Looking to build my first mortar or howitzer

[machinehead]

hello,

i have been lurking on this site for a couple of months now.  i must say that it is great.  i have learned quite a bit from reading all of the posts.  my friends think i am nuts for wanting to make a beercan or a golf ball mortar.  they do not know the laws and think everything is illegal.  i have not even seen a cannon go off so this is all so new to me.  i am a machinist and a welder by trade.  i have access to most everything i need to build a mortar or half scale howitzer.  to tell ya the truth i have almost as much fun reserching and building as i do firing my toys.  i have built fals, 1919a4, ak's, ar's from a forging.  i have a copy of the more complete cannoneer coming.  that book must be great cause i here it mentioned all the time on here.  for a golfbal caliber i would like to case balls out of lead, just to shoot lead balls.  im leaning more twards a beercan or galfball mortar for my first.  a replica of a union mortar and sled, or is it a bed.  oh well if anyone has any proven plans they could send my way that would be great.  any info that i should know please pass on  my email is paininc@gci.net

[Powder keg]

Hey Machinehead,
Welcome aboard! Enter the Mortar Contest. DD and CW will send you most of the stuff to build a mortar. It's cheap and Fun.

[GGaskill]

you could go with 12 oz spherical sinkers.  You can get commercial moulds from Do-It Corp.  The CB-2-1216B has 12 and 16 oz sinkers.  The 12 oz one is about 1.54" in diameter which is in the golf ball ballpark.  Don't forget the increased inertia of the lead ball will significantly raise pressures compared to a golf ball.  Stronger construction is called for.

A 3 oz ball is OK for 1" bore.

[Cat Whisperer]

Machinehead -

WELCOME!  It sounds like you got way beyond the basic skills needed.  There are two conisderations that I would recommend driving the choice of caliber and style (mortar vs. cannon).

First, already mentioned is the availability of ammunition.  Plan on there being a wide difference in pressure between light and heavy (ie: beer can filled with sand vs. lead sphere).

Second, is the location available to shoot.  100 yard ranges most everywhere.  The backstop is a consideration.  I shoot mostly mortars because I live in the mountains of Virginia - there are a few places where I can shoot to 300 and 400 yards but mostly 100 yard ranges are where I haunt.  (It's scary to chuck a 24oz cement filled over the mountain top beyond the backstop of the range in the National Forrest - easy to do when you have range capability of 1000 - 1500 yards and having fun.)

I would suggest that you start with something simple - the mortar.  Quick to knock out if you already have the tools and will give you a taste of what it takes to deep drill and bore and put a powder chamber way down in the bottom.  Confederate mortar design was generally simple and straight tubes & trunions.  Trunion attachment is a little different that say with an UZI but the concept is much the same - dealing with the issue of how to attach the tube without compromizing the strength of the tube.

Pick something that drives your passion!  Search out the plans.  Modify them to your tastes.  Toss out ideas here - you've already heard from  two folks here that are experieced and will offer alternatives.

Have fun, be safe and keep it legal!

[SLEEPY BEEPER]

Hi, I have worked in a machine shop for 35 years. One of my faverite mortars shouts 2 inch bar stubs. If you have access to bar stubs, give them a thought. They are about the same weight as a lead ball. Easier to make them cans of concrete (if you have a lath) and more accurat. Give them .015 clearence in the bore. Leave them as long as wide. So they cannot turn in the bore. I drill the bar stubs with a .5 in drill. Make a washer that fits the rope and in the .5 drill hole. Melt the rope into a mushroom end. Peen the washer in the .5 hole and your ready to go.