furball wrote:I just want to make a basic air rifle that works, ya know? Something thats powerfull but simple.
Then I seriously suggest you try something with a QEV, because ball valves totally suck. No consistency, no accuracy, no power.
In short, a ball valve meets very few of your criteria.
Take this as an example.
The launcher design I whipped up for £72 total: 65 Joules of energy with a paintball, 84 J (Marble)
If I were to swap the QEV for a ball valve: 6.4 Joules (paintball), 11.5 J (marble).
A mere fraction of the energy, and you're certainly not getting that for a proportional cost. The design I cooked up (for which I am perfectly prepared to hand over the shopping lists and the plans for nothing - I can't make it any easier for you) is a very good cost to power ratio. You don't get a ratio like that for an air rifle or a ball valve launcher.
There is no coincidence that people never go back to ball valve launchers after they've used a QEV or piston valve. My best design is a full 30 times more powerful than any conventional air rifle you can get in the UK, and shoots pretty straight too (although it can't match an air rifle for that.)
Cost about £300, but damn, was it worth it.
It's more than an low end air rifle, but low end air rifles won't blow holes an inch across through 2mm plate steel.
You don't have to spend anything like £300, ever - you could have more than enough fun with less than half that. However, you need to spend enough to get a launcher that was worth it.
It's like anything. You can spend a small amount and get a piece of crap that's just a waste of your money, or spend twice as much and get something that's worth every penny.
I'm not telling you this because I'm a salesman trying to squeeze you for every penny. I'm telling you that because I've been there, and I know a lot more about what will be worth your while than you might believe. Spend a little more and get something that's really worth it that you can be proud of.
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