[GAdmin]

I was raised around firearms, my Dad was a LEO as where all my "Uncles" and my Grandparent owned a gun store and where constantly on the road going to gun shows. A little history to set the mood.

In my Tenth year on Christmas my Grandparents came over and had a box five foot in length. My grandfather gave me a wink, letting me know this was mine. I was excited as big boxes were a rarity from grandparents, they liked to give me socks and underwear, but this time is was something different (a rubber band gun if you don't know where this is headed due to the title).

We got done with dinner and I anxiously awaited the box, being forced to open the lesser presents first, each with an exasperated sense of disappointment as they were socks and under wear.

Then came the big box, I tore that thing open like a ... like a... I got nothing but it was quick and lo and behold a five M16 rubber band gun that held 25 shots at one time. It had one of those spinning wheels that allowed multiple bands and it came with a "going to hurt someone" quality of rubber-bands you just don't get from newspapers any more (the only other source of rubber bands I know of to this day).

It clearly said on the gun "Not for use by persons under the age of 16, DO NOT POINT AT PEOPLE". It's unfortunate, at the time I didn't understand capslock equaled a direct command (Thanks internet!) so I loaded it up eagerly and started going to town on the boxes that where being discarded as my siblings continued to open their socks and underwear with sighs.

My siblings are much younger than me, and I was a jerk of a kid.

My Brother came into my site, knowing this was a rubber-band gun, and having already been taught gun safety and allowed to roam with the .22 I was given the year before, I took aim, this was something different in my mind, this was only a rubber band gun.

Tap, tap, tap. "Screeeeeeeeeaaaaam", my brother hit the floor. Lucky for me (and him I suppose) I was about the size of my gun and it had dropped hitting him in the legs and forcing him to drop.

It was a couple of years before I got that gun back, and a couple of months till I was allowed possession of a firearm.

The next year we all got marshmallow shooters.

My Brother is one of if not my best friend... now that we are adults.

 

[Mapcinq]

Great story. I had a wooden rubber band pistol when I was younger, loved the thing. I had bought it a local fair, where the seller had a large rubber band machine gun. I would have loved to have that when I was a kid.

 

[GAdmin]

Great story. I had a wooden rubber band pistol when I was younger, loved the thing. I had bought it a local fair, where the seller had a large rubber band machine gun. I would have loved to have that when I was a kid.

I had a few of those too. They all ended up getting broken. When you are carrying them on you bicycle and fall they break.

 

[jfirecops]

I purchased my Dad a pistol version of those as a gag gift one Christmas, then I learned the gag was on me when he ignored the warning stickers and decided I was the only target he was willing to shoot.

 

[rivalarrival]

The next year we all got marshmallow shooters.

A couple years back, my family passed out little PVC marshmallow shooters. Us bigger "kids" decided to get to work with spare plumbing parts in the basement to make big-kid versions of the little-kid blow guns they passed out.

We took a large "tank" made of 4" pvc, a short piece of pipe for a barrel, and installed 3 valves between the two. (elbowed over for compact-ness) The first valve was the breech-block - we drilled a hole in the side of it to load a mini marshmallow. The second valve was the firing valve; it sealed off the charge chamber - a 6" piece of barrel pipe - and released the charge to the barrel. The third valve separated the charge chamber from the reservoir, a large piece of 4" pipe. To fire, you'd load the marshmallow and close the breech block, close the firing valve, open and close the charge valve to fill the charge chamber, then open the firing valve. We were able to get about 15 shots before needing to recharge the reservoir.


But I digress... We also had a previously built "carrot" gun with an 8-foot barrel. Smaller than a potato cannon, the barrel was about perfect for a regular-sized marshmallow. I shot my brother in the leg from about 10 feet away; he showed me a fist-sized bruise a few days later, about 7 seconds before he lit me up with his paintball gun.

 

[GAdmin]

I purchased my Dad a pistol version of those as a gag gift one Christmas, then I learned the gag was on me when he ignored the warning stickers and decided I was the only target he was willing to shoot.

Sounds like my dad.

A couple years back, my family passed out little PVC marshmallow shooters. Us bigger "kids" decided to get to work with spare plumbing parts in the basement to make big-kid versions of the little-kid blow guns they passed out.

We took a large "tank" made of 4" pvc, a short piece of pipe for a barrel, and installed 3 valves between the two. (elbowed over for compact-ness) The first valve was the breech-block - we drilled a hole in the side of it to load a mini marshmallow. The second valve was the firing valve; it sealed off the charge chamber - a 6" piece of barrel pipe - and released the charge to the barrel. The third valve separated the charge chamber from the reservoir, a large piece of 4" pipe. To fire, you'd load the marshmallow and close the breech block, close the firing valve, open and close the charge valve to fill the charge chamber, then open the firing valve. We were able to get about 15 shots before needing to recharge the reservoir.


