Complete text -- "How to Make a tiny Zipgun"
Posted Tuesday 17 April 2007
How to Make a tiny Zipgun
Henrietta, Texas, 1958: Billy Ray Johnson showed me how. You'll need a shotgun shell, a bicycle spoke, a kleenex, and some matches. Follow these instructions at your own risk.Open the paper end of the shotgun shell -- carefully -- and take out the shot and the charge of gunpowder. Do not strike or mess with the firing cap on the metal end, because it can explode.
On one end of the bicycle spoke is a little knob, and on the other a removable sleeve. On the end with the knob, curl the spoke around to make a handle you can hold. On the other end, unscrew the sleeve and then screw it back reversed, but only screw it on about a quarter-inch. This will give you a tiny barrel sticking out.
Fill the barrel most of the way with gunpower, then wrap a bit of kleenex around one of the shot and push it into the barrel.
Hold the mini-zipgun facing away from yourself and everybody else. Outside, and clear of any pets is best. Heat the barrel with a match. Soon the gunpower will explode, shooting the shot somewhere. There is no telling where it will actually go.
Caution: the mini-zipgun is not a good choice for law enforcement or big-game hunting.
Comments
concerned parent wrote:
I really think this is a bad a very bad idea. Because it teaches kids to kill somebody or hurt somebody really really bad so i think you should want to teach kids good ideas not bad ones like this one so i think you really should get this off of there before i report this site to the police this is a very bad thing your doing teaching kids how to make weapons like this it is so wrong so very very very wrong. I just thought you should know that.
06/12/04 20:09:19
bloggard wrote:
Hi, concerned parent,
You really need to read this story a bit more carefully. I think you will realize that your initial impression was not completely accurate.
This article does not tell how to make a true zipgun, which is much larger, uses completelly different materials and bullets, and has the ability to hurt somebody. This small gadget described here is less deadly than a common firecracker. I think you could shoot my body 1-12 times with one of these, and I wouldn't care much. It might sting, maybe.
Of course, one should always use care with explosive devices, even tiny ones. Especially if one is not reading instructions carefully, or if one is not thinking clearly.
I understand your concern, but I cannot imagine this device causing death. Maybe to an ant, if you could hit him with the tiny zipgun.
If you continue to feel concerned, then I'd think it is your duty to report me to the police. Perhaps that would be the best thing to do. Any officers needing to contact me can find my phone number elsewhere on this site.
You really need to read this story a bit more carefully. I think you will realize that your initial impression was not completely accurate.
This article does not tell how to make a true zipgun, which is much larger, uses completelly different materials and bullets, and has the ability to hurt somebody. This small gadget described here is less deadly than a common firecracker. I think you could shoot my body 1-12 times with one of these, and I wouldn't care much. It might sting, maybe.
Of course, one should always use care with explosive devices, even tiny ones. Especially if one is not reading instructions carefully, or if one is not thinking clearly.
I understand your concern, but I cannot imagine this device causing death. Maybe to an ant, if you could hit him with the tiny zipgun.
If you continue to feel concerned, then I'd think it is your duty to report me to the police. Perhaps that would be the best thing to do. Any officers needing to contact me can find my phone number elsewhere on this site.
06/13/04 15:54:07
C Dorris wrote:
The construction of any device which is capable of firing any projectile by any propellant means, including but not limited to, mechanical means, compressed air or any explosive/ combustible chemical compound, without a valid license to do so, constitutes a felony under the Firearms Control Act of 1968. In addition, whatever state you reside in probably has a similar statute as most do. You may also consider that by virtue of the form of igition to which you resort, your "zipgun" may constitute a destructive device under laws governing Class C devices. Finally, Federal Law and virtually every state law says that any device constructed to perform as a firearm must have the appearance of a firearm to the end that a reasonable and prudent person will understand that the device is indeed a firearm. If I were you, I would be very careful about exposing myself to prosecution by:
1. Constructing such a device, of any
size or configuration.
2. Promoting such construction. Under the new Patriot Act provisions, you may be guilty of a number of offenses.
A word to the wise.....
1. Constructing such a device, of any
size or configuration.
2. Promoting such construction. Under the new Patriot Act provisions, you may be guilty of a number of offenses.
A word to the wise.....
10/06/04 09:31:07
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