THE WOLPER M-1 PAINTBALL BAZOOKA

By Martin Wolper. (c) 2000 Martin Wolper. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

READ THIS DISCLAIMER BEFORE PROCEEDING: The following plans are for informational purposes only. The author of these plans assumes no responsibility for injury, death, or property damage caused or as a result of the construction and/or use of any item(s) and /or information described in these plans.

WARNING: The paintball bazooka is designed for long range fire only. Do not fire or point at any person or animal within 50 ft. when it is ready to fire. Never aim or fire at the head or genitalia of a person or animal. Always wear eye and ear protection. Always make sure anyone within firing range is wearing eye and ear protection.

My paintball bazooka design is a variation of the potato launcher. In principal it works the same way. It is constructed of PVC piping, uses hair spray (or just about any other flammable aerosol product) for fuel, and will fire about 40 paintballs at once. I’m sure you’ll find the construction and use of the paintball bazooka fun and easy. Be careful and have fun.

Materials required: 3’ x 3" PVC pipe, 4" x 3" PVC pipe coupler, 1’ to 2’ x 4" PVC pipe, 4" PVC pipe clean out end cap, barbecue/stove lighter, cheep unscented hair spray, graphite, PVC pipe cement, PVC pipe cleaner, thin cardboard, white glue, 8-oz. Styrofoam coffee cups, lots of paintballs.

Tools required: Rounded file, drill and bit or knife, utility knife, scissors, 1" x 3" PVC pipe.

Assembly: File the 3’ x 3" PVC pipe around the inside edge at both ends. This will help with loading paintball cartridges into the chamber and also clean off any burs at the muzzle. Cement the 3’ x 3" PVC pipe into 4" x 3" PVC pipe coupler. Be sure to clean the mating surfaces of both pieces with PVC pipe cleaner before they are cemented together. This softens up the plastic so that the cement can work properly. Apply the cement evenly and completely on all mating surfaces. Cement the 1’ to 2’ x 4" PVC pipe into the 4" x 3" PVC pipe coupler. Cement the 4" PVC pipe clean out end cap onto the1’ to 2’ x 4" PVC pipe. Using a drill and or heated knife to make a rectangular hole in the center of the threaded cap that screws into the 4" PVC pipe clean out end cap. Make this hole just big enough so that the barbecue/stove lighter will fit snugly into it all the way up to its handle. To simplify firing procedures you may want to cement the barbecue/stove lighter into the hole with a strong plastic cement or epoxy. Do not use PVC pipe cement, it only works to cement PVC pipe together. Before use, and whenever needed, lubricate the inside of the barrel (3’ x 3" PVC pipe) with graphite.

Paintball cartridge assembly: With a utility knife cut an X into the bottom of an 8-oz. Styrofoam coffee cup (I use Styrocup brand but any brand should work). This X cut will help the cup to break open when it leaves the muzzle. With scissors cut the very lip around the mouth of the cup off. Don’t cut the whole mouth of the cup off, just the small lip around the edge of the mouth. This lip makes the cup too large to fit into the barrel. Fill the cup with paintballs (about 40). Use the inside edge of the 1" x 3" PVC pipe to stencil a circle onto the piece of thin cardboard and cut it out with scissors. With white glue, glue the cardboard circle onto the mouth of the cup. Pass the whole thing through the 1" x 3" PVC pipe to make sure it will fit into the bazooka barrel. Let the glue dry thoroughly before use.

1. Unscrew rear lid. Blow one deep breath into the combustion chamber.
2. Load paintball cartridge into the firing chamber through the rear opening by pushing it through the combustion chamber and into the beginning of the barrel.
3. Spray hair spray into the rear opening in a circular motion for three to five seconds. Quickly screw the rear lid back on tightly and insert igniter (barbecue/stove lighter) into the hole in the rear lid.
4. Hold the bazooka in a comfortable firing position and aim at your target. This can be done one of two ways. Either hold the bazooka midway down with one hand and the other on the igniter, or kneel down with the bazooka resting on your shoulder so someone else can aim and fire the bazooka from behind. Depress the igniter button when you are ready to fire. If it dose not fire the first time, it most definitely will with another push of the igniter button. Make sure you have a firm grip on the bazooka because it will kick back on ignition.

I have found that certain size food cans fit loosely into the barrel of the paintball bazooka. All you need to do is wrap a few layers of tape around the can until it slides down the barrel tightly but without binding. These cans really fly! Some drink bottles work the same way.