Building and shooting a mortar

[Heinrich]

I have gone through the process of building myself a mortar. I combined the barrel from a "traditional" coehorn, and the bed from a 10" coastal mortar.

Used EN19 Steel, (4140) and American Black Wallnut for the bed.

 

[Heinrich]

Basically the woodwork is nearly done. I now only needed to finish where you could see the burn marks on the wood.

I used wallnut, and it took most of one afternoon to make the joints so that the beams in between the 2 rails penetrate the rails themselves.

 

[Heinrich]

The bed after sanding, and oiling. the trunnion caps/straps also in place.

 

[Heinrich]

This is how the barrel was born.

 

[Heinrich]

Mounting the trunnion.

 

[Heinrich]

And all put together after the barrel had been bead blasted. I am now in the process of making a new elevation screw.

 

[Heinrich]

And the most important, shooting beer cans filled with concrete. Shoots a can weighing 600grams nearly 400m in distance.

Load is 400grains of FFg.

 

[Heinrich]

 

[Heinrich]

 

[nhhillbilly]

Very cool. I love it.

 

[DogBonz]

Thank is great!

I wonder I my neighbors... never mind...

 

[SWC Bonfire]

I followed your progress on another forum, but never saw the "action" shots.

That is very impressive. Congratulations on a job well done. And great photography.

You're in South Africa, right? I'm surprized that American walnut would be available there. Are the beer cans those big pint-sized ones? Here in the US they are usually 12 ounces (.35 liter).

 

[Archie]

Years ago - 1960s, as I recall - I read an article in a US gun magazine (don't remember which one, but I think Gun World) about building a black powder mortar. The barrel was made from a section of truck axle housing, and I don't remember how they closed the bottom end.

It looked fun then, it looks fun now. Maybe next year.

Thanks for sharing, Heinrich. But now you've made me want to buy a bigger metal lathe than I was contemplating...

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Cool! I keep meaning to buy one but need to wait till I stop moving and have some room to enjoy it.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Heinrich]

Thanks guys, it was a wonderful experience building it.

Yip, I'm in SA, and we can buy most types of wood, off course imported hardwoods are much more expensive than most local hard wood.

Yip, it is the 350ml cans that I am filling with concrete.

I've been considering making one that can shoot a 5liter paint can...

 

[sm]

Heinrich,

Welcome to THR!

I really appreciate your sharing with great pictures about building your mortar, from start to finish to firing.

How neat!


Steve

 

[Aries-]

whats the barrel made of ? it looks a lot like aluminum to me. if it is your a braver man than me fireing it off useing an aluminum barrel.

 

[trueblue1776]

Aries- check the first post

Used EN19 Steel, (4140)

 

[Aries-]

ah yes didnt notice that. thought i looked all the way to the top. but i guess i missed the one without pics lol.

i bet that cost a ton of cash. 4140 isnt cheap.

 

[Heinrich]

That was Type T steel, which is suppose to be slightly tougher than the standard one.

Enjoyed the project.

 

[Aries-]

did you heat treat it ? or leave it alone ?

case hardening would be good on it. leaving the surface hard, and the center of the steel softer.

 

[Kentak]

Very, very nice. Thanks for the story and the pics.

Just curious, what does a chunk of steel like that cost?

K

 

[Heinrich]

I have had the steel bead blasted, and then heat treated. Gave it a rough finish.

It cost me equivalent to $150.00