sid101

sounds like it could be a lemaitre position ?

dave

Looks like it to me, I'm damn close but lack the experience. (well officially)

Thanks for all the responses, the end product will remain the same but with more easier side projects to get me used to it physically. Reading can only go so far.

I was surfing the great ol' ebay for parts for a ball mill and found one that uses 5" hemis as the actual 'mill jar'. They are quite cheap and probably more so to build.
They are quite small in their load size and probably take longer to do their job, but will do the job?

SiD

PyroPDC, the 10% rule i what I have read before. The cricket ball seems a good idea, I was going to just use an inert fulled shell :L

Building a ball mill sounds like a fun project, electronic and physicals A level might come in handy after all.

A couple of points, if this is your first project perhaps have a bit of fun with fountains first.
And it may seem obvious but remember if you make a shell you will need somewhere spacious to fire it.
The last thing you want is to get people upset and taking an unhealthy interest in your activities.
Just my tuppence.

I could try a fountain first, It does seem logical. When I say this is my first project it will be long term project rather than a rush job. I fully intend to try things like this first.
I have a few acres of land in the middle of what is broads, so uninhabited for miles.
Safety is my number one concern, learnt this in the labs luckily from peoples harmless mistakes.

First project.

Learn to strike a match without burning your fingers!

Mastered that quite a while ago
But windproof matches are a different story..

You should be aiming for optimum speed BP. Making good BP is one of the first things you should learn. Once you get it consistent, then you know that you need X amount to lift a given size of shell. Inconsistent BP can mean some shells end up on the ground and some may fly too high or damage the shell/mortar. The guides are your best starting point. Either milled or CIA method BP will be your first project.

This seems my best option, I have a guide to shell size/weight/lift, but It will depend on the actual quality of the BP.

So I'm okay asking for advice?

First of all very sorry for reviving a short time dead thread but worth a mention.

First of all primers are the only thing that are restricted but blank rounds are unrestricted in the UK, and with some careful work they can be removed from the blank cartridge and inserted into a normal casing with powder and the bullet. This amazes me sometimes, such heavy restriction on live rounds but with some tools that can be found easily can be made quickly and cheaply.

Second, the percussion caps for black powder rifles and pistols are not restricted (they are sometimes used in rockets to launch them?) which could be modified to fit?

I have never done any of these this nor will I ever attempt them. Just something to note that you would not even need to make them but rather buy in a different form.

SiD