Potato Cannons

[Drjfiremedic]

This is way off topic so it should fit well in this group.

We always built potato guns/cannons growing up and have always heard different stories on what the law actually is pertaining to these. I have started building another one, just to have something to mess around with.

Simple pipe barrel and chamber with a bbq igniter and fueled by hairspray.

So my question is: Are these things legal or illegal?

Its just something fun to mess around with and abunch of my friends around here have them but I have always heard both sides of the fence on the topic so I just want to stay on the right side of the law... And have fun...

[speedsix]

...sounds like a ton of good, clean fun...so it's probably illegal...
...as a teen, I got creative with pipes and marbles and gunpowder...till my grandpa banned me from his garden with my little toys...no doubt about that having been illegal...

[Drjfiremedic]

Yeah we used to do dumb things with potato guns when I was alot younger. Such as putting all sorts of shrapnel on top of the potato. Since then, wiser brain cells have prevailed and I don't even use spuds anymore. I use the little foam/rubber balls kids play games with. A lot softer in the wake of any mishaps.

[scref]

My son has one that he made out of PVC pipe. It is a lot of fun to shoot, haven't had any problems with LEO yet.....

[Drjfiremedic]

I would not be worried about it if I were just planning to use it right here on my property. The thing I am wondering about is if I traveled with it in the bed of my pickup on the way to my buddies land and were to get stopped, How would the LEO feel about it.

Maybe one will come along and let us all know

[Keith B]

A spud gun is legally a firearm in Texas. TPC 46.01 defines firearm as:

'(3) "Firearm" means any device designed, made, or adapted to expel a projectile through a barrel by using the energy generated by an explosion or burning substance or any device readily convertible to that use...

So, since a spud gun uses an explosion to propel the projectile, then it is a firearm and you have to follow firearms laws for use. This means a city can control the discharge of the firearm within it's jurisdiction.

[WildBill]

A spud gun is legally a firearm in Texas. TPC 46.01 defines firearm as:

'(3) "Firearm" means any device designed, made, or adapted to expel a projectile through a barrel by using the energy generated by an explosion or burning substance or any device readily convertible to that use...

So, since a spud gun uses an explosion to propel the projectile, then it is a firearm and you have to follow firearms laws for use. This means a city can control the discharge of the firearm within it's jurisdiction.

Legally, it doesn't matter if it's lead or french fries coming out of the barrel.

[ELB]

So if it's going to be a short-barrelled spud gun, don't forget to get your $200 tax stamp from Uncle Sam....

[speedsix]

...with the legal definition, crammin' a spud or a snowball up the tailpipe of a school bus means you just created a firearm...life ain't much fun anymore...

[scref]

...with the legal definition, crammin' a spud or a snowball up the tailpipe of a school bus means you just created a firearm...life ain't much fun anymore...

Those were the good 'ol days

[Carry-a-Kimber]

Wiki Link

[AlphaWhiskey]

You can accomplish much of the same thing with a compressed air set up that does not fall under the definition of a firearm. You may perhaps fall under airguns, and they may very well also be regulated by your local jurisdiction, but not a firearm. They are just as easy to make and fun to use as the hairspray powered ones and may even be safer if you build it correctly.

[jimlongley]

One morning a fellow telephone tech was demonstrating his new tennis ball launcher in the garage parking lot. He sprayed the "White Rain" into the combustion chamber of his assemblage of soldered together tin cans, blew into the hole to refine the air/fuel mixture, and applied flame from a lighter. With a satisfying "whoomp" the tennis ball arced into the vacant lot next door. He repeated this three times, but on the fourth shot, something went wrong.

When he applied the flame, instead of "whoomp" he got a muffled "poof" and the tennis ball went nowhere.

And then he commented that: "Gee, that kind of hurts." while looking at what remained of his left little finger, which had been mostly excised as a result of the can he was holding splitting along the seam. The finger was not saved and the company docked his pay for the work that he missed as a result. Seems that sick time can't be paid when caused by "misadventure."

[MadMonkey]

Wouldn't a potato gun fall under similar rules to blackpowder muzzle loaders?

[Keith B]

Wouldn't a potato gun fall under similar rules to blackpowder muzzle loaders?

Black powder muzzle loaders are still firearms.