Back-yard Line-throwing gun

[Cat Whisperer]

One thing I've always wanted to build is  a line-throwing gun (miniature) for back-yard use.

There are so many times I've needed to get a rope up to the top of a tree (to be cut down) that a gun would be very handy.

I could see it with an attachment for an open-faced fishing reel with 20 lb test line!  That line could be used to haul a rope up that's bigger and that one used to haul up an even bigger rope.

Back-yard games could also be played.

[cannonmn]

My answer to that would probably be a shotgun in good condition (using blackpowder of course!!) with bore size as close to some common wood dowel size, with dowel a bit longer than bore.  Drill a transverse hole in part of dowel outside muzzle, tie line.  Wtih a few grains of Cannon grade, try one round.  May need to add some weight to front of dowel for stability.  Have fun. 

[lendi]

They are still being manufactured.  Here is the site
http://www.navalcompany.com/navalproducts.htm

Lendi

[Terry C.]

Although discontinued now, Smith & Wesson also made a line-throwing gun, which was a variation of their teargas/grenade-launcher.


A golfball with an eyelet screwed into it could be fired from a mortar.

I would think a lead cannonball sinker would be dangerous, due to the extreme weight.

[accuratemike]

Maybeout of the scope of this board but....HAM radio types use a tennis-ball pneumatic gun to shoot antenna wires up into trees, when out and about. There are commercial versions, with crazy prices. We all know what can be made for $37 worth of parts from Lowes, but like I said....
MIKE

http://www.antennalaunchers.com/antlaunching.html

[jeeper1]

Check out this
http://www.freewebs.com/grog/Line%20projo%20round.htm
for info on line throwing projectile construction. It is for 37 and 40 mm launchers but it can give you some great ideas and is readily adaptable to golf ball mortars and such.

[Cat Whisperer]

Such a wide variety!  THANKS for the input!

I think the caliber will be in the 1.5 to 3" range using golf-balls, tennis balls or something else user-friendly on the return trip to the earth.

Propellant HAS to be black powder (or substitute).

Lots of options - from mortar to hand-gonne with a fishing reel.

[dominick]

I built a tennis ball mortar for my father in-law with line throwing at trees in mind.  He hasn't had a need for it yet, but it's a lot of fun practicing. 

[GGaskill]

Something you might consider is the process used in launching modern rifle grenades, that is, instead of the traditional special cartridge (usually some type of blank), a normal ball round is used.  The body of the grenade is designed to trap the bullet and absorb its kinetic energy along with energy from the escaping propellant gas. 

As applied to a muzzle loading cannon type device, the line carrying piece would be cup shaped to trap the shot, and would either sit in a depression in the muzzle or, if the muzzle were of small enough diameter, sit surrounding the muzzle.  The amount of overlap between the muzzle and the cup would determine how much energy from the powder gas was captured.

[lance]

Tim, i still have plenty of hanging tree branches from the ice storm, hurry up and build it and come over. i've been going at them with fishing line tied to a rock, you way sounds much more fun!

[Cat Whisperer]

Capture the ball sounds like a weird but fun option to try.

I could see the hand gonne with an open face reel right on it.  Slide a small juice can over the end and provide for something strong so's the round doesn't puch through.

Some real potential for fragments all over the place too.  Hmmmm.

[lance]

I could see the hand gonne with an open face reel right on it. 

I just got an ideal!!! there's a couple of fish ponds around here that i'm not able to cast to the other side..............

[KABAR2]

Lance, I've got a 45-70 line throwing gun buried around here some were............

[lance]

Lance, I've got a 45-70 line throwing gun buried around here some were............

Allen bring it with you, there's plenty of fish to go around, Tim can clean!

[Terry C.]

Tim, I thought you already had a golfball gonne. Maybe it's DD I'm thinking of.

Someone on this board has a golfball caliber handgonne. A simple tiller change (to one that will mount a fishing reel) would be all that was needed.

[Cat Whisperer]

I do have one.  It's made from 1144SP as an assembly.  (Which must be disassembled after every firing to clean it.)

I think for this project I may delve into brass and make something a bit more classy.

Ammo is next.