Coehorn shot

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Really nice looking mortar and a great picture caught just at the precise time.
Diet Coke, Does that mean a reduced charge over the full strength regular Coke ??
 
Be careful what you wish for. More range means more recoil and recoil breaks carriages. Ask me how I know.

100 yards is optimum. That's the distance they shoot at N-SSA matches while aiming at a post. They score by measuring how far each ball lands from the post.

For recreational shooting set a pallet up on edge and see if you can hit it. It isn't easy, but can be done.

The Zinc balls ar not cheap. But unlike lead and popcans they are recoverable and reusable. https://www.rotometals.com/zinc-cannon-ball-pop-can-mortar-2-59-with-gates-you-clean-and-grind/
 
Be careful what you wish for. More range means more recoil and recoil breaks carriages. Ask me how I know.

100 yards is optimum. That's the distance they shoot at N-SSA matches while aiming at a post. They score by measuring how far each ball lands from the post.

For recreational shooting set a pallet up on edge and see if you can hit it. It isn't easy, but can be done.

The Zinc balls ar not cheap. But unlike lead and popcans they are recoverable and reusable. https://www.rotometals.com/zinc-cannon-ball-pop-can-mortar-2-59-with-gates-you-clean-and-grind/
Sounds like a fun day. I just bought a golf ball size mortar to go along with this one. When it warms up, there will definitely be a bombardment of Siam (Tennessee).
 
Rotometals has zinc golf balls.

I have had a bowling ball mortar, a 6 PDR mortar, several popcan mortars and some golf ball mortars.

The bowling ball mortar shot a 15 lb ball a measured 1.04 miles, and several balls beyond that never found, never verified. They went beyond the end of of the 2 mile long fallow wheat field into the CRP grass and we couldn't find them. When I moved to OK I no longer had place to shoot this mortar so I sold it to some guys in ND who are making good use of it. This gun could be shot buy one person, if they were young. I am no longer young. This mortar was made with the KISS method style somewhat like the British 8 inch siege mortar on a traveling carriage.

The 6PDR was a bit much for one old guy to handle so it went to ND also. It was made on the Confederate pattern. It is a turn barrel made from 4140. This barrel was originally turned as a pop can mortar and was later open up to 6PDR.

My first popcan mortar was made from plans published Guns Magazine back in the late 1970's. It was made from a piece of steel left over from making a propeller shaft for an ocean going tug boat. After breaking the carriage on this gun, I learned that the N-SAA guidelines of 2 ozs of cannon grade per inch referred to powder chamber not bore. Never did find that lead ball. Stuck with popcans full of cement for a long time until I got the roundball mould and cast zinc balls.

I have built two popcan mortars turning from round stock. I should say had them turned, my lathe is not big enough to hold the stock. One of these was from the Guns magazine plans and was traded of years ago, The second turned barrel was later opened up to make the 6 PDR .

I also bought two turned popcan mortars from Dominic Carpenter. One of these Carpenter mortars also went to ND. THe other was claimed by my wife.Both of these are Dictators.

I made four additional popcan mortars. three in confederate pattern and one in 1841 Seacoast pattern. These were made using the KISS method. One is in AZ, one in NY, and one in ND. I kept the Seacoast.

I have made 8 golf ball mortars using the kiss method in Confederate pattern. I have one left, but the rest are scattered all over the country. One of these also went to ND as well as all the parts to make barrel and carriage for another. One went to South Africa and is now in UK. I made a couple turned golf ball mortars and passed them on to friends.

Golf ball mortars are fun, but I like the popcan size the best. They are big enough to impress and small enough to be handled by one old man.
 
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I just wanted to share this pic of my Coehorn. If you look carefully, you can see a Diet Coke can full of concrete heading down range.View attachment 379543

Have you considered trying a fireworks "shell" fired from the coehorn? The angle might be a bit shallow but a "shell" that size would probably be pretty spectacular when it bursts downrange! The key of course would be to get a shell sized very close to the diameter of the coehorn.

LD
 
Have you considered trying a fireworks "shell" fired from the coehorn? The angle might be a bit shallow but a "shell" that size would probably be pretty spectacular when it bursts downrange! The key of course would be to get a shell sized very close to the diameter of the coehorn.

LD
I have not tried anything but the pop cans. I ordered some zinc balls today and I am looking forward to trying them. I make my own powder so I have been busy in preparation for the siege that is about to take place. I’ll have to research the fireworks shell.
 
Rotometals has zinc golf balls.

I have had a bowling ball mortar, a 6 PDR mortar, several popcan mortars and some golf ball mortars.

The bowling ball mortar shot a 15 lb ball a measured 1.04 miles, and several balls beyond that never found, never verified. They went beyond the end of of the 2 mile long fallow wheat field into the CRP grass and we couldn't find them. When I moved to OK I longer had place to shoot this mortar so I sold it to some guys in ND who are making good use of it. This gun could be shot buy one person, if they were young. I am no longer young. This mortar was made with the KISS method style somewhat like the British 8 inch siege mortar on a traveling carriage.

The 6PDR was a bit much for one old guy to handle so it went to ND also. It was made on the Confederate pattern. It is a turn barrel made from 4140. This barrel was originally turned as a pop can mortar and was later open up to 6PDR.

