Pop can mortar projectiles

[BillinOregon]

Guys: Thanks to Double D and this forum, I am within weeks of getting a Dictator pop-can mortar from Dom. Although I nearly wore out my carbide cannon as a kid, this will be my first actual projectile shooter (disregarding marble guns powered by firecrackers).  For those who shoot 2.65-bore cannons, I assume you usually just fill beverage cans with sand or cement and maybe throw a piece of duct tape over the mouth to contain the grit. How about sand-filled tennis balls, though possibly overbore a bit? Any other projectiles come to mind besides something cast of zinc or lead?
Thanks.

[Double D]

Bill,

imbedded in the ground and lost in the brush at the Josephine Co. Sportsmen club in Grants Pass are many cement filled pop cans.  I just bought sackrete and filled the cans to the top and let the cement set.  I did however make sure the exterior of the can was wiped as clean as possible to remove all grit. 

I hear they don't allow the cannon at JCSC any more.

[BillinOregon]

Douglas: Did those Sakrete-filled Blitz cans make it as far up Walker Mountain as all those old Brunswicks?
Bill

[bilmac]

Don't know nuthin about cannons, but I've done some building and quick crete sand topping mix would be a lot easier to get in your cans, no rocks.

[Double D]

Bill,

Walker Butte isn't that up the creek out of Talent?  I claim no responsibility for any AMF litter on that mountain.  any Pabst Blue ribbon or Rainer litter up there, well the statute of limitations has long ran out on any minor in possession violations I may have commited up there, so yes I may be responsible...but those were steel cans back then and they are technically biodigradable aren't they?

All my Oregon cannon shooting took place in Josephine and Curry County.

[Victor3]

 I'm saving my 12oz aluminum "bottles." They're the same diameter as pop cans, but have a screw-on cap.

 Enjoy your mortar. Here's a preview...

[GGaskill]

In my experience, ordinary concrete mix is not sufficiently strong for heavy loads.  It breaks up in the barrel.  There is reinforced (usually with fiberglass fibers) concrete that makes better filling.  You could also mix your own from smaller rock and a greater proportion of portland cement to have a stronger mix.  The short cans (7 oz as I recall) will go farther since they are closer to spherical than the 12 oz cans.  Both will tumble but the smaller ones won't present as long a side to the air as the longer ones.  Be sure to tap the cans on the table as you are filling them to get the maximum (and most uniform) amount of concrete inside.

[dominick]

Bill,  I picked up the Dictator carriage plates today from the water jet co.  No more cutting and drilling by hand [for now anyway].  I have five Dictators to build and you should have your's in a few weeks.  I'll let you know when it's done and ready to ship.

[Ex 49'er]

If you have enough windage in your tube you could try the small 4oz. size olive/mushroom cans. They measure out at about 2.658. It doesn't use as
much powder as the full size 12 soda/beer can. Fill the can to within 1/2 inch of the top and put a looped piece of wire in it.  You can use the loop
to unload the tube and also to attach a plastic streamer to watch as it decends to earth after firing. I use sackcrete. It mixes easy and some of my
projos have been used 8 or more times.