SpudFiles

Since the Coke bottle arrow launchers work so well, I decided to improve on the concept.

Next project is a full blown sniper rifle. Air tank is a 1" steel tube, 20cm in length, with screwed on end caps. Schrader valve on one end, solenoid 1/2" valve on the other end. 100ml capacity.

Wasn't easy to make it air tight at 300 psi, but with lots of teflon tape and brute force I got it done.

As a tube barrel, I used a stainless steel tube this time for more stability. To optimize the air flow, I threaded one end so the inner diameter (6mm) is free all the way.

Tested it already w/o any shaft, the power is really nice.

Since the solenoid valve is activated by a switch rather than a lever, I am totally free in the shape of the weapon. Will try to make a bullpup.

Started today, here are some build pics.

This is as far as I got today...

Pretty complete. Lead battery is secured behind a removable plate. The system is clamped in with wedges that center it perfectly well. Rock solid.

Due to the heavy tube and valve plus battery this is a well maneuverable weapon... no weight on the front, all on the butt side.

Scope attachment and paint job will follow.

I want this to look really, really cool!

Looks great so far! The wood work is very nice as always

I'm curious how well the electronic valve will function. For such a small caliber it will probably be fine, especially since the valve appears to be and indirect acting diaphragm valve... Looking forward to seeing this one fire

Weapon is fairly complete now, shoots great! Low scope mount, just the way I like it. It is still a small gun, but it packs a punch.

Now, beautification.

Joerg - it appears your photos are not available to those not subscribed to your forum

OK, finished the weapon.

Stock is fully painted, scope is sighted in. Now I am waiting for a new pump - for bike shocks. Goes up to 600 psi! I hope to reach 200 fps with that. That would be 65 Joule.

http://www.ebay.de/itm/361046829447

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Looks great! Particularly like the hand grip/trigger guard. I can't really see on my phone but is it carved from a thick piece of wood or did you bond multiple layers of plywood? Was it difficult to get it shaped so perfectly?

Just my personal preference, but why did you choose not fully enclose the stock above the air reservoir?

Are these all guns you have previously made? If not you don't hang around

Joerg, what is the part number for that valve? I'm having trouble finding a suitable valve for high pressure.

I just started with pneumatic guns, because of legal issues. You need a gunsmith license (takes six years to get) if you want to make a legal air gun in Germany, but someone recently found a loophole in that law - if you shoot an arrow OVER the barrel and not THROUGH a barrel, then the weapon is not considered a gun and no restrictions apply.

The stock of this weapon is made from several layers of plywood so I could integrate the cabling for the solenoid valve.

The system is held in place by the two wooden blocks above the air reservoir, which in turn work like wedges, clamping in the thing 100%. No play at all. That is why I did not enclose the top of the reservoir.

Nice! Reminds me of the FX verminator that shoots arrows

Chamber looks a bit large for such a small barrel. Would you consider using a hammer valve instead of the solenoid valve? I like using valves from very old pre-charged nu-swift powder fire extinguishers. If you remove all the junk you basically have a very nice hammer valve that can easily take +30 bars.

You'd need to build a hammer mechanism, but if anyone could make that happen it would be you And they come with a built in pressure gauge which you can also remove to use the hole for filling the chamber.

Yes, the verminator was my inspiration. I actually visited the FXAirguns company in Sweden last year, and we shot the heck out of those arrow shooters.

FXAirguns paid for an official assessment by the BKA, Germany's highest ranking authority for gun classifications - and they concluded that such arrow shooters are legally not guns in Germany. They are "gun toys", completely unregulated. This assessment opened the door for my work, as I don't have a gunsmith license and can not legally make regular airguns.