[Ohen Cepel]

Just saw on for sale on Ebay.

Looks to be a great toy. Besides, how many people have a mortar:evil:

Anyone ever play with these?

How about the small cannons?

Places to look for more info and makers?

Thanks in advance!

[Cortland]

I was looking at some of the stuff from Hern Iron Works (http://www.hernironworks.com/cannons.html) about a year ago but never bought anything. They've got everything from the $200 2.75" model all the way up to a $5000 full size 8" mortar (shipping not included :D ). I still want one, I'm just not sure how often I'd use it ...

[Balog]

Wouldn't it be possible to weld something like this up from water pipe? I realize that it wouldn't be as strong, but I think you could make one safe to use.

[4v50 Gary]

I have a brass beer can mortar mounted on an oak base. Haven't played with it enough to figure out powder charge & range. BTW, black powder
mortars are fixed at 45 degrees and you adjust powder charge to get range.

[Ohen Cepel]

I looked at the Hern site, thanks.
They worry me some though. Want a sign, notorized statement before purchase and they say that they are only for decoration.
Bit of $ for decoration.
Need to call them and find out if that's all just for legal reasons which I can see with all the lawyers lurking around.

Anyone know of other sites?

As for welding one up. I'm sure that it could be done.
However, not by me:uhoh:
I have the mechanical abilities of a gerbil.

Besides after I bought the stuff to build it (need a welder also) I would be into it for more than if I just bought one.

Really like the golf ball one the guy had on Ebay. I may contact him about building one for me if I can't find a full time maker.

Again, thanks for the info.

[nondescript]

http://www.wildimports.com/


I'm tempted to buy a pop can bore boomer. :)

[Ohen Cepel]

Wild Imports has some pretty good looking stuff!
Cost more than the others. However, they actually say theirs will fire. Important, I have enough issues without missing body parts!

I also found
www.kansascannon.net
and www.candycannon.net (just in case you want to fire blow pops at the kids:evil:

[PAC 762]

I've made a few different cannons out of various types of pipe. I've never had anything blow up on me, but I don't go crazy with the powder charge. I've had a new golfball cannon project on the backburner for a while now. Maybe I should get working...

[Mike Irwin]

A friend and I years ago made a mortar using the heavy paper tubes on which rolls of newsprint are wound. They're about 1/2 inch thick and very heavily compressed so are very strong.

We lined the interior with aluminum press plates (this was when I was working for the newspaper) and bolted in a punched metal cup of appropriate size for the end cap.

We found that 1 lb cans of vegetarian baked beans fit almost perfectly.

Nothing like launching a can of beans nearly 800 yards...

[4v50 Gary]

Both the Union and the Confederates made ad-hoc mortars by burning out tree trunks. The Union model (Vicksburg) was reinforced by metal loops. The Southern model was used at Cold Harbor to flush out Yankee sharpshooters from their rifle pits.

[RON in PA]

About 30 years ago when I lived in Maryland I bought a bronze barreled mortar with an inch and a quarter bore. For projectiles I used wooden doweling 2-3 times bore diameter in length and drilled a hole in one end that I filled with lead. Painted them in international orange. Used Fg powder, just enough to make the bronze ring. Set at approx. 45 degrees the mortar had a range of about 75 yards. You could see the projectile in flight and see where it hit. Much fun! Still have the mortar, sitting on a bookshelf in my bedroom.

Did try some cast zinc balls, they cleared the hundred yard backstop, only did that one time.

[kentucky bucky]

You fellows might get a "bang" out of a company in my neck of the woods. Great workmanship! They even hand make the screws and bolts in the carriages for authenticity!I want one BAD! C'mon lotto numbers!!!!!!


www.steencannons.com

[Ed]

Ah, Gary the Stump Mortar. I actually played with one when I worked at the Vicksburg Battlefield. It was about a 10lb sized tube. They also had Quaker guns which were hollowed out tree trunks painted black and made to confuse the Northern troops, but thats for another post.

[4v50 Gary]

Geez Ed. The NPS had you guys playing with a wood stump mortar? I hope it was iron wrapped like it suppose to be and while it's cheating, metal lined. :uhoh: I'd feel OK with a few shots of very low charges of black powder, but I'm not one to press my luck.

BTW, what year where you showering the Confederates with iron balls?

[Ed]

Yes it was banded and lined. I was there from 1988-1994. Did the living history as a volunteer from age 14-17 then became a seasonal employee at 18-21..then went to Boot camp summer of 95 so had to quit th epark. We also fired a real Napolian and when we streched th event from so many shots, they gave us another original tube. FUN!!

[Omega_7]

Especially the swivel gun that fires golf balls. Talk about inexpensive ammo! Just go to your local driving range and buy a bucket full :D

[smokemaker]

My dad, uncles and me made a golf ball mortar out of seamless heavywall pipe. It worked great when the charge was 1 or 2 M-80's and a max-fly. We kick adjusted trajectory, and ended up stuffing all kinds of things down bore to see how they'd fly. Moth balls were interesting. Eventually we ran out of golf balls and M-80's, and the gun was demo'd. Good times, though.

[Ohen Cepel]

The ones I'm seeing are just a bit more than I want to pay.

Over $500 and I'll buy a toy I can shoot at my indoor range:D

It's definately on my "watch list".

Maybe I can put one of the listed sites on my soon to be wedding registry:evil:

I should get something I want, shouldn't I:scrutiny:

[Penman]

Make one that will shoot bowling balls. you can pick up your projectiles at yard sales.

[Kestrel]

I actually saw a bowling ball cannon somewhere on the Internet. I don't remember where, but it was large and it fired the ball a LONG distance. I wish I could find that site.

