Mortar questions

Machineguntony · August 28, 2014, 11:49 PM

Someone offered to sell a mortar to me.

I have some questions, gentlemen, if you may kindly enlighten me.

Do I need a separate stamp for each mortar shell? What if I don't make the shells explosive? I can't imagine I would need a stamp for each shell.

Can I reuse the shell if I don't make the shells explosive? Will the impact of the mortar shell hitting the ground cause the shell to be deformed or destroyed, so that it can't be reused? If it can be reused, how many reuses per shell? Will the detonation of the of the charge propellant cause deformation to the shell, to the point where it can't be reused?

Assuming I can reuse the shell, where the heck do I buy propellant and primer (if it uses a primer)? An internet search yields nothing, other than sales to military.

Also, as far as retrieving the shell, if it can be reused, I am assuming that I will see a puff of dirt, and then know the location of where the shell landed from the puff. Will I be able to spot and easily retrieve the shell? Am I being realistic?

As you can tell, I have no desire to continually buy shells, it the mortar requires one new shell for each shot.

Bill DeShivs · August 29, 2014, 12:11 AM

Explosive mortar shells are destructive devices. There are "target" shells available that you fill with powder to see your shots. These are not DDs.
That's all I know.

Willie Lowman · August 29, 2014, 06:34 PM

Fuzzy memory time

I talked to a guy with a functioning mortar at KCR back in 05 or 06. He had half a dozen projectiles that were fired by 12 gauge blanks that he would insert prior to the launch.

The mortar rounds were reusable.

**44 AMP** · August 30, 2014, 08:18 PM

Each explosive round is a destructive device, like grenades, or bazooka rockets. Each one is tracked, and taxed, but I believe the tax is not the same as the one on machine guns. Look on their website, or talk to the ATF for general information. (for specific information that you can count on, get it in writing, and have an experienced lawyer as backup.

Practice/dummy shells can be reused, if not too badly damaged from impact. Reloading them is a different story, and one I know nothing about, sorry.

Different mortar shell designs would play a major part in how/if they are reloadable.

I worked with the 81mm and the 4.2" (107mm) US mortars when I was in the service, and still recall a bit about the mechanisms of what was in service back then. On the civilian side, other than that there are legal ways to do it, I don't know much about owning one.

I could be wrong, but I believe that the "gun" (the tube & mechanism) isn't a restricted, taxed item like a machine gun is. Each round of ammo (if explosive), however is a registered taxed item.

Hope this helps...

Willie Lowman · August 30, 2014, 09:27 PM

the mortar is a Destructive Devise and requires a tax stamp. If you see one for sale that doesn't require a stamp, it has likely had a hole cut in the side rendering it inoperable.

medic15al · August 30, 2014, 10:44 PM

Unless it is a black powder mortar...

mboylan · September 11, 2014, 11:41 AM

Unless you have licenses for explosives and an ATF approved magazine for storage and for transportation, there is no way you are going to legally possess high explosives. Also, no company is going to sell you high explosives without a justified business reason.

The mortar itself is a DD and requires a tax stamp. High explosive rounds would require a tax stamp each and a thousand hoops do jump through. You will never legally obtain one. Dummy rounds are available. You have to be careful not to exceed any launching charge that would be come under the ATF definition of high explosive.

August 28, 2014, 11:49 PM	#1
Machineguntony Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 1,277	Mortar questions Someone offered to sell a mortar to me. I have some questions, gentlemen, if you may kindly enlighten me. Do I need a separate stamp for each mortar shell? What if I don't make the shells explosive? I can't imagine I would need a stamp for each shell. Can I reuse the shell if I don't make the shells explosive? Will the impact of the mortar shell hitting the ground cause the shell to be deformed or destroyed, so that it can't be reused? If it can be reused, how many reuses per shell? Will the detonation of the of the charge propellant cause deformation to the shell, to the point where it can't be reused? Assuming I can reuse the shell, where the heck do I buy propellant and primer (if it uses a primer)? An internet search yields nothing, other than sales to military. Also, as far as retrieving the shell, if it can be reused, I am assuming that I will see a puff of dirt, and then know the location of where the shell landed from the puff. Will I be able to spot and easily retrieve the shell? Am I being realistic? As you can tell, I have no desire to continually buy shells, it the mortar requires one new shell for each shot. __________________ Sent from Motorola DynaTac 8000x

August 29, 2014, 12:11 AM	#2
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,984	Explosive mortar shells are destructive devices. There are "target" shells available that you fill with powder to see your shots. These are not DDs. That's all I know. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

August 30, 2014, 08:18 PM	#4
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,832	Each explosive round is a destructive device, like grenades, or bazooka rockets. Each one is tracked, and taxed, but I believe the tax is not the same as the one on machine guns. Look on their website, or talk to the ATF for general information. (for specific information that you can count on, get it in writing, and have an experienced lawyer as backup. Practice/dummy shells can be reused, if not too badly damaged from impact. Reloading them is a different story, and one I know nothing about, sorry. Different mortar shell designs would play a major part in how/if they are reloadable. I worked with the 81mm and the 4.2" (107mm) US mortars when I was in the service, and still recall a bit about the mechanisms of what was in service back then. On the civilian side, other than that there are legal ways to do it, I don't know much about owning one. I could be wrong, but I believe that the "gun" (the tube & mechanism) isn't a restricted, taxed item like a machine gun is. Each round of ammo (if explosive), however is a registered taxed item. Hope this helps... __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

August 30, 2014, 10:44 PM	#6
medic15al Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2007 Location: Pell City, AL Posts: 123	Unless it is a black powder mortar... __________________ NREMT-P AL State EMT-Paramedic ACLS, BTLS, PHTLS, 1991-2006

August 29, 2014, 06:34 PM	#3
Willie Lowman Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2009 Location: Uh-Hi-O Posts: 3,006	Fuzzy memory time I talked to a guy with a functioning mortar at KCR back in 05 or 06. He had half a dozen projectiles that were fired by 12 gauge blanks that he would insert prior to the launch. The mortar rounds were reusable.

August 30, 2014, 09:27 PM	#5
Willie Lowman Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2009 Location: Uh-Hi-O Posts: 3,006	the mortar is a Destructive Devise and requires a tax stamp. If you see one for sale that doesn't require a stamp, it has likely had a hole cut in the side rendering it inoperable.

September 11, 2014, 11:41 AM	#7
mboylan Senior Member Join Date: March 31, 2011 Posts: 120	Unless you have licenses for explosives and an ATF approved magazine for storage and for transportation, there is no way you are going to legally possess high explosives. Also, no company is going to sell you high explosives without a justified business reason. The mortar itself is a DD and requires a tax stamp. High explosive rounds would require a tax stamp each and a thousand hoops do jump through. You will never legally obtain one. Dummy rounds are available. You have to be careful not to exceed any launching charge that would be come under the ATF definition of high explosive.