Author Topic: Blackpowder Cannon and/or Mortar (Read 4411 times)

Cat Whisperer · « **on:** December 27, 2002, 06:58:54 AM »

Are there folks here that would participate in a forum focused on collecting, using, and or making blackpowder mortars and cannon?

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #1 on:** December 29, 2002, 02:25:17 PM »

A friend of mine did what I've only jokingly dreamed of - he and his friend loaded their mortar with several pounds of shot & went duck hunting. Two boat loads full - a serious mistake - well past the limit.

My two big mortars (4.5" and 16/20/24oz pop bottle calibers) will easily launch concrete filled bullets to 350 meters and God-only-knows how far. The 24oz Pepsi bottle cleared the mountain at the back of the range & it was still going up! (Did you know that Pepsi and Coke are the same caliber?)

Double D · « **Reply #2 on:** December 30, 2002, 10:52:10 PM »

Those 4th reunion fellas are having a bunch of fun. As they should. But us cannon making and shooting types have our fun also. We could use our own forum so we don't tread on those Country gentlemens toes.

I would like to hear more on the construction details of the pop bottle mortars?

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #3 on:** December 31, 2002, 02:43:57 AM »

Double D - The first one I made (July 4, 1975 - 200th anniversary) was from a billet of hot rolled steel - very hard, tough - wore down a cutter bit just getting the scale off. Bore was only 1/4" deeper than the can. Range about 130 meters with a water filled can over ff or fffg powder.

I've made many of recent of 4140 (prehardened). I'll send pictures as soon as I can figrue out how to post them.

Thanks,

Double D · « **Reply #4 on:** December 31, 2002, 01:30:56 PM »

The first Mortar I built or rather had built in the 1980's was from a piece of 6 inch monel. I got the plans from a 1970's copy of Guns magazine. When the plans were made beer came in a steel can that took a church key to open. Those cans were bigger around than the now ever popular pop-top extruded aluminum cans. I found out by trial and error that Campbell soup cans fit that gun just perfect.

We filled those cans full of cement and fired them. We were able to put 10 of those cans into 20 feet at 900 yards. We would just point the Tube in a safe direction and fire away.

While I was in gunsmithing school I dimensioned out a hollow based air-gum pellet to the diameter of that gun's bore and made mould for it. I cast two slugs out pure wheel weight that weighed about 8 lbs each.

The Muzzle loading artilleryman had a formula for determining powder charges for cannons by bore size and I made two charges. Turns out that formula was for straight bored guns and not guns with powder chamber smaller than bore size.

I loaded the gun up and fired it off. A huge smoke ring came out about 30 feet in diameter and the slug cracked through the air and disappeared never to be seen again. The recoil broke the 2x6 oak bases in half on both sides. Mind you now the trunnions were bolted into blocks mounted on the 2 inch side of the 2x6 oak sides. The recoil broke those sides like match sticks.

I had this gun along on the trip also.

That's Montana's Sweetgrass Hills in the back ground.

The fella that owned the ranch we were visiting had just pulled a old abandoned Ford Falcon out of the brush. He said why don't you shoot this old car with that cannon. I set the gun up about 20 yards away and aimed at the door. I lit the fuse and got out of the way. Big boom and a cloud smoke. The smoke drifted away and there was a big hole in the car door. We all hooted and hollared a second, when a 6 inch alder about 50 yards beyond the car fell over. Cool we killed that Falcon and a tree too!

I have built two of the navel guns and two parrot rifles since. Well actually I have completed one Parrot rifle and have the carriage hardware to finish on the second. I have built two other Mortars and am working on my fourth. It is the proper bore size to slip fit a diet coke can.

Alas, I am no longer in Montana, stuck here next to VA's beltway. Don't know what I am going to do about shooting around here, but I am already hearing rumors about cannon shooting going on. People jammed so close around her that you can't pass gas least someone complains, let alone do any shooting

Double D · « **Reply #5 on:** January 01, 2003, 10:14:42 AM »

We have a home. Thanks SSRF guy for sharing some space with us. come visit at our new digs. Blackpowder Mortar and Cannon

Thanks Greybeard for giving us the space. Now if we can just pull all those fellows in that were out there on the old Cannon forum on Gun and Knife before it folded last year.

Double D · « **Reply #6 on:** June 15, 2006, 05:39:34 PM »

While looking for the picture posting message, I came across this, our first post on Greybeards asking for our own board. And we got it.

As it is par for my post it's full of typo...one glaring! that should be 900 feet not yards, that I was tossing soup cans full of cement.

I had to edit the post to replace the photo link. Back then www.fototime.com would break the link to any photo you post and them moved in your album.

Sure seems longer thant 3 years doesn't it Tim!!

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #7 on:** June 16, 2006, 12:19:01 AM »

Blast from the past. I didn't even know this one still existed.

We've had a lot of fun weekends since then! AND a lot of good folks met right here!

entsminger · « **Reply #8 on:** June 16, 2006, 05:53:04 AM »

Isn't this forum generally about using, collecting and building mortars/cannons anyway?? I'm confused with this pole?

Scott

Double D · « **Reply #9 on:** June 16, 2006, 06:22:57 AM »

Scott check the date on the poll December 2002. Back then, Graybeards Outdoors had just did a remodel and update. They were looking for new ideas for the boards and Tim and I chimed in together asking for a cannon board.

