Another Ammo Option

Potatoes last one shot, so build reusable! Discuss ammo designs and ideas. Tough to find cannon part or questions? Ask here!
User avatar
PeteS
Specialist
Specialist
Posts: 179
Joined: Wed Sep 11, 2013 5:53 pm
Location: Maryland
Contact:

Fri Dec 20, 2013 9:46 am

I have been shooting these and they seem to work well. They fly straight and are pretty good at punching holes in things. They are not terribly expensive and can be made quickly.

Basically you just pick a size of pvc cap that suits the bore of your gun. It will likely require some turning down for a proper fit. I found that by chucking up a piece of pvc that the cap fits on I can just pop on one after another by hand and turn them down. I find that I can do it in one pass so no adjustments between caps and no messing with the chuck between caps. The drill stays chucked in the tail stock so it is easy to knock these out at about 1 minute a piece or so once set up.

The ones I have made so far fit 1" EMT and 1.5" EMT barrels. That is using 1/2" and 1" caps respectively. The bolts are 1.5" long 1/2" bolts. You can grind a point on them, but that adds a minute or so to the time it takes to make them.

Image
[center]My wife upon seeing my latest hybrid and hearing an explanation of it:
"That really isn't a potato cannon anymore, is it?"
[/center]
User avatar
jackssmirkingrevenge
Five Star General
Five Star General
Posts: 26179
Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:28 pm
Has thanked: 543 times
Been thanked: 321 times

Donating Members

Fri Dec 20, 2013 9:59 am

Very nice, you should throw these at some more challenging targets than wooden boards :)
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
User avatar
PeteS
Specialist
Specialist
Posts: 179
Joined: Wed Sep 11, 2013 5:53 pm
Location: Maryland
Contact:

Fri Dec 20, 2013 10:12 am

jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:Very nice, you should throw these at some more challenging targets than wooden boards :)
I hope to in the near future. I really need to find a place to shoot at old appliances and junked cars. Anyone know of such a place within an hour or two of Baltimore, Md? Barring that, maybe I will just carry a steel plate to the woods and see what these do to it.

I am a little nervous about shooting at a steel plate. Any tips on ricochet safety?
[center]My wife upon seeing my latest hybrid and hearing an explanation of it:
"That really isn't a potato cannon anymore, is it?"
[/center]
User avatar
jrrdw
Moderator
Moderator
United States of America
Posts: 6569
Joined: Wed Nov 16, 2005 5:11 pm
Location: Maryland
Has thanked: 39 times
Been thanked: 22 times
Contact:

Donating Members

Fri Dec 20, 2013 10:40 am

Talk to farmers about testing in the're fields, most are harvested by now and shot gun season is over. Offer to rent a field by the day away from any livestock and into a hill side or woodline. Most all the farmers will talk money...

We have horses on the farm or I would try and get you set up here (Hereford zone White Hall area). Stay away from horse farms, you don't need that kind of trouble. :bom:

What side of the city are you on? N, S, E or W???
User avatar
PeteS
Specialist
Specialist
Posts: 179
Joined: Wed Sep 11, 2013 5:53 pm
Location: Maryland
Contact:

Fri Dec 20, 2013 12:19 pm

jrrdw wrote:What side of the city are you on? N, S, E or W???
North, just inside the beltway.
[center]My wife upon seeing my latest hybrid and hearing an explanation of it:
"That really isn't a potato cannon anymore, is it?"
[/center]
User avatar
jackssmirkingrevenge
Five Star General
Five Star General
Posts: 26179
Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:28 pm
Has thanked: 543 times
Been thanked: 321 times

Donating Members

Fri Dec 20, 2013 1:21 pm

PeteS wrote:I am a little nervous about shooting at a steel plate. Any tips on ricochet safety?
Yeah,don't shoot steel BBs at steel plate in your bedroom ;)

Angle the plate downwards and to the side, shoot from behind cover.
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
User avatar
jrrdw
Moderator
Moderator
United States of America
Posts: 6569
Joined: Wed Nov 16, 2005 5:11 pm
Location: Maryland
Has thanked: 39 times
Been thanked: 22 times
Contact:

Donating Members

Fri Dec 20, 2013 4:23 pm

:D
PeteS wrote:North, just inside the beltway.
:D

Your about 25/30 minutes south of me.
How loud is your cannon compaired to a shotgun? Louder? Not as loud? I might be able to work something out once the ground dries out, no promises...
User avatar
PeteS
Specialist
Specialist
Posts: 179
Joined: Wed Sep 11, 2013 5:53 pm
Location: Maryland
Contact:

Fri Dec 20, 2013 6:21 pm

jrrdw wrote::D
PeteS wrote:North, just inside the beltway.
:D

Your about 25/30 minutes south of me.
How loud is your cannon compaired to a shotgun? Louder? Not as loud? I might be able to work something out once the ground dries out, no promises...
Since I down sized the chamber on my 1.5" EMT hybrid I think they are all the same or less than a shot gun.
[center]My wife upon seeing my latest hybrid and hearing an explanation of it:
"That really isn't a potato cannon anymore, is it?"
[/center]
User avatar
jackssmirkingrevenge
Five Star General
Five Star General
Posts: 26179
Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:28 pm
Has thanked: 543 times
Been thanked: 321 times

Donating Members

Sat Dec 21, 2013 8:34 am

PeteS wrote:Since I down sized the chamber on my 1.5" EMT hybrid I think they are all the same or less than a shot gun.
An effective suppressor should not be difficult to manufacture, especially if you have a lathe. It doesn't help much with supersonic shots though.

Heck, Umarex got away with K-baffles here, seems ok as long as they are integral:

[youtube][/youtube]
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
Post Reply