You'll put your eye out

February 21, 2007 10:23 AM

Before the repeating rifle, there was the repeating airgun.While most people consider the airgun a toy, it has an interesting history as a serious weapon. Now large bore airguns are seeing new interest amongst discerning gun collectors and hunters of big game.
posted by mock (9 comments total)

Of course it’s a serious weapon. Especially with some diapers.
posted by Smedleyman at 10:32 AM on February 21, 2007

Damn the waiting period! You've bogarted my first post...

If you've an interest in airguns, or have a deep, geeky love of technical and engineering blogs that really, really know their stuff, the blog run by premier purveyor of pneumatic projectile products, Pyramid Air is worth hours of your attention: Pyramid Air Report. The blog's author answers questions in the comments, even on posts from years back.

(It's also written psuedonymously by the only professional journalist covering the airgun beat in a misguided attempt to avoid conflicts of interest, which is entertaining. )
posted by Slap*Happy at 10:39 AM on February 21, 2007

*bang!*

ow, quitit
posted by quarter waters and a bag of chips at 10:55 AM on February 21, 2007

That Pyramyd Air blog is awesome, but not nearly dangerous enough. Behold, probably the worst idea ever in all it's awesomeness.

I am so gonna build this.
posted by mock at 10:56 AM on February 21, 2007

One of my fondest memory's from my misspent youth was building a inch and a half bore pvc pneumatic spud gun. 80 psi in the reservoir hooked up to an automatic sprinkler valve was enough to launch an unsuspecting tuber 400 feet+ Not bad for plumbing parts.
posted by Pink Fuzzy Bunny at 11:46 AM on February 21, 2007

Powerful, modern, silenced, 9mm PCP airguns are being used by U.S. Seals in Iraq to snipe at insurgents. Firing an M-16 at dawn or dusk could attract a lot of return fire to the flash point.

wow
posted by caddis at 12:34 PM on February 21, 2007

Nice post, mock. This page on the beemans site is really cool, as it actually shows the mechanics of the thing.
posted by cog_nate at 1:23 PM on February 21, 2007

this is really fascinating.
posted by headless at 4:57 PM on February 21, 2007

I've always wanted to build a Girandoni styled air rifle, but I suspect it would end badly for all involved. High pressure air and large caliber bearings just seem like a recipe for holes in my basement walls.
posted by quin at 5:51 PM on February 21, 2007