But I digress... We also had a previously built "carrot" gun with an 8-foot barrel. Smaller than a potato cannon, the barrel was about perfect for a regular-sized marshmallow. I shot my brother in the leg from about 10 feet away; he showed me a fist-sized bruise a few days later, about 7 seconds before he lit me up with his paintball gun.

A marshmallow did that or a carrot?

 

[rivalarrival]

Sounds like my dad.



A marshmallow did that or a carrot?

Marshmallow. Regular-sized marshmallow, through an 8-foot barrel, charged from a 6-foot section of 4" PVC filled with air at ~140PSI... Yeah, air cannons are not to be trifled with. Our baseball gun lobbed baseballs on washcloth wadding almost 300 yards down range. Could easily shatter bones.

A carrot probably would have lodged in his leg.

Our mini cannons were much safer. You could feel the hit, but they didn't bruise or draw welts... unless you crammed the barrel full of marshmallows, "forgot" to close the middle valve and dumped the entire reservoir into the shot...

 

[GAdmin]

That's nuts. Was the marshmallow intact?

 

[rivalarrival]

That's nuts. Was the marshmallow intact?

A little smooshed, but basically intact, yeah. It was at very close range, two or three feet from the barrel. I couldn't believe it - if I'd known how much energy it could impart, I wouldn't have shot him with it. Air cannons deserve a fair bit of respect.

 

[GAdmin]

A little smooshed, but basically intact, yeah. It was at very close range, two or three feet from the barrel. I couldn't believe it - if I'd known how much energy it could impart, I wouldn't have shot him with it. Air cannons deserve a fair bit of respect.

That they do, I'm sure that's one of the reasons they are illegal.

 

[GAdmin]

No other time travelers?

 

[rivalarrival]

That they do, I'm sure that's one of the reasons they are illegal.

[Citation Needed]

I've yet to find any laws restricting pneumatic cannons in Ohio. Obviously, people can do stupid things with them that would be illegal, but I've yet to find anything saying they are generally illegal. They aren't federally regulated either.

Several states consider combustion-type spud guns to be firearms; Ohio isn't one of them and I'm referring to pneumatic, not combustion.

 

[jfirecops]

I could be wrong, but I was once told that spudguns falls under ATF jurisdiction since it is a explosion that propels the projectile.

 

[SxEdRuMmEr]

No gun needed

I once hit and killed a fly with a rubber band. I used that little make-a-handgun-with-your-thumb-and-forefinger method. Very "Top Shot" worthy. Made me think of Pat Morita, catching them with chopsticks.

Cool story though, reminded me of getting my first rifle, a Winchester 1890 "boy's rifle." Wasn't even wrapped though, just had a bow on it, as I'm sure the box was lost by my grandfather, its first owner. The ammo was wrapped though, didn't take long to find after a quick shake. Only noteworthy Christmas present I ever got from my dad.

 

[rivalarrival]

I could be wrong, but I was once told that spudguns falls under ATF jurisdiction since it is a explosion that propels the projectile.

Well, perhaps the Nuclear Regulatory Commission should regulate my spud guns since they are nuclear powered, not combustion-based. (nuclear > steam > electricity > air compressor)

The ATF stated:

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.

I suppose since I used marshmallows and carrots instead of potatoes in that particular cannon, I might have converted it to a "destructive device"

No, the ATF doesn't regulate spud guns, pumpkin guns, or cannons used for similar purposes any more than they regulate paintball guns.

 

[jfirecops]

Thanks for the info, so as long as I do not shoot someone, We are ok.

 

[Model22]

My first projectile weapon was a wrist rocket. My grandpa gave it to me to rob squirrels of our bird feed up in Oregon. Needless to say, stainless ball bearings do a hell of a job of population control on critters. Them damn rabbits didn't have a chance at Ol' Grampa's garden what so ever.

 

[chefrdw]

back to the future..

This thread most likely brings back allot of memories for some us.. I doubt most of my kids generation has never seen a rubber band or potato gun..

 

[jfirecops]

Yep, most of them are too busy playing video games. No more bottle rocket wars or the old Daisy single cock bb guns (the original air soft ) or any of the fun things we did growing up

 

[GAdmin]

This thread most likely brings back allot of memories for some us.. I doubt most of my kids generation has never seen a rubber band or potato gun..

Mine will. All the stuff I had fin with I'm making sure they get.

Next gun show I'm finding my four year old something she can handle.

I got her a cork gun for Christmas and she doesn't have the upper body strength to pop it yet.

I'm just using it to scare her mother when I'm sneaking around the house.