Projectile Curving

Show us your pneumatic spud gun! Discuss pneumatic (compressed gas) powered potato guns and related accessories. Valve types, actuation, pipe, materials, fittings, compressors, safety, gas choices, and more.
Foxx
Private
Private
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 5:58 pm

Mon Jun 08, 2009 10:22 am

I have a question, as the topic indicates, about projectile tumbling. The ammo I am using is some candy similar to gum drops that fit perfectly in the barrel, but I have noticed that when shooting at ~25 feet and over, the projectiles occasionally curve, sometimes by a lot. Any idea how this could be corrected?

This is a pic of my gun

Image Image[/img]
User avatar
jackssmirkingrevenge
Five Star General
Five Star General
Posts: 26179
Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:28 pm
Has thanked: 543 times
Been thanked: 321 times

Donating Members

Mon Jun 08, 2009 10:26 am

Foxx wrote:Any idea how this could be corrected?
Er... by shooting something that is not candy?
Foxx
Private
Private
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 5:58 pm

Mon Jun 08, 2009 10:29 am

what would you suggest as an ammo? I live in a city, so the candy was the best yet least deadly ammo. I can't really go around shooting marbles.
User avatar
starman
Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major
United States of America
Posts: 3027
Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2007 12:45 am
Location: Simpsonville, SC

Donating Members

Mon Jun 08, 2009 10:30 am

Your projectile is catching friction in the barrel and causing it to spin. Eliminate the friction point and you should have better results.

Also, you might add a backspin hop-up to the muzzle to help counteract other spin the barrel or inconsistant ammo may induce.
User avatar
mark.f
Sergeant Major 4
Sergeant Major 4
Eritrea
Posts: 3627
Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 11:18 am
Location: The Big Steezy
Has thanked: 52 times
Been thanked: 53 times
Contact:

Donating Members

Mon Jun 08, 2009 10:34 am

Or, try lollipops, if you want to use candy. The stick would stabilize the projectile in flight.
Foxx
Private
Private
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 5:58 pm

Mon Jun 08, 2009 10:39 am

I don't think hop up will work simply because the projectile is not a sphere.
User avatar
spudmanb3
Private 3
Private 3
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:24 pm

Mon Jun 08, 2009 10:46 am

Shoot the cany up and catch it in your mouth! Just kidding, if you have a half inch barrel use nerf darts- they shoot well and are non-deadly.
Foxx
Private
Private
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 5:58 pm

Mon Jun 08, 2009 10:50 am

good idea. thanks
User avatar
Technician1002
Captain
Captain
Posts: 5189
Joined: Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:10 am

Mon Jun 08, 2009 11:41 am

Foxx wrote:what would you suggest as an ammo? I live in a city, so the candy was the best yet least deadly ammo. I can't really go around shooting marbles.
In town where I may loose rounds, I use marshmallows. They go away in a good rain without leaving litter of wrappers or plastic. Unfortunately they curve all the time in an unpredictable pattern.
Last edited by Technician1002 on Tue Jun 09, 2009 2:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
THUNDERLORD
Sergeant 3
Sergeant 3
Posts: 1264
Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 1:42 pm

Mon Jun 08, 2009 12:09 pm

The title reminded me of the stupid movie called "Wanted" IIRC, with Angelina Jolie, and the black dude from "Shawshank redemption",
where the assassins had a (fictional) technique to curve pistol projectiles.
Good action vid if you're in a silly mood.

There are firework stars that can turn 90 degrees at a certain distance.
But that's against the rules to say more on that.

Yeah, only candy I've thought of shooting is shot loads of wet gummi-bears, so they will stick to funny places up high and such.

Pretty awesome launcher, it has a large C:B ratio. You could shoot arrows at stuff.
But for non-lethal, maybe plain wire nuts would work.
I like "Buchanon" or "Ideal" brand.
Looks like yellow or red for that diameter.
You might need to sleeve the barrel with brass tubing or something.
A certain red buchanon wire-nut fit 1/2 electrical EMT conduit snug, the thinwall EMT is seamed, but can handle sprinkler valve pressure.

They make Red one with fins for easier tightening by hand onto wires, but the thing is, the fins are spiraled like rifled projectiles even! (have'nt tried one yet)
If you make a wire-nut barrel, You could shoot non-lethal, plain wire-nuts OR epoxy the wire-nuts to the back of darts, OR put a bolt through, thread a nut inside the skirt and a nut outside and sharpen the tip, OR use arrow head field tips and thread them onto a nut inside the wire nut. 8)
-----SPEED,STRENGTH, AND ACCURACY.-----
"Procrastination" is five syllables for "Sloth".
Theopia 8)
Born To Be Alive!
Night Hawk
Private 2
Private 2
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:16 pm

Mon Jun 08, 2009 1:33 pm

Rifle the barrel?
jimmy101
Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major
United States of America
Posts: 3197
Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2007 9:48 am
Location: Greenwood, Indiana
Has thanked: 5 times
Been thanked: 15 times
Contact:

Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:14 pm

Night Hawk wrote:Rifle the barrel?
Or spin the gun. :roll:
Image
Night Hawk
Private 2
Private 2
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:16 pm

Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:27 pm

you could make a cork with two screws and a flight on the back and fire it down...... that would produce some rifleing.
User avatar
pizlo
Corporal 3
Corporal 3
Posts: 783
Joined: Fri Dec 22, 2006 7:27 pm
Contact:

Mon Jun 08, 2009 6:01 pm

Night Hawk wrote:
Rifle the barrel?

Or spin the gun. Rolling Eyes

EPIC WIN!
I like shooting nerf darts, and also bananas cut to size like potatoes, great splat.
User avatar
Technician1002
Captain
Captain
Posts: 5189
Joined: Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:10 am

Tue Jun 09, 2009 2:05 am

pizlo wrote:Night Hawk wrote:
Rifle the barrel?

Or spin the gun. Rolling Eyes

EPIC WIN!
I like shooting nerf darts, and also bananas cut to size like potatoes, great splat.
I've had very poor luck with bananas. I tend to just get banana spray more than anything that looks like a projectile. It may work at greatly reduced pressure. I'll have to try it.
Post Reply