Airsoft grenade launcher/mortar? /not yet started/

[Mc Frown]

So I have an idea, despite spring being so frowned upon. I don't know if it would give enough power so I'm looking for some feedback. The caulking gun compresses the spring, which is released by pulling out the metal bar that is wedged inbetween the two holes in the PVC. I could cut a hemispehere out of the PVC as opposed to two holes to make removal easier. I might opt toward Pneumatic or mini combustion. The ammo is a Baking Soda/Vinegar combo grenade. I'm not sure what to use as a shell, but I'm thinking 'Mr. Bubbles' bubble stuff containers. I'm posting my ideas for designs on all three fronts, but I'm mostly interested in feedback regarding the spring powered variant.
Thanks ;]

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/oo12 ... 1297571975

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/oo12 ... 1297577137

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Do you mean using the spring to directly fire the grenade?

It could work, but to be honest I don't think it would go farther than you could throw it.

The French used a spring powered grenade launcher in the first world war, but it was a little bulkier

[Mc Frown]

Yeah, I realize it wouldn't serve much purpose, but if it got enough distance the cool factor would be worth it for me (the parts would only cost like $20).
Hucking baking soda/vinegar water bottle grenades gets stale :V

I could also turn around and make this into a mortar, although I think I'd go with pneumatic on that end.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

The thing is that even with a basic combustion (tube sealed at one end) like this oneyou're going to get a lot more range for a lighter, more practical launcher.

Regarding the grenade itself, the force of firing itself is likely to start the vinegar/baking soda reaction, though I imagine there is enough delay for the grenade to reach the target before enough pressure builds up to rupture it.

[Mc Frown]

Yeah, I'd count on the reaction taking long enough that it would detonate on impact as opposed to launch, a problem which if it exists, the 'ziplock mod' may remedy. And I'd be thrilled if the spring gun could make it 120 or so feet.


Posting combustion random thoughts paper in a minute.

EDIT: Okay, so my biggest concern with a combustion grenade launcher is accidentally hitting someone with the undetonated shell ( I know these things are accurate enough to avoid this), but I also want it to go a reasonable distance for an airsoft field. Hence the 2" combustion chamber to 3" barrell. If this is a bad idea do tell. Also I wonder if a threaded end cap or one of those wingnut-centric rubber ABS plug things would be better as the chambers aerosol hole plug. The rubber plug thing seems quicker/more convenient but I don't know how much pressure it can hold.

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/oo12 ... 1297577137

[Lockednloaded]

I feel like I would never play airsoft with someone firing plastic bottles full of BBs out of a combustion cannon, its just not safe. With a mortar setup for airsoft, you'd be better off firing BB showers out of a low power launcher like this

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Yeah, I'd count on the reaction taking long enough that it would detonate on impact as opposed to launch, a problem which if it exists, the 'ziplock mod' may remedy. And I'd be thrilled if the spring gun could make it 120 or so feet.

You could throw a grenade 120 feet easily, besides an advancing enemy would overrun your position by the time the grenade reaction will generate enough pressure to blow it.

A combustion or pneumatic will allow you strategic grenading of a fortified position from a distance large enough to protect you from counter fire from airsoft guns.

Okay, so my biggest concern with a combustion grenade launcher is accidentally hitting someone with the undetonated shell

As long as your are firing on an indirect trajectory this shouldn't be an issue, a relatively light grenade partly filled with some liquid is hardly going to cause more serious injury than a high powered airsoft gun at close range.

I also want it to go a reasonable distance for an airsoft field.

The grenade is going to be inherently unstable, so some sort of fins and attention to centre of gravity would greatly increase range.

Hence the 2" combustion chamber to 3" barrel.

Why not just use a 3" tube capped on one end?

I feel like I would never play airsoft with someone firing plastic bottles full of BBs out of a combustion cannon

Where's your sense of adventure

[Mc Frown]

@Lock: LOL (legitimate laughter), I feel most people would feel the same way you do, hence my original spring deign. And I'm unsure as to why you made the chamber with the pressure gauge on it so long, don't you just lose power?

@Jack: I'm not super serious about airsoft as a hobby, so it'd mostly be for recreational play. Although combustion seems a lot more appealing. And the 2" -> 3" as opposed to just the 3" was to help reduce power a tad, although I'm not sure if that's totally necessary or at all useful.
And I didn't include this in my drawing but I was planning on tying streamers on the neck of the water bottles or something similar to tail stabilize it (which would work fine I'm sure).


And do you reccomend a threaded end cap (I have a 2" barrell potato cannon with one of these already), or the rubber sealed wingnut thing (I forget what they're called, hah).

I've already sort of ruled out pneumatic in my head (although it'd be alright for a mortar).

[LovableAirGuns]

have you tried this video?

[Mc Frown]

Oh my that's similar.
The video though was so uncaptivating I couldn't even tell how it fired :V

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

I'm not super serious about airsoft as a hobby, so it'd mostly be for recreational play.

Right you are, sorry for playing armchair general

And the 2" -> 3" as opposed to just the 3" was to help reduce power a tad, although I'm not sure if that's totally necessary or at all useful.

Keeping a single tube as barrel and chamber gives you the option of varying power by moving the position of the projectile, which alters your C:B ratio.

And I didn't include this in my drawing but I was planning on tying streamers on the neck of the water bottles or something similar to tail stabilize it (which would work fine I'm sure).

Not the most aerodynamic solution in the world but it will work.

And do you reccomend a threaded end cap (I have a 2" barrell potato cannon with one of these already), or the rubber sealed wingnut thing (I forget what they're called, hah).

As long as it can take the pressure it shouldn't make a difference.

Also, boo to static guard!

[clemsonguy1125]

Ive messed around with baking soda and vinigar in bottles. Id add them both put the cap on and chuck it at the ground. The bottle typically didnt explode the cap blew off. The bottle would fly about 75 feet in random directions. I got hit by the bottle a couple times and trust me you wouldnt want to get hit in the face with one of those.

[Gun Freak]

If you want to make an m203 for airsoft, make it a 1/2" barrel, and 1.25" chamber coaxial that fires shells. I've designed one but never got to build it. It was going to go on my M16. link to m16

[Mc Frown]

Ive messed around with baking soda and vinigar in bottles. Id add them both put the cap on and chuck it at the ground. The bottle typically didnt explode the cap blew off. The bottle would fly about 75 feet in random directions. I got hit by the bottle a couple times and trust me you wouldnt want to get hit in the face with one of those.

I never had this problem ever?
I put in very limited amounts of baking soda/vinegar in, and sealed the top extremely tight (occasionally with teflon tape).


And Jack, how well would a smaller combustion such as the one in the video shoot a water bottle?

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

And Jack, how well would a smaller combustion such as the one in the video shoot a water bottle?

You mean the tennis ball launcher? I never tried it for distance but as it is it should send a tennis ball well past 120 feet, in practice if I wanted better performance I would make it significantly longer which would increase velocity considerably.