Before Graybeard will open a new forum, you have to take apoll and see if there is any interest. This is the very first post with the poll and shows that an interest existed for such a board. As a result Graybeard open the board.

As you can see from this first Post, Tim and I talked to each other to get things going. Didn't know who Tim was back then. I was in Montana at the time and Tim in VA. We have since got together several times and become pretty good friends.

The board has opened some doors and grown a great deal and is one of the more active boards on GBO....we'll never be able to compete with those NEF guys.

So vote on the poll if you want but it don't mean nothing now, we are here for the long term!!!

reddog · « **Reply #10 on:** June 16, 2006, 03:17:54 PM »

Got me on that one too, I didnt notice the date!!

EL Caz 66 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 16, 2006, 04:59:33 PM »

I noticed the date , But what the heck I Voted away!!!! Lol

Double D · « **Reply #12 on:** December 06, 2007, 06:44:36 PM »

This was first real cannon board post and it was started by Tim on December 27, 2002.

Graybeard · « **Reply #13 on:** December 06, 2007, 06:31:37 PM »

Boy talk about bring back a golden oldie this one is ancient.

Double D · « **Reply #14 on:** December 06, 2007, 08:38:55 PM »

This isn't ancient, it's a collectible....It's part of the GBO Blackpowder Mortar and Cannon board 5th Anniversay Celebration!!! I know of marriages that haven't lasted that long!!

Graybeard · « **Reply #15 on:** December 07, 2007, 06:39:19 AM »

Yeah Matt's had three and all together I'm not sure they lasted that long.

Terry C. · « **Reply #16 on:** December 07, 2007, 11:10:48 AM »

I joined in June of 2005, so I've been here roughly half of the five years.

Speaking of marriages and anniversaries, me & Pam will be married 22 years in February. And I'll be 50 in about seven months. Where does the time go?

BTW: My first marriage lasted...

.. five years.

Graybeard · « **Reply #17 on:** December 07, 2007, 11:15:51 AM »

So far my first marriage has lasted 42 years and counting.

Blaster · « **Reply #18 on:** December 08, 2007, 07:56:05 AM »

I'm still with my one and only wife and we have our 47th anniversary coming up in February. She still tolerates all my mortar/cannon stuff with a smile (so far).

Double D · « **Reply #19 on:** January 08, 2010, 06:38:27 AM »

Why not a update! Just keeping the first post active!

carronader · « **Reply #20 on:** January 08, 2010, 06:48:18 AM »

Can I ask a dumb question ? Is the board not good enough as it is ? I came on here looking for basic info and now I got files of pics.........drawings...........new buddies ( well ok maybe one ) used to have two.......sniff !.............and know a hell of a lot more than I did if it ain't broke...........why fix it ?

Double D · « **Reply #21 on:** January 08, 2010, 07:03:37 AM »

Tom,

This is the very first post of the forum, posted December 27, 2002 by Tim before there was a cannon board. It is the poll that was put up to determine if a forum was desired.

It's brought back to the top for nostaliga purpose. Nothing is changing.

carronader · « **Reply #22 on:** January 08, 2010, 09:08:42 AM »

I hate it when I waste bein nice............Can I take it back ?

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #23 on:** January 08, 2010, 10:01:45 AM »

Quote from: carronader on January 08, 2010, 09:08:42 AM

I hate it when I waste bein nice............Can I take it back ?

IF you do so politely!

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #24 on:** March 11, 2011, 03:47:40 PM »

Quote from: Cat Whisperer on December 27, 2002, 06:58:54 AM

Are there folks here that would participate in a forum focused on collecting, using, and or making blackpowder mortars and cannon?

Here is a question that I posted a WHILE baack. Brought to top for histerical reference!

If I recall correctly, it is the FIRST post.

Double D · « **Reply #25 on:** March 11, 2011, 04:15:08 PM »

To bad we can't find the post by Graybeard when he says we can have the forum, but he doesn't think it will go over very well.

Tim and I were discussing this to night and have brain stormed some ideas for the 10 anniversary celebration. The hand gonne contest was one of them

Cannoneer · « **Reply #26 on:** March 11, 2011, 05:59:24 PM »

Quote from: Cat Whisperer on December 27, 2002, 06:58:54 AM

Are there folks here that would participate in a forum focused on collecting, using, and or making blackpowder mortars and cannon?

So Cat Whisperer is your moniker huh, well that figures; please tell me Mr. He-Who-Talks-To-Felines, just how many other screwballs do you think are out there that are going to be attracted to a forum devoted to 'old timey' blackpowder mortars and cannon?

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #27 on:** March 12, 2011, 12:49:49 AM »

Quote from: CannoneerX on March 11, 2011, 05:59:24 PM

Quote from: Cat Whisperer on December 27, 2002, 06:58:54 AM
Are there folks here that would participate in a forum focused on collecting, using, and or making blackpowder mortars and cannon?

So Cat Whisperer is your moniker huh, well that figures; please tell me Mr. He-Who-Talks-To-Felines, just how many other screwballs do you think are out there that are going to be attracted to a forum devoted to 'old timey' blackpowder mortars and cannon?

John -

I don't know how many, we're still counting!

It is the combination of the GOOD folks here that have made it work - Bill took a chance on us and set it up - - -

Poll

Ennybody wanna forum focused on collecting, using, and or making blackpowder mortars and cannon?

Author Topic: Blackpowder Cannon and/or Mortar (Read 4411 times)