Some time ago, about 10 years, I horse traded a guy a Chinese 98 Mauser for a piece steel for a "popcan mortar". The tube is 6.25 x 12 with the popcan bore and powder chamber in place. The only problem is that the popcan bore was slip fit, no windage at all. I needed to get the bore opened up a little.
Since I don't have a steady rest for my lathe to big enough handle a piece of round stock this big I sent my tube off to one of the board members here and he opened it up me. He has never said it's alright for me to identify him, so I'll let him step forward and take a bow if he wishes. His work is darn good, and that's my opinion and the opinion of my friend who delivered and picked up the mortar tube for me. My friend use to work in a machine shop that made parts for the aviation industry and knows good work when he sees it. Thank you unnamed person!
Instead of having the tube opened up to give the popcan some windage, I choose to open it all the way to 6 PDR bore, 3.67 inch. Shooting round cannonballs is sexier than shooting popcans. Besides round zinc cannonballs are recyclable and available.
This pretty close to actual size.
While the tube was getting opened up, I also had our illustrious board member make me a mould. He will be getting the very first ball cast from this mould, that has been shot 6 times.
So now I have a supply of 6PDR mortar balls and a tube. What profile should I go with?
Confederate?
Federal?
The Federal has a fancier profile, but were they made in iron or were they all bronze. My tube is steel and would be more appropriate painted black.
What do you fellows think, Confederate or Federal?
