Potatoes
 

ok story time

so me and some friends have recently gotten into spud guns since like last fall we've been messing around for a while with em in my friends backyard with targets. they haven't been a problem until like last 2 weeks. keep in mind we had ridden dirt bikes, quads,fireworks, made fires etc pretty much anything noisy we've done there as well.

one night a complaint was made of loud noises with a concern of potatoes hitting their house. so a cop came over to investigate, we showed him the target and the guns which he was 100% okay with, it was just that fact that it was like 930 (understandable) so we called it a night. nvr said dont do it again.

2 weeks later

now sunday we decieded to mess around and setup another plywood target at about 700ish. wouldnt you know it 2o mins later cops show up for a complaint of get this, "gunshots" wtf? so of course the cop gives us a bunch of BS about "its a weapon, a projectile comes out blah blah blah" so we stopped, but the officer didnt say anything about us breaking laws for possessing them, firing them, or too much noise.

heres a letter <<<http://members.tripod.com/j-shortreed/batf.htm>>> from teh Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in regards to spud guns. so im thinkin i should go and have a talk, b/c if im not breaking any laws, them were gonna keep havin fun :twisted:

anybody else make these contraptions? or have any trouble with the fuzz?

oh heres my launcher, notice its kinda hard to hide...

Not to be a downer, but I would be wary of using that. Drainage pipe is NOT pressure rated and can shatter in your face, plastic will not show up on an X ray.


That being said, nice spray and pray gun newb. ;)

what does the letter say?

That basically potatoes are not a projectile worth banning and they will be more dependent on location to make illegal. yea, I am a loser...

Department of the Treasury

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms

Washington, DC 20226







As defined in section 921(a) (3) of Title 18, United States Code (USC) the term "firearm" means --



* (A) any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive;
* (B) the frame or receiver of any such weapon;
* (C) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or
* (D) any destructive device. Such term does not include an antique firearm.

As defined in 26 USC subsection 5845(f) (2) the term destructive device includes any type of weapon by whatever name known which will, or which may readily be converted to, expel a projectile by the action of an explosive or other propellent, the barrel or barrels of which have a bore of more than one-half inch in diameter, except a shotgun or shotgun shell which the Secretary or his delegate finds is generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting purposes; and (3) any combination of parts either designed or intended for use in converting any device into a destructive device as defined in subparagraphs (1) and (2) and from which a destructive device may be readily assembled. The term 'destructive device' shall not include any device which is neither designed nor redesigned for use as a weapon; any device, although originally designed for use as a weapon, which is redesigned for use as a signaling, pyrotechnic, line throwing, safety, or similar device; surplus ordnance sold, loaned, or given by the Secretary of the Army pursuant to the provisions of section 4684(2), 4685, or 4686 of title 10 of the USC; or any other device which the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate finds is not likely to be used as a weapon, or is an antique or is a rifle which the owner intends to use solely for sporting purposes.

It is unlawful for anyone to make or possess a destructive device which is not registered in accordance with the provisions of the National Firearms Act.

We have previously examined that certain muzzle loading devices known as "potato guns." These potato guns are constructed from PVC plastic tubing. They use hair spray or a similar aerosol substance for a propellant, and have some type of spark ignitor. We have determined that these devices, as described, are not firearms provided that they are used solely for launching potatoes for recreational purposes. However, any such devices which are used as weapons or used to launch other forms of projectiles may be firearms and destructive devices as defined.





Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms

Firearms Technology Branch, Room 6450

650 Massachusetts Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20226



Sincerely yours,



(signature)



Curtis H. A. Bartlett Acting Chief, Firearms Technology Branch

haha its actually 100% schedual 40 (3xx psi) so i dont think im in any danger of it blowing up in my face (yet)

Yea? I would place money on it not being... that 45* you use for a trigger is most likely not the right kind... it can be pressure rated and still not be good.. the depth of the coupler is what matter to, which is why you can't use drainage stuff. All in all, a spray and pray prob is ok to use it on.

I am trying to get pics of my cannons up but am failing..

My arsenal at the moment is not to good... a large cannon, 2 inch piston valved beast, 5 feet of 4 inch pipe chamber, bout 5 foot 2 inch barrel, medium cannon is a 5 foot long golf ball barrel, 1.5 inch QEV and a 4 foot 2 inch chamber, small cannon is a 4 foot paintball barrel, 1 inch modded sprinkler valve, and a small foot long 1 inch chamber.

