[lycanthrope]

My new "tactical tater gun".

Target loads are 300+ fps with a 2252gr projectile. Power factor of 675.

It is a muzzleloader..........

http://members.bellatlantic.net/~jefwolfe/spudsmall.JPG

[cool45auto]

:D

[seeker_two]

:what:


I think we need a "Hold my beer for a second" forum... :scrutiny:

[Uncle Ethan]

The Texas pellet rifle forum.

[Standing Wolf]

Could I have fries with that, please?

[Justin]

Wow!
I have no problem leaving it in this forum, just because that thing's got the cool-o-meter pegged.

[C.R.Sam]

Agree with Justin.
Way cool.
Is a firearm.
And seems more general than specific.

Sam

[BenW]

Could we get a close-up shot of that there shootin' iron? :D

[KMKeller]

That 'tater chucker and a tennis racket would make for some interesting french.. er freedom fries stories.

[Skunkabilly]

Can you put a Surefire on it?

[seeker_two]

Can you put a Surefire on it?

Or a Sure-Fryer?... :p

[keyhole]

If ya shoot one of those at a cow, would you have steak & taters?


AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!:D

[KC]

"I have no problem leaving it in this forum, just because that thing's got the cool-o-meter pegged."

I dunno...mayhapse this would be better moved to the muzzle loading forum. Yes, it flunks royally the usual flint-and-powder sort of thing one might expect, but isnt it still a muzzel loader? Certainly, it gets about the same FPS at the muzzle that some BP guns I've seen...

[dave5339]

Ok I WANT one of those, Vic, add it to my Chrismas list.

Think of the fun we could have with cars with loud radios with one of those!

Semper Fi

[lycanthrope]

Beer was a part in the development process.....

Everything is rated to 175psi minimum, but I only power it to 90psi. It still shoots 400 yards and will toss a tater through 1/2 plywood at 20 yards.

Overall cost was about $60. It has an electrical firing mechanism powered by 9v batteries and a couple lawn sprinkler solenoids.

http://members.bellatlantic.net/~jefwolfe/spudgunsmall.JPG

[kenehsr]

[QUOTE]
If ya shoot one of those at a cow, would you have steak & taters?




Remember "Cows with guns"!!!!
Would you like that supersized?
:p :D

[Gewehr98]

I see a trip to Home Depot or Lowes in my future... :D

[Outrigger]

Here in New England we need a blue hubbard squash cannon. Can this be adapted? Plenty of ammo right now. :D

[swingcatt]

Well that gives "grape shot" a brand new meaning...

Does it have a rifled bore? http://spudtech.com/content.asp?id=19

Later-tater,
-SC

[cracked butt]

Yikes! That's a good tater launcher. last time I played with one of those was when I was in college, I burned my eyebrows off and had the cops swarming my neighborhood shortly afterward.:eek:

[4v50 Gary]

It can hurl things other than spuds. Redecorate your neighbor's yard with their dog's droppings. ;)

[Archie]

The specifications, plans and assembly diagrams and instructions for this are located exactly where????????

[stevelyn]

http://www.backyardballistics.com


Could this be the place to start?:evil:

[Orthonym]

I have a copy of the book, and it's a hoot, as well as explaining some fun physics in a rigorous manner. Every elementary-school library should have a copy. If you can't get outdoors, there's a chapter on how to optimize match rockets.:cool: There's also a chapter on making your very own carbide cannon, and two kinds of hot-air balloons. (All of these are against the law in Florida):cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

[lycanthrope]

The heart of the beast are the valves. This is an electrically triggered cannon using Hunter HPV valves found at some local garden care centers or at places like this:

Valves (http://www.sprinklerwarehouse.com/shop3/enter.html?target=ValvesHunter.html)

Notice Hunter makes a cheaper valve, the SRV, which is rated to 150psi. I went with the HPV because I thought I wanted more, but I've been playing it safe with 90psi (I put it around a corner and pushed it to 130psi the first time and let it sit to make sure I wasn't "real close" and since then I've stayed at 90psi).

Get a battery box from Radio Shack and a couple switches (I use one flip switch for the safety, a push button for the trigger). Wire it like this:

Wiring (http://www.corin.com/bill/paintball/aircannon/electrical.html)

Get some SHEDULE 40 or HIGHER PVC pipe. Schedule 60 is better. You MUST have this type of PVC or it won't hold the pressure.

