You may have heard of a potato gun before but there is also another option called the pneumatic cannon which is another term for a potato gun but it has some different qualities than the run of the mill potato gun.

The primary difference between a pneumatic cannon and a potato gun is the type of propellant that is used. With a potato gun petroleum based fuels are used where a pneumatic cannon uses compressed air to move the projectile from the mouth of the cannon. The pneumatic cannon is a bit more complicated that the average gun because of the need to keep everything airtight. The pneumatic cannon success is predicated on the ability to maintain a constant air pressure level.

Your pneumatic cannon will also need both a pressure release and filling valve for the compressed air to shot out of your pneumatic cannon with enough velocity to not only overcome gravity but hit the target. One of the most popular positions to hold a pneumatic cannon when firing it is like a Bazooka, on your shoulder so the source of the compressed air either from a CO2 cartridge or an portable air compressor.

Before you can load your pneumatic cannon for firing you need to make sure the system is totally air tight. Cover the cannon with warm soapy water and then lift it out and look for any leaks, If you see bubbles coming out then you have a leak and need to seal it.

Now that the pneumatic cannon has passed the first challenge of having an airtight chamber the next step is performing a test shot. Most pneumatic cannon enthusiast use a potato as their projectile of choice. The firmness of it and low cost presents many opportunities to fine tune your the distance and accuracy of your pneumatic cannon.

When in the field make sure to never point your pneumatic cannon towards anyone regardless if it is loaded or not. There have been reports of some pneumatic cannon reaching muzzle velocity of such great speed to cover 1,000 feet. So you can imagine the damage a person would feel with a projectile that has been shot over 1,000 feet.

Your first pneumatic cannon may reach or even exceed 1,000 feet of distance however the only way to achieve it is with tweaking it. When you change the amount of air being forced into the chamber and the positioning of the barrel even slightly it can have a significant difference on the results being generated.

Like all hobbies the building and use of a pneumatic cannon will give you hours of enjoyment. Since the options of creating the pneumatic cannon is only limited by your imagination and budget the results you get will be quite astonishing.

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Filed under: Pneumatic Cannon • Potato Guns

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