Here I am, doodling on AR, reading the 'Big Bore' thread and watching the Canadian Avalanche Team on T.V., playing with their Howitzer! They don't bother shooting the moose one by one, they just shoot the whole damned mountain....
Does a 105 qualify as a big bore?
Mr. Malmorg, where can we get an action? We gotta BUILD one of those things!

You sure they're using a howitzer or is it a recoiless gun? Most of the avalanch preventer types south of the border use the recoiless because it's easier to haul around and mounts on the back of a jeep. A howitzer would have to be towed. Besides, it probably cost less gov't surpless

I was watching the same show. They definately said howitzer and it was been towed behind about a 5 ton army truck.

My brother in law is on that team, and it's definately a 105mm howitzer. Good practice for the boys (and girls, now). - Dan

Well if you find an action the A_Square manual has the load data. 105*608mm loads from 98-210Oz. of powder, 8.5lb-31lb projectile, 2400fps-5050fps

I believe the specs, IIRC, is a 259,000 grain HEI round, at 2900 fps.

HAving fired the 105 mm howitzer, I can tell you that the shells were loaded on site. The Canister, powder and projectile come packed together, but are disassembled by the pit crew and the reassembled with the appropriate powder charge based on the type of fire mission the gun crew received. Gun elevation and powder charge were used to allow for high or low angles of fire and range. Velocity is irrelevant with explosive shells unless you are shooting to max ranges and need all the velocity you can get to provide added range.

My experience with a 105 mm was in a tank.
Rounds are pre-loaded, and a true thing of beauty.

DR S

The A-Square manual lists load data for the 105mm tank main gun round. It is a fixed cartridge. The 105mm Howitzer fires a semi-fixed projectile. Just as KY Nimrod explained, the ammunition team chief adjusts the charge based on range-to-target. There are individual bags in the canister (case) which are removed as needed. The US 105mm (M119A1) delivers a 35lb projectile up to 14.1 kms.

Hello:
I didn't see the piece on tv, but I believe it would refer to avalanche prevention in Rogers Pass on the Trans-Canada highway in B.C. They have gun emplacements built in strategic locations alongside the highway , just drive up, set up, and let fly. Knowing the Canadian government and its reluctance to spend money on the Military, both guns and ammunition are probably WW II relics.
Griz