Pick your barrel size first and then make sure your pressure chamber size is at least 2x as large. My design could be improved a lot since there are several bends between my chamber (bottom) and the barrel (top). In a perfect world would it would be in-line with the barrel directly in front of the chamber. If you can find a valve or PVC pieces that neck down then go this way. My design was built by going to Lowes with the valves and finding what pieces were in stock to do it. We originally wanted a 4" chamber and 2" barrel, but they didn't carry the reducers to do it......or we didn't have the mind muscle to figure it out. Here's what it came to:

1 3" chamber pipe. Around 50" long. Cap the front of it and drill it to accept an air valve. A valve with an integral pressure gauge is nice. Don't just thread it into the pipe. Put a washer and nut on the inside for strength.

At the rear of the pressure chamber we have a "T" fitting that accepts 3" along the plane of the barrel, but with the vertical port being 1.5".

I ran this 1.5" port up into a "T" that accepts 1.5" and splits it into 2 1" exits. I then used 1" elbows on both sides to make the turn to the 2 solenoids (which happen to be 1" ....bigger would have been better, but more expensive). After the solenoids I used 2 more 1" elbows to turn the pipe back into a "T" that is 1" in all directions. This runs into a "T" that has 1" on top and 2 "1.5" exits. This connects to barrel. I could have capped the end of the barrel but used a ball valve isnstead to help with cleaning and loading.

1 1.5" Barrel pipe. 50".

Use PVC primer and then PVC glue to seal it all together.
LET IT DRY 24 HOURS.
If not it WILL blow on you.

Start with LOW pressure and work your way up. Slowly. You are building a gun and load capable of hurting you or others. Don't get slopy and follow all rules of safe handling. I recommend stopping well below the range of your rated pipe. PVC standards are not to be totally trusted. Your gun may differ, but the risks are yours.

Feel free to e mail me for any problems/suggestions.

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

My brother and I built several models back in the early 90's. The optimal size for me was 1.5 in. barrel ID because you can fire foosballs through it. With the optimum chamber to barrel volume ratio it's supersonic.

I currently have a 2 inch ID barrel model that shoots the little knotty Texas wild pears with aplomb.

Regards,
Rabbit.

[stevelyn]

Ya'll are a bad influence.:evil: I started a new project today after reading this thread and perusing backyard ballistics dot com. Yup, I'm constructing an Idaho artillery piece. :D I'm naming it "Yukon Thunder". I got the barrel, reducer and end cap today, and picking up the chamber, firing device and propellent tomorrow. Should be completed by Monday evening. :D
The harbor goes under siege on Tuesday. :evil:

[redneck2]

I know a guy at one of my accounts that made one of these. A co-worker was in the bathroom doing his business. This guy (not even drunk) decides it'd be cool to bounce a 'tater off the door to help things along (i.e. scare the crap out of him).

The projectile went clear through the door, grazed the guy's head, and made a dent in the wall behind. Afterwards it was funny to everybody except the dude in the bathroom.

If anybody's done any analysis with these.....is it better to get a lighter potato and heavier mass, or get a lighter one for higher MV???

Hollow point or FMJ potato????

Who makes a good holster for CCW???

We just always used a can of hairspray and had a barbecue lighter glued into the back end. Man, these things have come a long way:D

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

a spray can of engine starting fluid (ethyl ether) is the best and most readily available propellant for combustion type spud howitzers. Hair spray (Aqua Net) and Right Guard spray deodorant work fine but leave behind a residue that can glue the removable plugs and make things generally gummy.

Regards,
Rabbit.

[BHPshooter]

We had one at College this last year. It was the most fun we'd had for a looong time. :D Ours was more simplistic -- not nearly as technologically advanced as this specimen. Ours was made out of ABS plastic and a BBQ striker (the type that makes an electrical spark). We used aquanet hairspray and the occasional starting fluid.

Even such a rudimentary example can do really well. I paced off a shot at over 200 yards. :D :D

I've been resisting the urge to build another one, but I don't know if I can fight it now... :uhoh:

Wes

P.S. If anyone would like a "schematic" of this simple design, let me know and I'll throw one together in paint. ;)

[Dave R]

"Think of the fun we could have with cars with loud radios with one of those!"

Bad idea. As you can see from other posts, these things can kill. Or at LEAST bust out a windshield.

I had a friend whose kid was shot at close range by one of those 2-man slingshot water balloon chuckers. He was in a coma for a week and required much reconstructive surgery. So I'm a little touchy on this subject.

[lycanthrope]

Dave,

What was he hit with? I've used the 3 man water ballon throwers at 15 yards on people with ZERO damage. Something sounds strange.

As for the tater guns. they can definately hurt someone BAD.

[Futo Inu]

"Beer was a part in the development process"

"The harbor goes under siege on Tuesday. "

:D Less-than-lethal option for tree-huggers to carry in grizzly country maybe?