rifle, 1857 Napoleon, and 3" Ordnance Rifle are made with 1/2" Wall DOM (Drawn over Mandrel) Tubing and have a press-fit and welded breech plug. DOM Liners have the most consistent bore diameter and are stronger than HFS Tubing.
 
2)    Our barrels are cast in a horizontal flask. The front of the liner is held in a core-print in the mold, and the rear of the liner is centered in the mold by rows of welded spacers called chaplets. This prevents any shift in the liner during the casting process. The liner is shotblasted prior to attachment of the chaplets and fitting of the breech plug to remove any oxides and to promote bonding of the iron with the liner.
 
Please feel free to call me at 800-228-7794 if you have any other questions.
 
Best Regards,
 
Joel Brown

[armorer77]

HMR makes molds . Give me a shout and we'll see what we can work out . Ed

[Double D]

Hern's barrels come with a liner.

I can't find anything on herns site about there liner or any mention of it.

Yes that's true, but a number of use have been in contact with them over the years a and and number of us have have bought from them and a number of us have seen the tubes and we  are well aware that they use a liner.  I do not know of any US cast barrel maker who does not use a liner.

[Doc Brown.]

Hern's barrels come with a liner.

I can't find anything on herns site about there liner or any mention of it.

Yes that's true, but a number of use have been in contact with them over the years a and and number of us have have bought from them and a number of us have seen the tubes and we  are well aware that they use a liner.  I do not know of any US cast barrel maker who does not use a liner.

I guess it makes sense. When I go to Mc Donald's and order a cheese burger it doesn't say whats on it. Im supposed to just know its got Ketchup, mustard, pickle, and onions.  Same thing I guess with a cast iron cannon barrel. No need to mention whats in it. Its irrelevant as long as your using normal ketchup, mustard, onions and pickles why say anything.
 
If your using some new weird ingredient then you would expect that to be pointed out to you. Like if they started using cucumbers instead of pickles. 
 

[Cannon Cocker]

Hern's barrels come with a liner.

I can't find anything on herns site about there liner or any mention of it.

Yes that's true, but a number of use have been in contact with them over the years a and and number of us have have bought from them and a number of us have seen the tubes and we  are well aware that they use a liner.  I do not know of any US cast barrel maker who does not use a liner.

I guess it makes sense. When I go to Mc Donald's and order a cheese burger it doesn't say whats on it. Im supposed to just know its got Ketchup, mustard, pickle, and onions.  Same thing I guess with a cast iron cannon barrel. No need to mention whats in it. Its irrelevant as long as your using normal ketchup, mustard, onions and pickles why say anything.
 
If your using some new weird ingredient then you would expect that to be pointed out to you. Like if they started using cucumbers instead of pickles.

"You would expect that to be pointed out to you", but from my experience in business and in buying guns, it's better to have all the ingredients spelled out or you're in for a bad surprise.  I'm pretty much to the point of wanting to know who squeezed the tomatoes.