making holes in 1in plywood, @ 100’...

WITH POTATOS!  Yea, so I made a potato cannon.  It worked MUCH better than my other ones.  This will rip a hole clean through 1 inch thick plywood at 100', using 1/3 of a potato.  This thing kicks a lot too, it has more recoil than a 12 guage (what it feels like, according to my dad).  I actually have a bruise on my shoulder.

Now, I have constructed better ammunition, PVC bullets, pipe with a nose cone, filled with various materials (still experimenting).  I also successfully made a shotgun round, It holds about 75 river rocks, but it is only effective at about 30'.

The guns range is yet to be known, but it goes with unnoticable drop in flight path at 200' (then it usually hits a tree).  I'm estimating the max range to be 1000' (will test it this weekend probably).

My friend got a video of us firing it, and we set up the camera right beside the board so you can see the potato go through from a side angle.  But unfortunately he is having problems with importing the video (software problem), so for now you get a picture.



Now, here is my question.  What else should I try for ammunition?  What could I do to increase the power even more (not that I really need to)?  And what are your thoughts about the whole thing.

I know some of you have probably made one before, but I felt like posting.

Wow

High Voltage wrote: video. now.

Since he is having probs with his software, I'm going to have to film it myself.   I won't be able to fire it until tommorow afternoon (probably after 5:00) because its not a good Idea to shoot it where I live (A.  I don't want to kill somebody and B.  I don't want the cops over here (even though it is legal)).

So, you will get it tommorow hopefully.

BTW, another reason I can't do it here is because of the noise, its so loud I have to wear earplugs, it is louder than most guns (from what I've heard at the range).

Worked better than my jet engine, and it hasn't shot flames into my face.

TRAVELER wrote: Be careful. If this weren't a "G" rated site I would post a pic of what happens when one of those things explode. You don't want to go through life with the nickname "lefty" or "stumpy".

Thats why the PVC is rated to 450 psi and reinforced with metal.

450 psi is nothing, my .177 air rifle generates 700 psi. If you are pushing a potato to 100 yards you're probably well past the 450 psi level. 

Ah, potato guns. The most fun you can have with pvc.

this makes me think of the cannon thread, and Dave shooting q-tips aacross his room.

Me and Dave Ellis made mini cannons 2 years back. anyone remember?
1000 feet my hairy white ass. A hole in the plywood my ass too. Spuds shatter the plywood not make a hole in it.
And dude. DONT USE PVC FOR COMBUSTION GUNS. ABS is what you want. ABS for combustion, PVC for phnumatic guns.

And I dont belive that I have seen PVC pipe reinforced with metal. SCH40 PVC is rated for 400 psi. SCH 80 is for 800 psi.

Mini potao cannons with medicine bottles a pen and a BBQ igniter

I still have one somewere. shot like 60 feet, left nice welts

636andy636 wrote: Me and Dave Ellis made mini cannons 2 years back. anyone remember? 1000 feet my hairy white ass. A hole in the plywood my ass too. Spuds shatter the plywood not make a hole in it. And dude. DONT USE PVC FOR COMBUSTION GUNS. ABS is what you want. ABS for combustion, PVC for phnumatic guns. And I dont belive that I have seen PVC pipe reinforced with metal. SCH40 PVC is rated for 400 psi. SCH 80 is for 800 psi.

yea, its SH40, and it has metal on the inside.  Also, I will get that video up.

I have no clue whats special about it, it just works.