My first popcan mortar was made from plans published Guns Magazine back in the late 1970's. It was made from a piece of steel left over from making a propeller shaft for an ocean going tug boat. After breaking the carriage on this gun, I learned that the N-SAA guidelines of 2 ozs of cannon grade per inch referred to powder chamber not bore. Never did find that lead ball. Stuck with popcans full of cement for a long time until I got the roundball mould and cast zinc balls.

I have built two popcan mortars turning from round stock. I should say had them turned, my lathe is not big enough to hold the stock. One of these was from the Guns magazine plans and was traded of years ago, The second turned barrel was later opened up to make the 6 PDR .

I also bought two turned popcan mortars from Dominic Carpenter. One of these Carpenter mortars also went to ND. THe other was claimed by my wife.Both of these are Dictators.

I made four additional popcan mortars. three in confederate pattern and one in 1841 Seacoast pattern. These were made using the KISS method. One is in AZ, one in NY, and one in ND. I kept the Seacoast.

I have made 8 golf ball mortars using the kiss method in Confederate pattern. I have one left, but the rest are scattered all over the country. One of these also went to ND as well as all the parts to make barrel and carriage for another. One went to South Africa and is now in UK. I made a couple turned golf ball mortars and passed them on to friends.

Golf ball mortars are fun, but I like the popcan size the best. They are big enough to impress and small enough to be handled by one old man.
Would you consider adopting me?😄
 
Rotometals has zinc golf balls.

I have had a bowling ball mortar, a 6 PDR mortar, several popcan mortars and some golf ball mortars.

The bowling ball mortar shot a 15 lb ball a measured 1.04 miles, and several balls beyond that never found, never verified. They went beyond the end of of the 2 mile long fallow wheat field into the CRP grass and we couldn't find them. When I moved to OK I longer had place to shoot this mortar so I sold it to some guys in ND who are making good use of it. This gun could be shot buy one person, if they were young. I am no longer young. This mortar was made with the KISS method style somewhat like the British 8 inch siege mortar on a traveling carriage.

The 6PDR was a bit much for one old guy to handle so it went to ND also. It was made on the Confederate pattern. It is a turn barrel made from 4140. This barrel was originally turned as a pop can mortar and was later open up to 6PDR.

My first popcan mortar was made from plans published Guns Magazine back in the late 1970's. It was made from a piece of steel left over from making a propeller shaft for an ocean going tug boat. After breaking the carriage on this gun, I learned that the N-SAA guidelines of 2 ozs of cannon grade per inch referred to powder chamber not bore. Never did find that lead ball. Stuck with popcans full of cement for a long time until I got the roundball mould and cast zinc balls.

I have built two popcan mortars turning from round stock. I should say had them turned, my lathe is not big enough to hold the stock. One of these was from the Guns magazine plans and was traded of years ago, The second turned barrel was later opened up to make the 6 PDR .

I also bought two turned popcan mortars from Dominic Carpenter. One of these Carpenter mortars also went to ND. THe other was claimed by my wife.Both of these are Dictators.

I made four additional popcan mortars. three in confederate pattern and one in 1841 Seacoast pattern. These were made using the KISS method. One is in AZ, one in NY, and one in ND. I kept the Seacoast.

I have made 8 golf ball mortars using the kiss method in Confederate pattern. I have one left, but the rest are scattered all over the country. One of these also went to ND as well as all the parts to make barrel and carriage for another. One went to South Africa and is now in UK. I made a couple turned golf ball mortars and passed them on to friends.

Golf ball mortars are fun, but I like the popcan size the best. They are big enough to impress and small enough to be handled by one old man.
Would you consider adopting me?😄
 
Have you considered trying a fireworks "shell" fired from the coehorn? The angle might be a bit shallow but a "shell" that size would probably be pretty spectacular when it bursts downrange! The key of course would be to get a shell sized very close to the diameter of the coehorn.

LD

Yes I have tried fireworks. I am in Oklahoma now and have access to some pretty big fire works. Maximum diameter consumer grade fireworks that I have found are 2 inch. I did try one in the popcan mortar once. Mortar barrels are fixed a 45 degrees. The shell has a lifting charge and the fuse extended out the muzzle. The mortar shell traveled upwards at a 45 degree and burst above the ground but burst radius reached the ground and started small fires. Didn't do that again. Can not recommend it.

I also have firecracker cannons. Good fun for kids.

I prefer to shoot round ball and black powder. Round zinc ball at pallets, cement filled pop cans in ponds.
 
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Depends on the diameter of your powder chamber. Use the diameter of you powder chamber to calculate charges, not ball bore.

I use the basic N-SSA quidlines. That is for bores over 2 inch, 2 0zs of cannon grade per inch of bore for MAXIMUM charge. Notice That is for a MAXIMUM charge. Switlik suggest starting ridiculously low and work up. Under 2 inches I refer to the chart in Switliks book, the More Complete Cannoneer for loads. And again his chart is for a MAXIMUM charge. Reduce ridiculously and work up.

Remember range in a mortar is determined by charge. Keep a note book, on what charge goes how far.

 


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