----ECHO ----

[soimcrazy]

After my first two cannon experiences New Years morning I was really itching for another shot. I took the cannon to my inlaws for our traditional black-eyed pea dinner. They live on a lake. Another county is on the other side of the lake which is about 1/3 - 1/2 mile across. I only used 2 cap fulls of the Goex FFF powder, pointed the cannon across the lake and lit it. It went-off but just didnt sound no where near as loud as it did this morning in my back yard. It was more of a "poof" sound rather than the loud "cracking pop" like before. My inlaws were on the deck watching and listening and I put on a disappointing show .

Then a couple of seconds later that wimpy "poof" sound reached the other side of the lake (which is on a hillside) and there was the longest and loudest echo I have ever heard. It started directly in front of where I pointed the cannon and spread off to the sides. it just rumbled throughout the coves and shoreline. It was dark out and I couldnt see the expression on my father in-laws face but I think he was in stunned at what happened, my brother in-law too . I too wasnt expecting that. It was nothing like I have ever heard before.  I wonder what it actually sounded like on the other side? If it was as loud to the home owners over there as it was to us it had to of scared the hell out of them !!

anyway.....I'm on my way to having alot of fun, or getting into alot of trouble   

[Cat Whisperer]

I understand the echo!

On the 4th of July most years I fire off ONE shot with a beer-can caliber mortar - ahhhh - in town in my back yard.  The echo across town from the mountain opposing comes back first then you hear it rumbling up and down the valley - enough so that I think I can get away with ONE shot.

[Powder keg]

I shot a 1.750 caliber mortar in town, once. At night It shook the windows of I don't know how many homes? The echo was unreal. I was pretty sure the cops would show up. Luckily they didn't, that time

Wes

[NitroSteel]

When you guys are getting such an echo (in the city) are ya'll loading a projectile in your cannon/mortar?

My BB mortar just flashes a fireball with no projectile, I've never shot a "blank" in my golf ball cannon.  Will it be loud with just powder? 

[powder2burn]

This is for bore's 3.82 and smaller. Put in way to much powder, "pack in" several (at least two) tightly wadded balls of tinfoil- touch off- retrieve cannon/mortar-retreat to inside garage/house-watch bewildered cops drive by-do not repeat.

[Double D]

This is for bore's 3.82 and smaller. Put in way to much powder, "pack in" several (at least two) tightly wadded balls of tinfoil- touch off- retrieve cannon/mortar-retreat to inside garage/house-watch bewildered cops drive by-do not repeat.

Any of the regulars here on the board who read this are all chuckling and saying DD is gonna get you...You bet!

This kind of advice is what provides us the material we need for the Cannon accidents post.  This advice is an accident waiting to happen.  Don't do it!

If you want to make noise follow the guidelines in the N-SSA or AAA rules and regulations for determining the maximum load.  Wrap that load in a tinfoil cartridge. Fire that.

Do not load wads over the powder they simply become projectiiles. 

Shot your cannons safely and legally  and we won't loose them.   

[Cat Whisperer]

When you guys are getting such an echo (in the city) are ya'll loading a projectile in your cannon/mortar?
...

DD said it right - use them safely and legally.  (Of the two of us, he always takes the wise, well-reasoned approach to life - do as he says, not as I've done. )

I live next door to a police officer. 

Shooting blanks is simple - use twice the amount of powder for a full load, using NO wads (is that not the accepted rule-of-thumb?).

With a mortar it's going to be tough to get good noise - the barrel is too short.

IN THE PAST, in my beer-can caliber mortars, I've used a full [OPEN TOP] can shooting at a high angle.  The can goes up, tumbles, empties the water and floats down empty.  OTHERS have had it not empty - that's the RISK (other than the police officer living next door).
The FULL can of water (light load) provides enough resistance to get a good report.

SO, the solution is to do it the right way.  I can see on the national news now, beer-can goes through neighbor's roof in 4th of July celebration ....

[Artilleryman]

You can put a single layer of cardboard over the powder will give a reasonable report from mortars. 

[Cat Whisperer]

You can put a single layer of cardboard over the powder will give a reasonable report from mortars. 

Sounds safe [no pun intended].

[Cannonmaker]

When I fire blanks I use fresh Grass pulled from the lawn.  I like to pact the depth apx 1.5 calibers.  In the golf ball howitzer, or the pop can mortar I use a 35mm film canister full of black powder.  I put the grass in small amounts at a time to get a good packing.  I use a patch to protect the powder from the grass.  This method produces a loud report and the grass goes less than a hunderd feet.  The force of the air normanily brakes up the grass wad.  This method works best for me, expesicaly when their is a audance.

our future depends primaraly on our saftey.

Rick

[Powder keg]

This summer I messed with loads a bit. I wrapped the load in aluminum foil and pored the same volume of flower as powder on top of the charge. just mark the end with the BP in it. They worked great!

Wes

[powder2burn]

 Sorry I raised eyebrows when I said "put in way to much powder" & "pack it in", I guess I should have put them in quotes to begin with and ended the sentence with"TIC" (tongue in cheek). I just should have said a wad would add to the wow! & boom factor.

However I do shoot blanks with wads in the City and believe I do so safely.  I load my caliber C,D & G ( c & d cell batteries  and G of course for golf-ball), with the proper powder load, use tinfoil for a wad, cheap usually some in the house and does not burn, tube (barrel) at O degree or neg. elevation, (less range that way), if necessary I use a back stop to limit the range of the wad, make sure down range is clear of people and other living things, other living things and people well behind whatever I'm firing, children under physical control of an adult, touch off, grin, retrieve, retreat and do not repeat.

FRED........................................