Posted on 09/06/2011 7:46:20 AM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at wlky.com ...
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
Police say they do believe alcohol was a factor in the accident.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Say it ain’t so..
Really! My sons made potato guns and gun power was not involved!
Somebody really should alert Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
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 |
Black powder in a potato cannon??? What a maroon. This is Darwin award / “Hold muh beer and watch this” material.
No! I'm shocked, shocked I tell you!
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
That’s the same principle used in my .50 cal air rifle. 4,000 psi, added slowly to the rifle tank is max...
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.
.50 cal air rifle?!!? Do tell! Where can I get me one of them thar things?
Don’t you love making their heads explode with logic?
“Hand me that thar blow torch and that can of gas.”
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.
a feel good bluegrass story...ok maybe didnt feel too good...
hehehe...wonderin what an EOD guys tater cannon looks like...??? prolly not galvanized pipe and black powder ...heheheh...
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 !
Thanks!
*BIG "OL SNICKER*....
...so i'll give all, a chance to voice their "fweelings"
*BURP! / SLURRED SPEECH* about the Bluegrass State.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.