Abstract: A mortar bedding or training round has a canister filled with a heavy, dispersible filling and a sidewall that will rupture after firing of the round. The canister sleeve may be dimensioned to provide an expansion gap within the barrel, allowing the canister sidewall to partially expand upon firing, weakening it for subsequent rupture upon leaving the mortar barrel. Such a round can bed a mortar without launching a projectile to a high altitude where it might be detected.

Abstract: A shearing apparatus adapted to cut one or more notches at the end of a pipe and the like, to produce properly fitting endwise engagement of that end of the pipe against another pipe. This shearing apparatus features only one cycle of operation to cut two notches, no repositioning of the tubular member to cut more than one notch at one of its ends, and cutting of notches at any desired position around one end of a pipe without having to reposition the latter. This shearing apparatus includes a first die member having die sections positioned in predetermined radially outward directions relative to the end of the pipe to be notched, and a second die member that is pivotally displaceable in those directions to outwardly cut the notches against those die sections.