mortar vs cannon question

[Mike OTDP]

Milkmaster, for the Napoleonic period and earlier, you are dealing with three types of artillery. Cannon, howtizers, and mortars.

Cannon were direct-fire weapons, shooting non-explosive rounds. Solid cannonballs and canister (a bag or can of bullets) were used.

Howitzers were also direct-fire weapons, but fired explosive shells. Howitzers used smaller powder charges to prevent the shell from detonating in the barrel.

Mortars were high-angle (>45 deg) equivalents of howitzers. They shot shells, usually with a relatively low charge of propellant. They were intended to drop shells over a fortress wall.

 

[Iggy]

Here is a cohorne (revolutionary war vintage) reproduction that shoots v-8 juice cans filled with cement.

It will lob them more than a 100 yard with ease.

 

[Ratdog68]

Here is a cohorne (revolutionary war vintage) reproduction that shoots v-8 juice cans filled with cement.

It will lob them more than a 100 yard with ease.

Now THAT looks like a pile of too much fun !!

 

[theotherwaldo]

-I'd give that V-8 can a wrap of friction tape at each end (if windage allows) to keep the concrete splash from scarring up the bore.

My .02.

 

[black_powder_Rob]

Man Iggy where'd ya get the artillery?

looks sweet!!!

 

[Das Jaeger]

I have a couple

Ferril Cats from my irresponcible neighbors I can send ya to lob out of that thing , awsome , Kittys in space

Jaeger

 

[4v50 Gary]

Iggy - my mortar is similar, but with a brass barrel and grey painted oak carriage.

 

[Milkmaster]

Thanks again for the replies. It has been an education. I guess my home made piece is neither a mortar or a cannon. I only use a fuse, 300 grains of powder, and a 1/2" piece of wooden dowel for wadding and to build pressure. I just call it a noise maker. Sorry I don't know how to make the pictures look smaller here without changing the original.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Milkmaster - yours look somewhat like a mountain howitzer with a missing carriage tail.

Black powder mortars may have been transported with wheels, but weren't fired on wheeled carriages.

BTW, your wheels don't look right. The wheels were inclined inwards on artillery (somewhat like "\o/" with the "o" being the barrel). This helped throw mud off the wheel when it was rolling.

 

[Iggy]

theotherwaldo,

The only cement exposure is at the muzzle up end of the V-8 can. The rest or bottom of the can is completely enclosed and the can pretty much fills the entire length of the bore.

The eye bolt is so I can wire a fluorescent flag to the projectile. After the projectile leaves the muzzle the can flips end to end and the flag trails behind.

It is the only way you can find your cans for re-use.

I painted some of the cans with fluorescent paint but that was blown off after a few shots.

Milkmaster,

WOW! that 300 grains must really make a racket. I only use 80 grains of 4f with the cohorne and it will fling that cement filled juice can well over a 100 yards.

I have another muzzle loading cannon. It will fire 35 mm film cans full of cement or I make lead wad cutters for it. the barrel weighs 75 pounds.

I use a 12 gauge shot gun hull as a powder measure. It will fling a 1/2 pound lead wad cutter several hundred yards or clear through an old pickup truck body.

That little rascal of yours should be pretty exciting to watch.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Thanks Iggy for the eyebolt suggestion. I stopped shooting when I ran out of ammo. With that eyebolt, the ammo can be retrieved for reuse.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I used to put a little flour in the top of the can. It would leave a powder trail in the air and a puff when it landed. Made it easier to track it down afterward.

I've also had good luck using cans packed full of stiff clay. Then again, I do pottery. Use what ya got. I usually got around to picking these up afterward, but not for re-use... .

 

[Slamfire]

Guy, go up the road, a "stones throw', and visit the Stones River battlefield.

At Parson's battery, and at Sheridan's stand, you will see cannon.

You won't see mortars anywhere because Stones River was a mobile battle not a siege.

 

[Milkmaster]

Been to Stones River Battlefield more times than I can count. We used the tour trail through the woods for our cross country practice three times a week when I was younger. Lots of nice field pieces there. They fire them every few weeks for one occasion or another. Of course there is no round...just the powder. Gives a nice boom!

 

[husker]

In post 2 . i have seen a vid I think with gunny. On mail call. this cannon that fires 4 or 5 rounds & they all hit at the same time. Its fricken Awesome!!!!! Talk about vaporizing.