spring powered gun questions

[gotbass7]

is it possible to make one? like an airsoft gun? and if it is, is it extremely hard? id appreciate any answers suggestions or whatever.

[turbohacker]

I tried once and it had horrible performance and kept binding up, however with the proper construction im sure you could get some decent result out of it

[gotbass7]

you probably have more experience then me though.all ive done are three combustive guns. but i do know a lot about making things and how things work. i want to make a paintball gun, and i figured how one would work with compressed air but i dont think i can use it for embarassing reasons

[paaiyan]

Well the thing about the spring is, the more power it has, the harder it is to reset every time. You could rig it to be an autococker with a CO2 setup, but then you might as well go gas-powered anyway. Springs work, but they're inconvenient.

[gotbass7]

ok. i have a co2 tank but it would be really hard to use. not because its hard to install, but the guy at the paintball store told my parents its a bomb. luckily i got this one for free. and its empty. but refillable. but would it be possible to use spring for a paintball gun? and also, does anyone know where those animated paintball gun images are? where they show how they work?

[Redcoat]

yes it is possible.If you want to i suggest you get an old bike pump buy an airgun spring and insert into the old bike pump lube it up (splooshing noises) and add a barrel load it and voila.

[gotbass7]

i kinda understand what your saying but it also doesnt really seem clear.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

id appreciate any answers suggestions or whatever.

I suggest you forget it and make a pneumatic. In order to get decent power, you need a powerful spring and strong construction to support it, so unless you have access to high grade steel and a machine shop, you're not going to have much success.

Even looking at commercially produced airguns, springers rarely produce more than 35 ft/lbs while pneumatics go well over 1,000 ft/lbs.

[spud yeti]

OK, if you want to make a spring powered paintball gun, you have to remember that paintballs break easily...really easily! I started making a spring gun once but just gave up becaue the stronger your spring is, the harder it is to pull back, and it doesnt even give great results unless its on something miniature like a plastic bb gun.
I agree with jack, go pneumatic! Its really fun!

On the topic of co2 tanks, I strongly suggest you take the top off and use it as an air chamber, not for co2, because of the risks/dangers of co2. Look on the pneumatic page and there are some guys that did that. Works well too apparently.
Link to the page: http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/viewtop ... 5f3a5f358c

[gotbass7]

maybe ill do that. i just dont wanna build something thats extremely dnagerous. not in the shooting sense but ike what happens to the holder of it

[spud yeti]

Yeah, I think that if you build a pneumatic properly, I think the spring idea could be more dangerous!
But seriously, if you use proper materials and build it well, there shouldnt be a problem! (if youre really nervous, just keep your pressure low!)

[Hotwired]

You don't really want to mess with high power springs like the ones in springer air rifles.

They can do nasty stuff if they unexpectedly get released.

Like crushing a finger.

Compressed air is more forgiving than hardened steel

[paaiyan]

I concurr with the others, just stick to a pneumatic. THey're more powerful, more reliable, and easier to make. WIth all that going on there's really no reason to make a spring-powered one.

[gotbass7]

ok. thank you, everyone for your help