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2 killed filming M-18

Discussion in 'Military Vehicle Restoration' started by bronk7, Oct 29, 2015.

  1. Sheldrake

    Sheldrake Member

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    So they converted a fine 8" Howitzer into some kind of muzzle loading cannon

    Pity, I quite fancied the idea of owning my own nuclear delivery means. ;)
     
  2. KodiakBeer

    KodiakBeer Member

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    Yup. If I was lucky enough to find an 8 inch demilled howitzer that I could afford, I think it would be worth jumping through the ATF hoops to restore it.
     
  3. Sheldrake

    Sheldrake Member

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    Doesn't ATf get a little harder if you want to own a weapon covered under international arms limitation talks? I know the US has very liberal gun laws but surely there is a line drawn at ordnance capable of firing nuclear or chemical warheads?
     
  4. Takao

    Takao Ace

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    AFAIK, the nuclear shells are what is covered under the international arms limitation treaties...Not the artillery pieces themselves.

    As the gun has been "demilled", it is little more than a very large one of these
    [​IMG]

    And when you transport them...Well, everybody notices you
    [​IMG]
     
  5. KodiakBeer

    KodiakBeer Member

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    I don't think there's any limitations on the size of the gun. There might be practical limitations depending on how it was demilled - if somebody had cut off the breech block slides I don't think I'd trust any welded on replacement with a gun generating those kind of pressures.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IeEa8tqUkE
     
  6. Takao

    Takao Ace

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    The DeGroat 90mm was not demilled, but was ATF Form 3.

    He had it up for sale back in 2008 for trade or $125,000 delivered. AFAIK, it was sold in late '08 - early '09.
     
  7. KodiakBeer

    KodiakBeer Member

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    I didn't mean to suggest it was demilled, just another large gun. I'd love to have something like that, or an 88mm Flak rather than say, a 105 or 155 just because you could shoot at a line of sight target like a rifle, as intended. I had a picture on my timeline of a friends FB page with an 88 that somebody in Tennessee owns. I could use a gun like that for coyotes.

    My birthday is coming up in March if you guys wanted to get together... just sayin'...
     
  8. USMCPrice

    USMCPrice Idiot at Large

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    The 105 and 155 howitzers can fire line of sight, direct fire. It is and was, a commonly practiced and not rarely used method of fire. I think what would best serve you for coyote sniping would be a 75 or 105mm recoiless rifle with .50 cal spotting rifle attached. The 75mm is man portable (had a friend I went to SF school with that was a Ranger and jumped an M67 90mm into Grenada) and has been around since WWII.
     
  9. KodiakBeer

    KodiakBeer Member

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    Yeah, I know, but that wasn't the intent. I just like AT guns or guns like the 88 and 90 that became AT guns. I'd settle for a nice little 37 or 57mm gun. Probably save a lot of money on powder and still destroy stacks of bricks or coyotes at any useful range.
     
  10. belasar

    belasar Court Jester

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    Just how big are those Coyotes any way? Did you buy some land formerly used to test nuke's?
     
  11. KodiakBeer

    KodiakBeer Member

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    I have enough land to shoot a big gun. I'm used to debates with my wife on why I "need" a new gun. So, I tend to use that argument even when I just want it for fun.
     
  12. USMCPrice

    USMCPrice Idiot at Large

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    Yeah, that would be cool. Go with the 37mm, save a ton on powder, small enough to drag around with a jeep. Have to train the wife to be an A-gunner so you can grab the trails to shift it.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utaE6cRcgzY
     
  13. KodiakBeer

    KodiakBeer Member

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    A later update says the mishap occurred while they were firing a round. So, not a hangfire or something like that. It also makes clear that the gun was demilled and then restored. I'm not sure how such a gun is demilled, but I suspect you'd cut the cut the breech or breech ring or both, if that's true it wouldn't be just a matter of replacing parts, you'd have to tool a new part or weld up the part (s)? It sounds like a failure of a repaired breech or breech ring.

    http://www.ktvz.com/news/explosion-in-tank-east-of-bend-injures-2-possible-fatality/36082806
     
  14. bronk7

    bronk7 Well-Known Member

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    I needed an excuse to get rid of all this ''extra'' $ I have...

    ''restored 76mm''---o!...yes what does that mean?? ...great add on article....the comments were interesting with some more info
     
  15. Oregon Diver

    Oregon Diver Member

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    Having spoken to one of those who know, The gun was a de-mil'ed unit that was "restored". So, it's destruction was only a matter of time. unfortunate, but predictable. As for the use of black powder cannons, KodiakBeer's comment is true as far as muzzleloading cannon, but not breechloading. You can only go up to 1" bore diameter without BATFE concurrence. This is why many "cannon types" build sub-caliber guns for breech loaded cannon.. You still get the flash and bang when doing demonstration shots.
     
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  16. Oregon Diver

    Oregon Diver Member

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    And by the way, did you see the guy who went deer hunting with a Model 1841 Mountain Howitzer, using a cannister load !!! Needless to say the deer was real dead, real fast.
     
  17. von Poop

    von Poop Waspish

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    That adds an extra layer of tragedy to it, doesn't it.
    Still, people play games. Sometimes it doesn't pay off.
    Seem to recall stories at the time said the whole thing was properly legally signed off, but it was a few years ago now.

    I see there were no charges pressed, but further personal legal action ensued.
    Ammunition maker sued by family of man killed in tank explosion

    Not sure what the current UK situation on tank guns & large 'breech' artillery is, but we once had a decent chat with a T34 owner about it.
    At the time, his 85mm was still fully functional & un-modified, legally held under a Class 1 Firearms license, but he had to sign an assurance not to ever use it, in order to gain licensing.
    The situation was certainly far more free & easy than US civilian AFV ownership, as there was no requirement for the armour (& gun?) cuts that appear to make things trickier for US restorers.

    Edit:

    Strewth!
    That'll do it.
    Though I fear despite much work & care, they may be cheating...
    MT. HOWITZER
     
    Last edited: Feb 10, 2019
  18. WILD DUKW

    WILD DUKW Active Member

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    Not necessarily. In the past two years I talked with three men who have restored de milled main guns, one a 75mm Sherman, an M18 Hellcat, and a 37mm towed. They all found uncut barrels and breaches. If I remember correctly the Sherman guy said he had a couple of uncut barrels. These are professional military vehicle collectors who file all the required govt. paperwork so they are completely legal.
     
  19. George Patton

    George Patton Canadian Refugee

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    This is in line with what I've heard. A rather questionable repair job on the gun was performed, rather than sourcing uncut components for a proper "replacement". I am not privy to further information so I do not know the reasoning behind why this was not done. 76mm Gun M1 parts are not particularly difficult to source.

    FWIW I would not suggest anyone fire a large caliber "patched" former deactivated gun no matter who did the work. It is just asking for trouble when you are firing high-pressure loads. If you have no alternative, a subcaliber adapter or pyrotechnic insert (functioning off black powder, oxyacetylene, etc) is the safe way to make your gun make a "bang". But then again, maybe I'm a wimp because I refuse to store oxyacetylene within an enclosed area (i.e. turret) and I will also generally not insert a case into a semiautomatic breach by "ramming it home" with my hand since I value my fingers... :D
     
    Last edited: Feb 10, 2019
    Takao likes this.
  20. ColHessler

    ColHessler Member

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    How much venison did he get?
     

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