Thanks for the quick response, gentlemen. Tim, nice of you to volunteer to get us that list of "things that effect accuracy".
Boom J, "Attaching fins to a soup can" is not so outlandish, and may actually work! Maybe we will get to observe some flight results, real results, empirical results, as our intrepid inventors set out to challenge the old-world, established accuracy standard, the round ball.
Victor3, Very interesting, I see that we are progressing on parallel tracks. As your idea seems to be simpler, it has a good chance of working better than mine, perhaps we will see evidence of both. For a former 12 year old kid who made his first matchlock pistol from a piece of 2x4, a section of music stand and other scraps, you do get my garage-tinkering spirit kindled.
Thanks to Gary for his M.B.F.F.P. idea. The KISS Principle is clearly guiding his, 'Muzzle Blast Forged Fin Projectile', design. Basically, he said to me a couple days ago, "Are you nuts, Tracy? That idea is way too complex. Just pour lead in the bottom and split the can in strips down to the lead. Load fin side down." I think that, because the lead plug will have lots of "Inertia-at-Rest", you will have a lead plug with a shorter, attached, 'Squashed steel fin Plug' emerging upon firing. Maybe not. Anybody? I would load it, Lead down, and let it be an A.F.F.P., an 'Air Forged Fin Projectile'. It might have a good chance to be accurate, looking exactly like a "Shuttle-Cock".
There must be more ideas out there. I'll post my sketch a bit later; maybe that will spark some other ideas or debate.
Tracy and Mike
PS I see there are more postings. Thanks, Gary and thank you, Little Seacoast. Never have tried that, but sounds like you are ahead of us all with your observations. I would think that weight would matter quite a bit as far as 'range' or 'distance of flight' goes. Maybe not.
Gary, We are using 'Green-Giant', 15 oz., double-rim, steel, Asparagus cans. These are 2.656" O.D. x 2.560" I.D. x 5.600" long.