A visit from the sherriff...

[Pete Zaria]

This afternoon I was firing off my spudgun while BBQing some steaks for dinner. About half an hour later, sitting down to dinner with my parents, my doorbell rang, and who could it be but the local Sherriff.
He said my neighbors were complaining about gunfire. I told him it wasn't a gun, but a potato cannon. He asked to see it, so I got out my spudgun and launched one of Idaho’s finest into a tree. He thought it was hilarious, and went back to my neighbor's house to tell them that it's not a gun, but a potato cannon.
He also told me that as long as I don't launch any flaming or explosive projectiles, or shoot it at someone or someone's property, it's perfectly legal. He also reminded me that I can't fire it after 10PM or before 7AM, according to local noise laws.

I just thought you all might get a kick out of this. Also, I'd suggest that everyone print up a copy of the BATF's letter regarding spudguns, just incase the police ever show up at your door. Here's a link to it: http://www.uweb.ucsb.edu/~mschaus/potat ... legal.html

Peace,
Pete Zaria.

[Jakal444]

So essentially you have police permission to fire off cannons with no strings attached.

Thats brilliant, I wish all law enforcment the world over to be that open-minded.

[PCGUY]

Sounds like a cop doing his job correctly.
But really a gun sounds totally different than a cannon...

[sgort87]

I beg to differ. Do you remember my "Effin Launcher"? 46" of 4" pipe as the chamber. That thing is LOUD and sounds just like a gun.

[CS]

I can at least. When your projecile leaves the barrel how much PSI is being realesed? 100PSI tops. When you got something pushed by thousands of PSI there is a extremly high pitched sound, while a potato cannon is a lower pitched "BOOM". Although it could be argued that both of them are f*ckin' loud and couldnt here the difference because you blew your ear drums .

[shockwave]

Whats the highest pressure that can build up in a simple deodorant gun? I heard its around 30, but that sounds way too little.

[Jakal444]

Sounds like a cop doing his job correctly.
But really a gun sounds totally different than a cannon...

True, law enforcement should realize that like every other hobby there will always be abusers however the common individual building spudguns is usually quite a safety concsious person. I mean someone smart enough to build a hybrid or pneumatic is not dumb enough to risk there life or want to attract undue attention.

[rna_duelers]

30-50-60 depends who you talks to.

[Pete Zaria]

Spudguns do sound quite a bit like shotguns or maybe black powder rifles, but I agree, they sound nothing like most guns. As to the pressure of combustion cannons, I've never heard of a combustion gun going above 90 PSI. I'll be installing a pressure gauge on my next combustion gun.

I think the sherriff handled it quite well. I agree that most law enforcement officals should be more open-minded.

The more people that hurt someone or something with a spudgun, the harsher the laws will become. So on that note, do your best to not be stupid with your cannon

I really think we should all print up a copy of the BATF's letter incase we ever get a visit from the local police.

Peace,
Pete Zaria.

[jrrdw]

Thats kinda funny, sounds like some of the "people" i used to live around. The kind of "people" that would call the cops at the drop of a dime! I didn't know you moved to my old town, lol. Well gentelmen, i think i'll dig a little deeper into my area's local laws, because now i'm old enough to do time for dropping that "dime".

[Benny]

my neibours think my cannon is cool.

[noname]

I have a guy across the creek in my backyard whos building a house. So tempting. It's OK though because I only shot it with water balloons and paintballs, no taters or baseballs or marbles.

[Mini Khan]

explosians can get up to 1.4 million psi while the 500 S&W gets up to about 50,000 psi, and a spud gun no more than 100 psi. fact of the day

[)DEMON(]

Where do you get these facts, do you pull them out your ass?,mabey you can give a link.

[Mihlrad]

lol this is like the time someone called the cops on us having some fun with airsoft guns, the cops came saw they were fake guns and started shooting each other with them.