Man Seriously Injured In Potato Gun Explosion

http://www.wlky.com/news/29085977/detail.html ^ | 9/6/2011 | WLKY

[Morgana]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A man was hospitalized after being seriously injured in a potato gun explosion.

Police said they received a report of a shooting in the 200 block of Alpha Avenue at about 4:15 p.m. Monday, where they found 53-year-old John Berthiaume II lying in the street.

Berthiaume suffered injuries to his right arm and leg when his homemade potato gun exploded, Louisville Metro Police spokesman Dwight Mitchell said.

The victim's brother, Tony, said it appeared that his brother put too much black powder into the device.

"I guess it stressed the metal out too much, and it blew up," he said.

Martha Dodd said the explosion sent shrapnel into her home across the street.

"I looked out the door and saw him sitting on the ground and I said, 'You just shot a hole in my house,'" Dodd said.

Berthiaume was taken to University of Louisville Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, Mitchell said.

[Armedanddangerous]

What moron puts BLACK POWDER into a potato gun for fracks sake?

Yer supposed to use nothing more lethal than some White Rain Hair Spray.

If he did that, he deserved an ass full of plastic fragments. Dumb should hurt

[Armedanddangerous]

“Police say they do believe alcohol was a factor in the accident.”

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Say it ain’t so..

[SaraJohnson]

Really! My sons made potato guns and gun power was not involved!

[muir_redwoods]

Somebody really should alert Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Spud Gun

It has many names: spud gun, potato cannon, spudzooka, spudchucker, etc. Regardless, launching produce hundreds of yards will leave you smiling. This classic version is quite simple yet very powerful.

  Dangerously Fun         About                     Subscribe

danger level

• negligible
• moderate
• high
• do not do this

tools

• K. Drill
• L. Hand saw
• M. File

materials

• A. Flint igniter (lantern lighter)
• B. 4" PVC cleanout plug
• C. 4" PVC fitting cleanout adapter
• D. 4" PVC coupling
• E. 4" x 24" PVC pipe
• F. 2" x 4" PVC increaser reducer
• G. 2" x 48" PVC pipe
• H. PVC cleaner, primer, & cement
• I. Sack of potatoes
• J. Hair spray (aerosol)

how-to

1. Cut the PVC components to length and clean and prime the joints. Cement components C thru G together.
2. Drill a hole for the lantern lighter in the middle of pipe E and then install the lighter with its included hardware. These lighters are very compact and use flint to produce a strong spark. You can find them in the camping section of large department stores.
3. With the file, sharpen the circumference of pipe G. This makes shoving the potato in easier because the pipe will cut off the excess potato.
4. You’re ready to launch!
   1. i. Find a very large, open area to launch the gun.
   2. ii. Load a potato. Use a stick or rod to plunge it most of the way down the barrel.
   3. iii. Spray the hair spray (make sure it’s flamable) into the fat end of the gun. If you use too little the potato won’t go far; too much and it won’t launch at all because there isn’t enough oxygen in the chamber.
   4. iv. Quickly screw on the plug (part B).
   5. v. Hold the gun at your side, aiming in a safe direction. Give the lighter a quick flick, as if you’re snapping your fingers.

[Still Thinking]

Black powder in a potato cannon??? What a maroon. This is Darwin award / “Hold muh beer and watch this” material.

[Still Thinking]

“Police say they do believe alcohol was a factor in the accident.”

No! I'm shocked, shocked I tell you!

[Texas Fossil]

No, she is a very old lady and was in her house near where the shrapnel came through the wall.

http://www.whas11.com/home/Person-reportedly-shoots-part-of-arm-leg-off-with-potato-gun.html

[Eric in the Ozarks]

That’s the same principle used in my .50 cal air rifle. 4,000 psi, added slowly to the rifle tank is max...

[Malone LaVeigh]

First time I shot one was when I proved the fallacy of gun control. Dump a handful of nails in with the potatoe and for about $15, you have a pretty effective shotgun.

I've made the same argument. I've told some libs in the past that they could completely outlaw guns and I could make a quick trip to Home Depot and Walmart and come home with everything I'd need to blow them away if I chose to.

[SW6906]

"I now have more fun shooting my .50 cal air rifle that makes the same “whoop” when it goes off. It is legal."

.50 cal air rifle?!!? Do tell! Where can I get me one of them thar things?

[cyclotic]

Don’t you love making their heads explode with logic?

[Iron Munro]

“Hand me that thar blow torch and that can of gas.”

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Check out Quackenbush air guns.

Made in Missouri, of course.
The .50 (actually it shoots a .495 round ball) is the baby, but it will take deer via east-west or north-south.

The smith is backed up about a year on orders. You just have to keep knocking on his door.

Good luck.

[Gilbo_3]

a feel good bluegrass story...ok maybe didnt feel too good...

[Gilbo_3]

hehehe...wonderin what an EOD guys tater cannon looks like...??? prolly not galvanized pipe and black powder ...heheheh...

[Squantos]

Trebuche, anvil tossing an bowling ball mortar but nary a tater cannon in the fun arsenal.....

We used to play a game with mark 80 series bombs where we’d jam a quarter pound block of C4 into the nose well an then use the bomb lugs as sights. We’d aim the base of the bomb at a old piece of armor or other range target and prime the shot.

Pull the M60’s an drive down to cover an boom. The base plate will act as a directional platter charge that can be aimed an is an awesome thing to use as a rifle per se.

81 to mk 83 series was used albeit a few old M117D were used also .

All fun .....

Stay Safe Gilbo !

[SW6906]

Thanks!

[skinkinthegrass]

a feel good bluegrass story...ok maybe didnt feel too good...

*BIG "OL SNICKER*....
...so i'll give all, a chance to voice their "fweelings"
*BURP! / SLURRED SPEECH* about the Bluegrass State.

[hiredhand]

Holy crap... a metal potato cannon charged with black powder?! The guy "bought" that one! There's a REASON that cannons aren't simply made out of metal pipe. :-)

ON a related note, I'm let DOWN! They didn't say how far the tater went! :-)