BP Mortar/Cannon - Local builders? For Sale?

[SupraMario]

I'm looking to buy a Mortar or cannon for the range, since I'm new to this whole thing. I was look to see if there is anyone local in the state (nashville/clarksville) to give me an idea of what I'm in for. I'd like to really stick to a mortar that can shoot bowling balls or billiards. Just something to be added to the range for more fun.

[Whisper]

Building something that will shoot bowling balls is extremely ambitious.  I have some experience with homemade cannons that will shoot smaller objects such as old D batteries, and you can get impressive blast, smoke, and range from such a device.  Building much larger would be asking for trouble, I suspect.

Edited to add:  Upon reflection, I think it's likely that a bowling ball would not make a good projectile, since it would probably shatter when the gun was fired.  But I admit I never tried.

Cheers,

Whisper

Edited March 29 by Whisper

[RED333]

A quick google found this.

https://www.go2gbo.com/threads/guide-for-building-a-bowling-ball-mortar.167657/

[Alleycat72]

You can buy them on line. They are not cheap. 

[Stuart]

Read up on the GBO forum posted above. The guys there know more about cannons and building them than anyone. You have to make sure to make it look like a replica to keep the ATF happy.

Bowling balls actually make great projectiles if you have the range for them, the air going over the finger holes makes for a cool whistle noise.

[whiterabbit]

I fire golf balls and those eat up enough BP...I hate to think how much you'll go through sending bowling balls into orbit!

[papa61]

You guys are going to cause Mama to ban me from TGO. Putting such ideas in my head! Fortunately, I do not have the necessary tools to build a bowling ball mortar. I say this without even reading the instructions. However, golf or tennis balls are possible. LMAO!

[RED333]

On 4/2/2024 at 5:40 PM, whiterabbit said:

I fire golf balls and those eat up enough BP...I hate to think how much you'll go through sending bowling balls into orbit!

 

3 minutes ago, papa61 said:

However, golf or tennis balls are possible. LMAO!

I have a golf ball launcher, adapter, the screws on the end of an A.R. barrel. I make my own blanks from fired 223 shells and a few grains of green dot shotgun powder. It makes the golf ball disappear.

[Choatecav]

2 minutes ago, RED333 said:

 

I have a golf ball launcher, adapter, the screws on the end of an A.R. barrel. I make my own blanks from fired 223 shells and a few grains of green dot shotgun powder. It makes the golf ball disappear.

If I were to ever get the urge to launch golf balls into the wild blue yonder and never find them again..... I'd just grab my golf clubs.