Fall 2004 N-SSA Mortars

[Double D]

Incoming!

8inch M-1841 Siege mortar and Coehorn


8inch M-1861 Siege mortar


8inch M-1841 Siege mortar

[Cat Whisperer]

If you weren't there, you missed something!

The LONG firing line had some 60 firing positions for mortars - 100 yard range and upwards of 45 were filled.

The smallest caliber of mortars allowed was 4.5" and there were at least 2 EIGHT inch mortars there.

The targets were individual fence posts at 100 yards.  Most mortars were firing at 45 degree elevation, some higher.  

You could see the cannon balls slowly turning in flight - having a shiney side and a blacked side.

Dirt would be kicked up when the ball would come slamming down into the muddy earth.

After an hour's shooting, all the teams went to the 100 yard line to measure the distance of each hit from their target.  

I did hear one round of applause and voices during the shooting - direct hit maybe?

Several groups and several teams - which would all fire at the same time.

Good fun.

Nearby were the Sutler's tents/buildings for selling all kinds of Black Poweder stuff.

Saw one mortar there that had just been sold and there was a Gatling gun all polished and gleaming.


So next year, is anyone interested in putting together a team?  "The Graybeard Irregulars"?

[Double D]

Tim,

That one tent we were in that had the "air gun pellet" mould also had a scale model Coehorn for shooting Golf balls...cute as all get out and $395. It looked exactly like the ones out in the firing line to a "T"

I also made contact with the fellow standing on the top of this "A" frame.  I hope to be able to carry on a conversation with him shortly via Email.



That "A" frame for the rest of you is what they use to mount and dismount that 8 inch gun.

Next spring  I am going to make it a point to go out for the setup.   There was a lot of things going on to make those guns shoot.   Lots of aiming stakes, plumb bobs, levels and such.

Here's how you swab the bore out on an 8 inch.


You reach in with a great big towel and start wiping.  They were also using the same technique on the coehorn.

Powder going in the mortars was loaded loose. It was all pre measured and put up in plastic medicine bottles for the 8 inch and plastic film cannisters for the Coehorn.  The loader just reached in and dumped the powder in the chamber.  There is no way that the amount powder they were putting in could have filled the chambers.  The Loaders were all wearing leather gloves and welders sleeves that covered clear up to their shoulders.   They all turned their faces away from the muzzle while loading.

[Cat Whisperer]

Here's how you swab the bore out on an 8 inch.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh the wonderful smell of sulpher!

[Soot Sucker]

Hey Tim,

I have been wanting to join or start a team for sometime. I am going to purchase a Bronze 24 pdr Mortar from "Cannons Online" I got about half saved in my "Mortar fund"  :grin:  The mortar and bed will cost about $4500. I wanted to shoot in N-SSA and in the American Artillery Association.... The AAA has meets a few weekends a year featuring ONLY mortars. The AAA  also allows any size motar as long as it meets their safety standards.

Or maybe we can have a Greybeards artillery/mortar meet of our own?

Regards,
Dave

[Cat Whisperer]

So far we're well spread out.  Looks like a bunch in VA & PA could volley with the folks out West or up North.

I still like the concept of the Graybeard "Irregulars"; must be my 5th column propensity.

[shooter575]

Cat Whisperer, Glad you had a good time at the Nationals. There were a lot fewer motars there this fall due to many teams scraching.Lot of people stayed home because of flooding this year.Others didnt want to to loose their balls. When they hit in a mudpuddle,water just covers up the hole and poof.Gone.
 There were allmost 70 tubes on the line in the spring.You want shoot N-SSA you need to be on a team.Best thing to do is find one neer you and join up for a year or so.Learn the ropes then start your own.There are N-SSA teams in every state east of misissippi and Texas.Many regional shoots have mortar and artillery events at them.
 In my region North West [Mich and N.Ohio] there are 3 regional mortar matches a year.We hosted a skirmish last month in Marion Mi. last month and had 10 tubes show up and 6 pieces of artillery from 3 states.