this didnt get much exposure in the other thread, i hope you dont mind that i make a new one.

this is my idea for a makeshift mortar. i'm new to this so let me know if i'm way off base.
idealy, i would think that you would want a pipe just a little bigger than the co2 cartridge. i had some trouble with the fins, because if i make them bigger i'll have huge air pockets when i drop the round in and it likely wont be propelled. i think if i make them smaller, they wont do any good in the air. i was also wondering if i would have to add weight to the front so the mortar would come down firingpin first. also, i'm afraid the impact on the firingpin wont be enough to detonate the primer.

the fuse taped to the fins is lit, dropped in, lighting the bp at the bottom of the tube. the round is propelled and eventually the pin hits the ground setting off the primer, igniting the bp in the co2 cylander

this really needs some improvement so all suggestions are appreciated.

for the fins just make them longer not fatter and around the same size as the bore of the cannister. shifting the weight of the shell forward end giving it a tail will help guide it straight and mabey with a little wobble. also with your 410 detonator i geuss i depends on what it hits and what angle it hits. Be carful with your morter. id suggest electricly setting it off cus it sounds really dangerous. id just make a simple pipe cannon with gas. youd better check that my info is right with zero or someone else first before u try it.

...I see you posted this in The Explosives and Weapons Forum and got banned. Dont worry mate, NBK2000 is a bloody asshole and he's the reason a lot of us dont go there. He obviously abuses his admin privileges and HED; not to mention he's a Neo-Nazi. I hate Nazis. I used to post there, but i realized it's just pointless. He'll take the slightest mistake and use it as justification for a ban.

yeah man, thats total bullshit...i've been on those boards for close to 10 months now but just recently registered...pretty much that whole bunch over there are total pricks...but what can ya do...at leaste people here will help me and not act like toddlers

I'm not entirely certain I know what kind of C02 cylinders you're talking about. Only ones I know of are those dinky little ones for air pistols and whatnot. That would make the 'mortar' rather tiny...

Static is right, however, on a few points.

...As long as you have a good fit (not snug, but slides easily and isn't sloppy) between round and tube, you should have enough force behind it to expel the round with no problem.

... Make the fins longer, but the round will have wobble regardless, especially with light rounds. Aiming with a good and 'serious' homemade mortar is hard enough, but the fins should help the little rounds flying right.

...If this device is as small as I'm picturing (for small CO2's), then Exnay the fuse. Sparks will be falling down the tube while you're trying to put the round in. I get great visuals in my 'minds eye' from that one... Put a "touchhole" on the mortar tube for the fuse or you'll eventually lose a hand. Electrical ignition is a good compromise as well. Point is, you want some distance between you and the launch tube. Start off with small BP charges at first; 'til you get a feel for what the tube can handle. It really doesn't take alot of powder to send 'em flying... Some might argue this point, but if you can't do it safely then why bother?

... I realize that the drawing is simple and exagerrated, but the firing pin (nail)/primer setup (as shown) is notorious for going off immediateley if sufficient acceleration is applied to the round. That's with big rounds of a few pounds +, however, with serious acceleration issues... Dunno if you'd have that problem with a small CO2; if it's really light I would be surprised if the primer even went off if it landed nose first. On hardpack or concrete, maybe, but soft dirt?
Use a small, round, steel bearing rather than a nail.

Hope there was something helpful in there...

hey, that helped a ton...and yeah, i was planning on using the small co2 cylanders. i've been wanting to make a mortar for a while and just drew this up. i havent even begun building yet, but i'm concidering not even arming the rounds since they sound more dangerous than i'm willing to handle.

I made a few ajustments
http://www.geocities.com/TheOneWhoCallsHimselfBob/mortar.jpg



[This message has been edited by TOWCHBob (edited 04-05-2002).]

i would use a gas pipe cannon. its cheaper safer (me thinks) and there not bad and simple to build. in fact i feel like building one now and id put in a pic i drew if i know who u did it. just spray some gas in and on the rear of the shell put a cap gun cap on a little nail. then when it hits the bottom BOOMP and off it gos. i would be cautios using a crator maker and gun powder well to start any way

Hey,
Why would you even bother making a mortar with co2 catridges? Thats only about the size of a 50 cal. ( I think 50 cal.) You should use cans or something a little bigger. Well, atleast I would. I'm thinkin aerosol spray cans like deodorant with the almost cone shaped cap would be pretty cool, or shaving cream cans. Plus there not as thick as Co2 Cartridges and will explode alot easier. I havent built a mortar yet but have been thinkin about it so dont take my advice too seriously. And you should put spirals (cant remember what its really called) inside the barrel to get a more accurate shot. I was thinking about those Co2 cartridges as 50 cal. and that wi=ould be pretty cool to have a 50 cal. exploding machine gun.

If you dont know nwhat to make the fins out of you can use pepsi cans or soup cans. And if you ever seen twister you should try putting the little propellers on the botto like they do for there weather machine balls. I dont know if it will do anything but it would look pretty cool

If you weigh down the top, the fins can be smaller. Try Preapproved credit cards