Members project cannons, mortars & howitzers

[6pounder]

Hi all,
6pounder here and yes I'm a real person.Just asking with the "KISS" mortar do you get much bypass of gases by having machined mating parts or do you have tight mating finish on the breach base and the tube? Only looking at this possible problem from a machinist piont of veiw. Would it have been better to make the tube and breach in one or did you max out machine capacity? But I see that all your parts would be easy to optained. Any how good first job out there. best regards Kelvin, 6pounder. lets make it loud for the crowd. :thumbsup:

 

[TheDoubleD]

Surprisingly, in the 5 years since I built my first one of these, I haven't experience any blow-by yet. I was expecting some around the the upper part of the breech plug since it is slip fit. The lip of the breech plug seats against the lip in the barrel and is pulled tight by the screws in the trunnion, sealing the barrel.

This mortar was designed to be a simple basic machine job, requiring minimal machining skills or minimal machine cost to make. Simplification also required it be easily disassembled for cleaning to address an expected issue with blow by. This is a entry level project, thus K.I.S.S. title.

Yes the next skill level/cost factor up would be to make out one piece of steel or shrink fit the breech plug.
. http://www.go2gbo.com/forums//index.php/topic,70859.0.html

 

[TheDoubleD]

Last year I got a barrel from Brooks-USA that was made to the dimensions of the Cannon I used when I shot with the South African Miniature Cannon Club. I provided the dimensions and Brooks built the barrel.

The SAMCC Cannon

Here is the barrel from Brooks.

The general profile is that of a British 32 PDR.

The SAMCC cannon is muzzle heavy so muzzle swell on this gun was reduced for better preponderance.

I built the carriage with white oak harvested from a tree removed from my sons yard in Virginia in 2003.

The carriage color is yellow ochre, the same color as the carriages on the HMS Victory.

I modified standard hardware store nuts and bolts for the hardware.

It's 50 caliber and does shoot. Click on picture below.



I have built a breech rope so it does not recoil off the platform.

 

[Darkgael]

Douglas: It's a neat little cannon. I was surprised at the recoil (or is it just good wheels?).
What is the powder charge and the range at that elevation? Is the loading procedure the same as for a mortar?
Pete

 

[TheDoubleD]

Pete,

Good recoil and free rolling truck and to close to the back of the platform.

To control recoil, I have done what they did on ships and added a breech rope for shooting.

I will be using this to shoot the GBO postal which emulates the monthly miniature cannon match held in Durban, South Africa. The match is shot a 20 meters on the B-17 target. Six rounds fired, best 5 score. Fired twice for a total of 12 rounds

I haven't developed a load for this gun yet, but used the load I used in South Africa with the South African gun, 40 grains of FFg and a patched 50 cal round ball for first test shoots.

As soon as I can shake this cold I got from my Granddaughter, I am going to go out to the range and work on loads.

Loading process for this cannon is like loading a muzzleloading pistol, with one exception, plug the vent, load loose powder, load patched ball. Fire.

Clear the vent, swab the bore, dry the bore. Load.

This barrel is a very nice barrel and given the price of brass and the cost machine, great detail a bargain at the price.

Here's a link to my build http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.php/topic,187056.0.html

 

[Darkgael]

Thanks. Good luck in the postal.
Pete

 

[6pounder]

Hi DD, 6pounder here nice piece. Could you tell me what is written on the muzzle or would it be possible to post a photo of it no the forum. These kinds of detail help people like myself to make and put together some really nice accrurate pieces. As myself and fellow forum member Broadarrow have lots of images of cannon parts showing these types of detail. You might see that I tried to put as much as I could into my naval carriage,( posted by broadarrow). Regards kelvin, 6pounder. Keep it loud for the crowd. :thumbsup:

 

[TheDoubleD]

No problem.

 

[6pounder]

Hi DD, thanks for sharing your photos nice clear inscription on the muzzle and good to see that some histroy will be preserved in that way.I thought that you may have had something of an English type inscription that is why I asked if you could post a photo, thanks. Regards Kelvin 6pounder. keep it loud for the crowd! :thumbsup:

 

[rcbif]

Here is my 3/4in bore mortar "Thumper". Made by a friend for me back in vocational school.

and my .50 cal cannon "Sparky" made by myself in college machine tools class.

and my tiny .50 cal dictator mortar I have yet to build a carriage for yet. Also made by myself in machine tools class

 

[6pounder]

Hi 6pounder here, awsome looking barrel that "sparky" has. Looks very pleasing to the eye and may be more suited in a mountain howitzer carriage. Although it's carriage looks practical and simple to make. Carriage for your dictator would be very nice if it was made of steel, not wood, seeing that you have a sence of metal work. It would require some time to make if you went right down to the hand rivets but it would really finish it off. Thanks for adding your toys to the group. :hatsoff:
Regards, Kelvin 6pounder.
"Keep it loud for the crowd" :thumbsup: