MIKE (HP Marble Gun)

[VH_man]

After the Completion of my Shock Pump I decided I needed a High-powered Cannon to go with it. I also have wanted to make an O-ringed piston, and to have constructed a Breech. MIKE is that "dream" Cannon of mine, Boasting:

Barrel: 48" 1/2in Type L Copper
Chamber: 36" 3/4in Type L Copper
Main Valve: 1/2in Porting Tee Valve W/ O-ringed Piston
Breech: Sliding
Power: Estimated 950 FPS with 14mm Marbles @ 400 PSI



Its really not very cleanly constructed, My soldering job was.... not so nice, but all in all im VERY happy to have conquered Copper guns, That and to have a third piston gun up my sleeve.

One of the most Annoying parts of this gun was the F***ing piston. The sharp copper kept cutting into the sealing faces and making it so that i couldnt fill the gun anymore. Finally, i found the problem was that WD40 makes rubber Brittle........ and it was making the rubber easy as hell to slice into. Pic:



Overall, I am VERY happy with this Cannon, which still amazes me at the recoil i get from one marble. Its astounding. And the noise! Oh man the noise!!!

I WILL get some more damage pics up, but for now, I have an accidental blank firing into a textbook (OOPS!!!)



Some More pics:

Main Valve Area
Sliding Barrel Support
Breech Open
Sealing Face
Pilot Volume Reducer

[mobile chernobyl]

I dunno if you do this or not - but if you take off the fill nipple when firing you'll vent more gas faster - giving you a more powerful shot. I had the same setup on my copper rifles and i noticed if i took off the fill nipple i obtained much more power. I eventually ended having it vent though a 3/8" ball valve and fill through a 1/4" ball valve with a fill nipple on it for the best of both worlds in convienence.

BTW I've never had the chance to take my copper guns over 100psi (they are cleanly sweated, all metal and I feel comfortable taking them up to 300PSI) do you notice a great difference over 100psi? I'm thinkin I should invest in a LP paintball reg for spudgunning haha, because even though I have 2 efficient all metal rifles, i've never really utilized them to their "true potential"

Thanks

[VH_man]

BTW I've never had the chance to take my copper guns over 100psi (they are cleanly sweated, all metal and I feel comfortable taking them up to 300PSI) do you notice a great difference over 100psi? I'm thinkin I should invest in a LP paintball reg for spudgunning haha, because even though I have 2 efficient all metal rifles, i've never really utilized them to their "true potential"

Thanks

OMG YES the power increase is AMAZING. only problem you may run into is that if you dont have a bumper, get one. my piston was slamming back so fast at one point that it could turn a washer into a cone (my first piston was just washers and a bolt)

And i will try your idea. I have a 1/4 inch QEV coming for usage in a new cannon as a main valve, but I might just have to try it on this cannon as a pilot valve at least once................ I guess it should also be noted my pilot volume is TINY. its about the size of the hole in the "pilot Volume" picture multiplied by 2. Its nothing at all.......

[mobile chernobyl]

Yea I dont have a picture on this computer of my setup but it went like this:

Right out of exit hole I had a 1/4" Tee splitting so that both sides when to the left and right of the gun. On right i have a 90* coming off of the T so that it points towards teh front of the gun. I have about a 3" straight piece on that that goes to the 1/4" ball valve and fill nipple. On the left, i have a 90* as well, but a longer straight to reach up to the "handle". I put a 3/8" ball valve there with nothing else after it. The lever is angled down so my thumb can flick it. It works amazingly well and everyone that shoots it never asks how.

I will look harder into aquiring a regulator for my HPA tank to bump it down to 100-300PSI. Thats low for most PB regs, but I think there are more available nowadays since most guns are LP electopnuematics nowadays. Thanks man!

I have a decent bumper, but its prolly not sufficient for the extra pressure it will be seeing.

Haha even though I can already shoot a marble through a 55 gallon drum at 100PSI, I wonder wtf its gonna do at 300?!?! haha.

[VH_man]

be amazed....... I dont doubt i can put one of my darts through pretty thick metal.........

that and shooting really heavy things gets dangerous....... during testing i fired a hunk of acrylic rod at 300 PSI....... and it knocked me over....... and the BV ripped my hand up pretty good.

and BTW, at 300 PSI, your wildest dreams come true... its insane.

[mobile chernobyl]

Haha sounds good man. I spent nearly $300 on both of my copper guns. If you take a look at 'em there pretty nice and by the sounds of it (from what you say) are seriously underperforming! Haha at 300psi my .75 Cal should be... I dunno I can already put a fletched 12 gram through a 1" piece of plywood at 50 yards with no sights haha, with 300 I'm gonna need to go to my friends "testing range" AKA his long ass back yard that butts up against a small mtn lol.

[brogdenlaxmiddie]

I like it. Nice, simple, and high power! Good job!

[SpudUke5]

Nice copper gun! I have one, but the piston busted on me so now i have to make another (not sure of what material to use).

After hearing your experience with this, i really, really wanna make a shock pump, along with finishing my copper gun.

I did buy a wooden dowel for a piston, but it wouldnt seal, so i might try what you did.

I still need to post it too. Man im lazy :glasses11:

[Gippeto]

Excellent job VH!

You looked after the details and now your reap the rewards of brutal performance.

"and BTW, at 300 PSI, your wildest dreams come true... its insane."

I know EXACTLY what you're talking about! 8)

Some things you should give thought to;

Buy some hearing protection (ear plugs at least) and USE it.

This canon has the ability to shoot through walls and retain enough energy to do serious harm.

Do not load or shoot this in your house anymore. You have already had one AD (accidental discharge), how would you feel if a marble ripped through a wall and hit someone?

Food for thought?

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Infernal multi-pronged cutlery!

As to the damage pics,

[starman]

Schweet copper gun VH! That relativey long barrel on top of your semi-insane psi can't help but send that marble packing in a big hurry.

I like your wooden piston and overall clean simplicity. Great job!

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

OMG YES the power increase is AMAZING

I had been bleating on about shock pumps and high pressures for years on spudtech, it's great to see that 300 psi plus has become quite commonplace these days power is directly proportional to pressure, hence the Moar's law:

moar pressure = MOAR POWER!

[Gippeto]

"moar pressure = MOAR POWER! "


I could not agree moar?!

[THUNDERLORD]

Maybe MIKE will be sleeping next toJANET NO MOAR!! No Moar!!!
Janet has a copper barrel, but just nowhere near the power of Mike

Great job on this one! Now I want a copper gun! 8)

[POLAND_SPUD]

long barrel + big chamber + 300 psi = fun...

you have to try shooting at 500 psi.. I hope you have some hearing protection or something...

it's generally not the best idea to pilot your valve at your face so find some way to redirect exhausted air somewhere else

BTW where did you found 14mm marbles ? how much do they weight ?