[HCARC] Compressed Air Gun - Antenna Launcher

[Gary J - N5BAA]

Has anyone ever made or used a PVC compressed air gun for shooting line over trees for putting up antennas??  I have solved all the parts including a rubber tire valve already installed into a PVC pipe cap and have some 1/2 inch PVC that has a smaller inner diameter than the stuff sold at Lowes, which just happens to perfectly fit some 3/4 ounce steel egg shaped fishing sinkers available at WalMart.  The sinkers are almost a perfect fit for the 1/2 inch PVC.  I am using a 3/4 inch PVC in-line valve for the trigger.  The one model I have seen in QST costs about $65.00 for $10 bucks worth of parts.  I plan to pump the  15-18 inch long 3 inch diameter PVC reservoir with between 70-100 psi of air.  The PVC is rated for 600 lbs pressure if I remember correctly, so my working pressures should be safe.  I am not sure how long to make the barrel for maximum muzzle velocity - assuming I want maximum muzzle velocity, since I don’t want to launch the bullet all the way to the next county – just over a 50 + foot tree.

All of the PVC was purchased at Lowes except for the 1/2 inch and I have enough to make almost anyone interested a barrel.   I’ll bring the gun to the next meeting (assuming it passes it’s beta testing of course) for general critique.  I am trying this method since most of attempts to utilize a slingshot have met with banged up fingers and a tendency for the sinker to curve to one side or another in flight due to the sinker being asymetrical.  The sinkers I am using are pretty regular in shape and hopefully will fly pretty straight.  Once the PVC air chamber is charged with air, all it takes between shots is a common hand tire pump to top off the pressure for the next shot.

Gary J
N5BAA