lead balls for golf ball mortar??

[stims]

Hello.  Just wanted to get your opinion before I do something and hurt myself or someone else.  Would it be safe to shoot golfball sized lead balls from my mortar?  Mortar is 1.75 bore, the walls are approx 1/2 inch thick.  bore depth is 3.5 inches, powder chamber is 2 inches.  Made from 4140 steel.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

[Cat Whisperer]

WHat is the powder chamber diamter?  (I.e.: what is the wall thickness around the powder chamber and behind the powder chamber.)

What is the contour at the bottom of the powder chamber?  Sharp inside corners, rounded or perhaps hemispherical bottom?

4140  - excellent!

How much powder?

My 1-7/8 bore Napoleon - cast iron with powder chamber has chucked a lead ball OVER A MILE by previous owner.  (Won a $50 bet on it - of course he'd done it before.)

[GGaskill]

Unless you have a custom mould made at 1.68" diameter, you most likely will be using a 1 lb sinker mould which measures more like 1.70" diameter.  That would give you .050" windage which will let a fair amount of gas escape past the ball when firing.  If the wall thickness of the chamber (sides and rear) is at least the same as the chamber diameter, I think you will be OK.

You will be able to get a lot of range from that combination without using a lot of powder.

[Will Bison]

I tend to agree with Tim and George, the construction is sound and the range will surprise you. It ain't gonna take much powder to put a ball a loooong ways downrange. Beyond an observible distance, what's the point? I want to see the fall of shot.

Bill

[stims]

Thanks guys.  to answer Cat whispers question, The powder chamber is aprox 10/16 diameter, thickness around it is about 1" and 1/8. sharp inside corners.  the bore is hemispherical down to the top of the powder chamber, then straight down.  base is about 1 1/2 inch thickness.  Plenty strong! I will probably shoot around 150 grains of 2f for a charge.  I am thinking of shooting the balls into some sort of structure...... brick wall, old rusted car or something.  I want to see what it will do!!!  As far as the amount of space left between the ball and walls, would a patch be advisable??  Let me know what you guys think.  Thanks.

[Cat Whisperer]

The bore being hemispherical at the bottom is excellent for strength, if the sharp inside corner is at the bottom of the powder chamber it is a place that will experience higher stress.  A sharp corner (transition between powder chamber and the larger diameter) is OK.  1-1/8" around the powder chamber is very healthy!

I'd leave some clearance (windage) between ball and inside of the bore - it keeps pressures lower.  IF the bore was bored, reamed and polished I MIGHT consider patching - knowing that the pressures WILL be  higher - it's a trade-off.

IF you are shooting for purposes of urban redevelopment (at things) be VERY careful about the ball and/or fragements traveling in unexpected directions and some goodly distances.  I'd be not closer than at least 50 yards.  Several of US can speak from experiences that should not be tried at home.