Steve

[P95Carry]

Steve .. I am all but certain those bowling ball mortars were featured in a thread here .. wonder if a search on ''bowling balls'' would bring up anything .. I haven't tried yet. In fact . I am wondering if I saved a pic .. have to go look ... if so I'll post.

Below is a nice lil mortar .. this was at a shoot not too long ago ... very cold snowy day but we had a blast .. and periodically there was a holler ...... ''Fire in the Hole'' ..... as our erswhile host sent another sand-filled coke can on its way! :evil: All fuelled by a mere two cap's full of BP.!!


http://www.bedford.net/design/shoot2/mason_03_mortar_s.jpg

[4v50 Gary]

When you say cap, were they plastic soda bottle caps or what?

What distance do you send the soda cans?:)

[P95Carry]

Gary ..... imagine a can of Goex BP .... the twist cap on that was the measure - 2 of those full .. not a whole lot of BP really ... then a short length of cannon fuse and .... BOOM!

Distance? Well . we were mostly shooting at a steel plate at 160 yds . and the can prescribed a real graceful arc and usually landed pretty close to the gong!

Actually ... very much same distance and trajectory as my largest potato cannon .. 2" bore that is!:p

[Bainx]

I deeply regret having stumbled onto this thread.
Now, I am afraid I will develop yet ANOTHER interest in arms related
collecting/shooting and will have to divert funds to it! :p

[Alex]

I too am a bit bothered by the Hern site, if you folks want a company that sells full scale cannons that are intended for more than just "decoration" check out Dixie Gun Works, these guys have been selling full size cannons for decades. You have to fill out a form showing you understand the safety rules that go along with their use, but they do deliver the goods. There on the web check them out.

[Ohen Cepel]

Another link I have found on these toys :evil:

http://www.fireiron.net/fireweb502.htm

I'm still pondering it. Soooo tempting :D

[JShirley]

I'd like a longer tube and slightly larger ID- about pop can diameter. :)

John

[Ohen Cepel]

John,
THey make them up to bowling ball size :what:

Big enough?

[justashooter]

imagine a can of Goex BP .... the twist cap on that was the measure - 2 of those full .. not a whole lot of BP really ... then a short length of cannon fuse and .... BOOM!

2 caps? when roger isn't looking i use 3 in his gun, and get more yardage. this is a trailer axel tubing with a plate and knuckle joint on the bottom. the camo paint is a little over the top, don't you think? sorry to have missed that shoot, but snow threatened.

[P95Carry]

Hahahaha - "When Roger isn't looking"!!! Scoundrel!!

That pic actually was IIRC Winter 2003/2004 ... I didn't make it to last one this winter because of snow.

Maybe see ya May sometime! :)

[Chuck R.]

I was down in Mexia TX last Labor day weekend shooting a BPCS match. and a guy brought his homemade bowling ball mortar. It was made from a cut off, and welded up propane tank with a wooden carriage. He’d shoot it in between relays. I’ve got to say, it was impressive. Without using that much powder, he’d consistently get it past the 500 meter ram line.

Everybody would watch it go up out of sight, then listen for it comming down. It made a distinctive noise due to the finger holes.

Cool toy.

Chuck

[JShirley]

Ohen Cepel,

I'm sorry- I missed the first page. I want exactly what P95 (Chris) has.

John

[P95Carry]

Haha - pop can that one is John ... just perfect. Usually just sand-filled cans.

Next ''evolution'' is the use of cans filled not with sand but cement - and a 22 rimfire at base, full of flare composition - this should it is hoped give a brief burn during the trajectory.

We'll see - testing may be done May next! :p

[sm]

I forget who brought a BP cannnon to Larry Ashcraft's shindig, he posted pics. If you recall the LEO showed up and no problems...except the LEO were in awe of the cannon, something to the effect of - " next time you throw a party - invite us, we wanna party with you folks" :D

Maybe Larry or whomever has the cannon will chime in...

[only1asterisk]

P95Carry,

If your going to bring that thing to the PA shoot, I'll bring the powder!

I've always wanted a oxygen tank/bowling ball model myself.

Reread, I guess yo'll have to bring the owner and the mortar...

David

[JShirley]

If I'm not mistaken, a pop can is about 60mm...

I know a little about 60mm mortars (http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=5354). ;)

John

[P95Carry]

Steve - this was I think the one at Larry's ... operated by BILLL


http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=23313


Only 1 -- indeed, wish that one was mine. Have to see if owner can be ''pursuaded." I could well have my 2" potato cannon tho - that is a bundle of laffs!!

.

[sm]

I knew Chris would bail me out. :D

Yep, gotta have one of them someday...too much fun? NO such thing. ;)

I'll be seeing Larry shortly, I'll have to find out some more about that one..."and the rest of the story" as far as the party went. :p

Smoke says when his daughter gets older, and the boys start to notice, he is going to get a BIG Cannon, mount it overlooking the drive to his house, when the fellas start up the drive...

...I don't think he plans on sending one over the hood either... :uhoh: :D

[AGbombard]

just wondering, where would you take something like that to shoot?

[P95Carry]

AG, welcome! :)

Where? Big wide open space!

The one I showed a pic of is ''excercized'' in a 75 acre piece of private property. In fact - allowing for fact that height is a major component of trajectory - actual distance does not need to be massive. Probably a safe zone radius of 500 yards would give a huge factor of safety.

[0007]

I've got a couple of the WildImports' pieces - the beer can mortar and the HMS Victory saluting cannon. They are pretty high quality; bronze barrels with steel liners. They also build ball molds for everthing they sell. I'm saving my ducats for the full scale 3" mountain howitzer...