Advice from experienced golf ball mortarmen requested

[The Miner '49er]

I have been shooting my .75 handgonne and really love it, but it's time to move from the 1500s to the ACW. I'm yearning for a steel golf ball mortar and have been considering the Trail Rock Arsenal one, looks really robust and well made, and the Cannon Fuse model that is adjustable for angle. I don't intend to sling balls into orbit, but would hope to lob them 100-200 yards. What are the minimum charges of 2F that you have used, do they safely perform with lower charges, and overall what do you think of the mortars themselves? Thanks!

 

[hawkeye2]

This one cost me $125 unfired. The seller recommended 90 grains. I started with 30 and the result was like a scene from a Looney Tunes cartoon. I jumped up in 10 grain increments keeping the landing spot within the clearing I had so that I could retrieve them. I got about 300 feet for a guess possibly more, fixed elevation, mortar sitting more or less level with 70 grains. There is quite a bit of blow-by as there is a fair amount of clearance around the ball. Check eBay for used golf balls.