Air > fuel. :)

Wow, I am a tool.... lol

so your fine, if anything, just show them the note if they stop by again, your obviously not hurting anyone or anything, just got nosey/complaining neighbors

yea the fittings who knows but thats ok i measured it to be about 25psi, -+ a few psi

i made mine to accept compressed air via a schrader valve on the rear cap havnt gotten to testing its capabilities b/c i need to rig a remote detonator but it looks promising :nod:

Its mainly at the jurisdiction of the local PD. Illegal but you can make a silencer for your cannon if it is to loud. Or play with the length of the barrel some.

For what? You planning on running a hybrid?

I would def NOT use any of that then....

whats to problem?

i max at about 15-20psi before the potato starts to move so its not like im trying to put 100psi like an air cannon although that sounds like a fantastic idea

what are you using for yours air? spray? and schedual 80?

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures004.jpg

Well a hybrid, air and a fuel, whether it be MAPP, propane, gas, etc will make a lot of pressure, ~300psi... prob more if you get the mix right... and your piezo lighter won't cut it... you need bigger spark, look into tasers.

my uncle has one, and when he has bbq's, he pulls it out of the shed to fool around with for a while, and his neighbors called the cops after afew minutes, the cops came by, my uncle offered them a burger, and they just said to continue to keep the noise down and not to aim it at someones house, and thats about it, in my area, the cops say that its not considered a weapon because the diameter of the barrel or w/e

Yea pretty much, I have never had trouble with the cops... my bigger cannon is way to powerful to shoot pretty much anywhere in the neighborhood...

:shock::drool::idea::idea:

#@$% that is sick haha but you really think its ~300 for a hybrid on hairspray? im think about rigging a flash camera, that way i can hide in a bunker for when it blows up ahaha :rofl: and save $$$ on those crappy peizo ignitors that go bad after xx uses

You really should ditch the fuel nonsense, and cross over into the world of compressed gas. Much more consistent, easier, and safer IMO.

And no, a hybrid uses compressed air, and propane or similar gases, no hair spray... I would get used to your gun now, then try and go for a combustion gun... more math involved and its trickier to get the right mix, but much more power. Cleaner too.

And yes, 2 inch piston valve ftw. I can put a lemon through a piece of 3/4 plywood. Easy.

what ever you say about it not being a firearm, your wrong. it is considered a firearm, its projects an object at a speed in which it can create bodily harm..

now im not against them in any way since i made one a couple years back tho i used hair spray instead of air.
i used 1 foot of 3 inch sch 40 pvc for the chamber then used a 3inch to 2 inch adapter with 4 feet of 2 inch for the barrel, at the end of the chamber i used a screw on cap so i could open it and spray the hairspray in. for the ignition the i used a stainless steel screw on one side and then the other side i put a grill igniter so it would arc to the screw.... that way was the best way i found to make a sick patato gun.

Finally got a pic of my bigger valves, 1.5 inch QEV and a 2 piston valve.
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._3695167_n.jpg

domestic terrorism!

One spud at a time. ;)

wow

we had (maybe still have) one that ran off of propane

in like '96 me and a few friends built 3.
simple and effective with our design.
upgraded from hair spray(7 second load up)
to starting fluid, (1 sec load up max)
bbq electric push button ignitor..

few days later, got stopped while in friends car.
mine was set up with front grip and sling, painted as well.
got taken in for jv weapons poss.
i got out of anything due to technicalities.

:shock: Oo rough were you shootin em outa the car? i usually dont transport them very far haha i can see weapons poss if it was loaded and ready to fire. mine breakes down into pieces (ignitor, chamber and barrel) and i painted the tip orange not that it helps lol

we had shot it prior to getting in the car one town over, and it was in an rx7 laying in the back, untinted hatch. the cop saw it, had us open the back, and it was still kinda smoking. 4 more cars showed up then. Outside the car they were telling each other to press the "red button". they had a hard time believing what it really was until i pulled the hairspray and potatoes from under the pass seat. i almost did time at the jv correctional facility and go in front of a jv conference committee. however, they never read me my rights prior to asking all the details about it and if other potatoe cannons existed, so i walked with a minor notice, or something, on my jv record. my friend, the driver however got like 100 hours community service. haha. he deserved it for other reasons so it didnt bother me.( a few months later we egged his house with 14 dozen eggs...)