Has anyone done this?

[PatMarlin]

Pop Can launcher:

http://www.accuratereloading.com/popct.html

I really would like something like this as I want shoot clays, but haven't wanted to litter the landside with them where I shoot.

Pop can's would perfect! I bet you could weight them down a little to get more distance. Any other ideas on making a launcher?

...............:drinks:

[DLCTEX]

whatever you do, do not cut a rifle barrel shorter than 16 inches! This is a federal offense.

[imashooter2]

There is also a minimum over all length. That's what they got Randy Weaver on.

I would imagine that picking up jagged soda cans is going to get old pretty quick.

[Buckshot]

..............Never did that. However I made a couple BP morters out of galvanized water pipe. We'd shoot empty CO2 capsules or shells made of short pieces of pipe that'd fit in the morter. Oh yeah, and walnuts. If shucked green they 'd fly out in one piece. Grandpa had a pretty complete workshot with a stick welder, gas torch, drill press and lots of tools. Since it was kinda in the country and kind of a farm (well, a citrus rancher :-) ) there was lots of stuff around to mess with.

................Buckshot

[PatMarlin]

I wonder if you could build a potato cannon that would shoot the cans. Heck for that matter might as well just use potatos, then there would be no cleanup, but that could get kinda pricey.

My patato launcher would send em' several hundred feet in the air. Bunch of laughs at camp fire parties.. :mrgreen:

Maybe pine cones?.. :coffee:

[45 2.1]

Buckshot-
You up for making a Coehorn mortor to shoot concrete filled pop cans?

[PatMarlin]

ooooh... now that would hurt.. :mrgreen:

[StarMetal]

Pat,

I build a potato gun for my son and I. We ended up using pears and apples because for one the pears were heavier and the apples were plentiful. Potatoes were expensive. We were able to shoot pears in the hundreds of yards!!!! My favorite fuel was Aqua-Net hair spray.

The thing with those type of guns is maintaining a seal in the barrel. A popcan would have to have two things in my opinion, some weight added and some big O-rings seals, well make that three if you're using seals...some LUBE!!!!!

Joe

[PatMarlin]

................:shock:

[PatMarlin]

Pat,

I build a potato gun for my son and I. We ended up using pears and apples because for one the pears were heavier and the apples were plentiful. Potatoes were expensive. We were able to shoot pears in the hundreds of yards!!!! My favorite fuel was Aqua-Net hair spray.

The thing with those type of guns is maintaining a seal in the barrel. A popcan would have to have two things in my opinion, some weight added and some big O-rings seals, well make that three if you're using seals...some LUBE!!!!!

Joe

Yeah it would be a challenge to get a seal around a can. My sister and brother in law are pear farmers.. [smilie=1:

[fourarmed]

I've used Aqua-Net too, but if the chamber gets too wet from repeated shooting, it can damp out your igniter until it dries. Two other good fuels that don't seem to do this are Faultless spray starch and the propellant from the upside-down spray paint cans (intended to mark streets, sidewalks, etc.) held topside up.

[Johnch]

I pick up shot up pop cans with a broom handle with a 1/8" x 12" sharpened piece of rod in the end .
Drill a 3/64 hole and drive in the rod with some epoxy , then sharpen the rod .

I can pick up 7- 8 cans at one time .

Johnch

[jhalcott]

put some "wings" or a parachute on your cans to alter the flight patterns!

[Buckshot]

Buckshot-
You up for making a Coehorn mortor to shoot concrete filled pop cans?

.............HA! I have a 6" x 14" cylinder of 1045 HR steel that has been patiently sitting on the floor at the end of my lathe for a little over a year. It's waiting for me to make a bigger steady rest so I can turn it and then bore it. The steady for my lathe will only accept a 3-3/4 diameter piece.

I even have a good used 1.5"x1' Kennametal boring bar a friend gave me, but it's missing the capsule for the cutter. I shudder to think what THAT will cost.

However I DO have a BP golf ball cannon made out of 416 stainless :-)

...............Buckshot

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
Those pop can mortors are a hoot. I'll bet the golf ball cannon is fun too.

[Bigscot]

You can take golfball and wrap it in a wash cloth. Shove it down a tater gun barrel and send it a long way. The wash cloth acts like a shotgun wad and is reusable as it only goes about 20 yds. It may also work with a coke can.

Bigscot

[KS1911]

I really would like something like this as I want shoot clays, but haven't wanted to litter the landside with them where I shoot.
...............


Pat,
White Flyer makes several biodegradable clay targets, they might be something to consider.

From their website: http://www.whiteflyer.com/targetbio.html
"All White Flyer Bio Targets will biodegrade at least 95% within two years, depending on rainfall or contact with moisture into elements found in nature."
:brokenima

[Glen]

A friend of mine took a Contender .38 Special barreel and made a golf ball launcher out of it. He said it would go straight for about 150 yards and then turn in some random direction and go who knows where!

[HTRN]

For the likes of Buckshot et al who have access to machine tools and know how to use them: Hern Iron works (http://www.hernironworks.com/). They sell cannon castings, including something suitable for golfballs and beercans.

One of the more interesting new things they sell is a Siege mortar that's available with either a 8" or 8.75" bore - the larger bore size is to accomadate bowling balls.


HTRN

[beagle]

Back to the can launcher....

Instead of cans, a friend of mine and I used charcoal brickets for years. Easily thrown by hand or make a simple launcher. They break just like clays and no cleanup as they're biodegradeable./beagle

[BAGTIC]

Several years ago an acquaintance of mine made some black powder mortars by using recycled hydraulic cystinders. they are common, cheap, and already have a smooth well machined bore.

[PatMarlin]

Whoa-

My wife's family manufactures hydraulic cylinders. I could get a bunch of those.

(slightly) Used hydraulic cylinders $50 shipped... LOL!

Oh and -no- PayPal.. :mrgreen:

[krag35]

Try using that purple PVC primer in your spud gun. Another way to get more range out of it is to start the tater in the barrel, then spray your fuel and cap it, then ram the tater home. It compresses the air fuel mix and will add a good bit of range. I forget what size barrel it takes (2") but you can launch raw eggs out of one by using Styrofoam cups and paper towels. Start the cup in the barrel until t fits tight, then tear off any excess. Wad a paper towel up in the bottom of it, then ram it down. roll the egg down the barrel and use more paper to hold it in. Spray, cap and fire, MOST of the time the egg comes out without breaking.
krag35

[Uncle Grinch]

We have a couple of club members who are into black powder cannons and mortars. While both of them make them for enjoyment, one re-creates the old Revolutionary War and Civil War models. He evens build the carrage and wheels.

One day at the range, he brought his bowling ball mortar and fired a bowling ball almost out of sight just about straight up. It landed just beyond the 100 yard line.