Odd but effective alternate ammo

[Cthulhu]

I'm sure we've all used some pretty weird things shoved into a Spud gun barrel to shoot, but have you ever used something so strange yet it actually has good performance?

I recently built a cheap-o sprinkler valve mortar with 2" PVC and I was amazed that empty caulk tubes could fly up to 500 feet!

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Careful what you point it at, you don't want to call 911 to say someone has been injured by a flying caulk

[mrfoo]

you don't want to call 911 to say someone has been injured by a flying caulk

Especially if your accent makes it come out as "flying cock".

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Especially if your accent makes it come out as "flying cock".

http://thatsthejoke.com

[Air2theBrain]

500ft!

How much does that tube weigh..?

How much psi did you use? 8)

[Cthulhu]

500ft!

How much does that tube weigh..?

How much psi did you use? 8)

I haven't weighed the tube, but when I do I'll post it.
I'm running at only around 40 psi. The reason for the immense range is that since it's a mortar it's fired at 45°. When aimed horizontally it only goes about 45-50 feet.

I'll probably make a separate thread about it later, but I want to build the bipod and baseplate first.

[Cthulhu]

The caulk tubes sadly break after hitting the ground so many times, so I've been trying to replicate their design, but I encountered some problems.

How do you calculate the optimal mass for a projectile to get the best range?

Is there a way I can get my projectile to whistle as it flies?

[Air2theBrain]

Found this link, looks heavy mathematical.
https://www.whitman.edu/Documents/Acade ... lsmith.pdf

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

How do you calculate the optimal mass for a projectile to get the best range?

GGDT includes an External Ballistics Tool that can be helpful.

Is there a way I can get my projectile to whistle as it flies?

Stick one of these on the front

[Air2theBrain]

Jack i was thinking of these when i read this post also.

For something funny i would throw an actual whistle in the tube.

You wanted it to whistle right?

I heard of a guy putting a whistle in his blow off valve for his car...would have made people turn their heads thinking a referee was on the streets.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

I heard of a guy putting a whistle in his blow off valve for his car...would have made people turn their heads thinking a referee was on the streets.

Antonios, Mentale!!!

hehehe been a while since the last Chanel 9 Neus reference on this forum, @POLAND_SPUD where you at?

[Cthulhu]

Found this link, looks heavy mathematical.
https://www.whitman.edu/Documents/Acade ... lsmith.pdf

That's mostly about optimal launch angle rather than optimal mass, funnily enough I've actually seen that exact article in my physics class a couple years ago to show the proof behind the whole "45°" launch angle belief.

Found a way to get it to whistle without having to buy a nerf football: I cut the head off a nerf mega dart (which have whistles built in) and glued it to the head of my projectile.


Mass is still a problem.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Mass is still a problem.

Pour some cheap epoxy into the head I would really suggest you play with GGDT to figure out the optimal weight for the parameters you are using.

That's mostly about optimal launch angle rather than optimal mass, funnily enough I've actually seen that exact article in my physics class a couple years ago to show the proof behind the whole "45°" launch angle belief.

For a drag stabilized projectile it's usually closer to 55 degrees.

Fr Frog has some relevant data on the Fin Stabilized M829 anti-tank round.

[Cthulhu]

I dumped a bunch it bits of scrap metal into the body and sealed it with hotglue under a foam disk. It exploded as it left the barrel, but it's a start!
I put an ad out on Craigslist saying I was buying used caulk tubes, let's see if I get any bites!

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

I put an ad out on Craigslist saying I was buying used caulk tubes, let's see if I get any bites!

"Hi, heard you were paying for used caulk?"

"Uhh..."