Cannon energy contest

[psycix]

Q tips aren't consistent enough. We all have different brands with different weight, length, toughness and other factors. Also there is some difference between two identical Q tips, they are not designed to be constant. BB's are.

And, there is no true spudgunner that will regret buying a bag of BB's. You will always find some use for it. Be it a for BB launcher, cloud/vortex, or for a simple buckshot from a larger gun.

[inonickname]

Ok; where do we draw the line between complete scientific accuracy and giving anyone a fair go? I'm not going to spend $30 on a shipment of airsoft bb's to prove my gun works.

Another up for Q-tips; they will fit a multitude of barrel sizes with flaring out, squishing etc.

[Technician1002]

Ok; where do we draw the line between complete scientific accuracy and giving anyone a fair go? I'm not going to spend $30 on a shipment of airsoft bb's to prove my gun works.

Another up for Q-tips; they will fit a multitude of barrel sizes with flaring out, squishing etc.

I don't have any cannons that small.. Is launching the box full OK?

[psycix]

Another down for Q-tips:
Q tips just look so wimpy.

Imagine this conversation:
"Hey man whats your hobby?"
"Oh I build pneumatic cannons"
"Sounds awesome, are your cannons powerful?"
"Yeah they launch projectiles very far and very fast, over 200 or even 300 m/s!"
"Wow cool! What do you launch? Marbles, paintballs, lead sinkers, ball bearings....??"
"No, just Q-tips"
"Ehh.. what?"


Just find a good source and buy a box of BB's. Its worth it. By the way, to advance in spudding, you will have to approach some "scientific accuracy".

[inonickname]

I have done plenty of scientifically accurate tests in regards to launching projectiles. However, I believe that a Q-tip has plenty of accuracy to compare amateur projectile launching devices for comparison on an internet forum.

"Hey man whats your hobby?"
"Oh I build pneumatic cannons"
"Sounds awesome, are your cannons powerful?"
"Yeah they launch projectiles very far and very fast, over 200 or even 300 m/s!"
"Wow cool! What do you launch? Marbles, paintballs, lead sinkers, ball bearings....??"
"No, just Q-tips"
"Ehh.. what?"

I've had similar responses to my q-tip gun. Hell, some of them even offer to let me shoot them with it. Their mind soon changes when a q-tip splits the can in half.

over 200 or even 300 m/s

In fact, my last simulation exceed 400 meters per second with air alone. It would go up a LOT with hydrogen. (yes, there are factors which are causing that level of velocity).
With 13.4 ft/lbs of muzzle energy. These cotton buds would be illegal in the UK without a firearms licence.

Q tips just look so wimpy.

Ok, so you cower in fear when someone threatens to shoot you with a colorful plastic bead?

If it's one of the contest requirements, I may just purchase some bb's. Hell, I could get more performance given the .1mm increase in o.d. and available in lesser weights (I average a pack of Q-tips at 0.2g).

If I must spend money to prove myself on the internet...Then bring it on

[Technician1002]

Reminds me of spectators to some serious marshmallow contesting. One of the guys I shoot with has gone supersonic with marshmallows. I'll be there soon. 100 PSI is just a little short. I am fast enough to bust open soda cans and dent car doors with marshmallows.

[CpTn_lAw]

Well, Q-tips are not really that strong...I just shot one at 150 psi in the piston rifle...well, it is no more (or at least, it would require a lot of speleological searching in the garage to find all the bits ^^)

I'd go for BB's... 400 psi, 0.2 gram BB!

[Moonbogg]

LOL@ launching box full of BBs. Count me in!

[Technician1002]

LOL@ launching box full of BBs. Count me in!

If you want to impress spectators, launch a couple rolls of adding machine tape at very high speed.

[john bunsenburner]

Haha, i just thought of something that should be uniform on most countries...Condoms!!!

Anyway, it sounds like a good idea, but i don't know about the organisation, lots to work on. But looks good. I still don't know if we have a non- pneumatic/combustion/hybrid contest or not...

Anyway keep discussing, this might become intresting!

[psycix]

Haha, i just thought of something that should be uniform on most countries...Condoms!!!

Nehh, in our country the condoms are much larger...

[Ragnarok]

I still don't know if we have a non- pneumatic/combustion/hybrid contest or not...

Not entirely sure. If they are included, it's going to have to be a different category.

I'd personally like to know that we're not just going to see everyone just go in that direction and reduce the competition to a simple matter of size over actual design.

[psycix]

The idea of using a velocity contest for the same projectile cancels out the size factor significantly.
An high pressure and a good valve are more important.

EDIT:
I think we should ban burstdisks for all pneumatics. No innovation to find there.

[Moonbogg]

I say screw innovation and go for velocity. We already had a huge innovation contest and we all saw how that turned out.

EDIT: If one wants to build a cannon with a Ø12" chamber and sabbot a BB, so be it.

[Hotwired]

I think we should ban burstdisks for all pneumatics. No innovation to find there.

I disagree.