Cheap shots...

[brimstoned]

What a way to while away a Sunday afternoon!

 

[ryanlg95]

I imagine you would have to use less powder for lift if you use a longer mortar (Cardboard tube will work) rather than a shotgun shell, and if you use a disk on top of the lift charge but below the "shot" with a hole in it to pass fire to the fuse, and another disk or a wad of paper above the "shot" so it builds up pressure giving you a higher lift

[brimstoned]

I agree...

...but I reside near a shotgun range and have often wondered about the possible uses for all those discarded husks.

[brimstoned]

The bottom ring is a good idea, but the fit is reasonably tight (will not fall in by itself, requires a gentle push).

I prefer small items like this to activate at 50' or less, otherwise a tiny sparkle in the sky results.

Edited September 10, 2012 by brimstoned

[Short5]

I am guessing you have experimented and it works for you, just keep in mind that all cartridge amunition is designed to be supported by the gun chamber for strength. I see you are into reloading so you probably know but I didn't want readers to get the wrong idea. A cardboard tube is probably a lot stronger than that case.

[dan999ification]

they can handle sugar fuel and flight until the shell melts, i imagine these are one use aswell.

 

Dan.

[brimstoned]

I've also used them for small star mines and comets.

A friend has an old Stevens 12-guage he has volunteered for research tomorrow, we will see how these work with a primer.

There is a plan in place for scaring starlings from cherry trees...

[brimstoned]

Here's a simple comet for twelve gauge mortars I tried today:

 

1 pound of BP substitute (had it lying about)

6% Red Dot smokeless

5% Mg turnings

Acetone to make a putty-like consistency

 

a teaspoon of this "skins" in a couple of minutes and can be rolled into a lozenge that will fit a 12 g shell, While still plastic, the plug is pressed on top of the lift with a dowel and paper cap, where it conforms to the shape if the shell's interior. I let this cure for about four days.

 

The comet shot up about 30-40 feet, light lavender colour, great smoke trail, shedding large Mg sparks. When I get the chance, I'll try to get a photo at dusk.

[dan999ification]

looks like something the cat dragged in, seriously though if you are planning to fire these from a shotgun you owe your friend to clean it well.

 

Dan.

[brimstoned]

...or like something the cat left behind...

Friend is a gunsmith...though this is a "sacrificial" firearm, we will be swabbing out the slag!

[Swede]

I have to say I like it! I've always been a fan of miniature "stealth" fireworks. Taking a large shell, miniaturizing it, and getting a small break with any symmetry is extremely challenging.

 

Using BP in a shell inside a firearm isn't going to stress the gun unless the shell contains a salute or some other powerful device that explodes prematurely. All it's going to do is require a good cleaning due to the corrosive residue.

Edited September 12, 2012 by Swede

[dan999ification]

growing up with guns in the family taught me not to mention safety ( this time ) as i see it corrosion is more dangerous than the stress, it will be stressed if it corrodes, in time, a forstner slug will have no blow by in a rifled shot gun giving plenty ( not enough ) stress on the barrel/breech, a primer and a bit of bp with a non swaged projectile in a smoothbore gives me no worries at all but its always a good idea not to play dangerous games full stop, even though a steel barrel is stronger than any mortar of the same bore, this would not go down well on uk forums with our laws you would be ( or your friend ) de gunned for thinking about it.

 

Dan.

[Peret]

I fired comets once from my shotgun - I'll never do it again. The residue was filthy and I had to break the gun down and wash it in soapy water to clean it.

[brimstoned]

I have to do that with my BP rifle every time I use it.

[cogbarry]

rm -rf /barrel/slag

 

I've made a mess of my 12 gauge barrel using the old "bird banger" type commercial shells. Not something I'd do with a valuable gun. Let us know how you make out.