I'm going to start construction on a zip gun using the schematic off "thehomegunsmith". I was wondering if anyone has any experience with these, and if so, are there any dangers to the person firing it?

They are plenty safe. Use PVC pipe or any plastic tube laying around the house. And rubber bands with nails are the best firing pin out there.

Make sure to get a pipe big enough for at least .357, although .44 or better is what you really need to achieve big here.

This will be suitable for hunting and home defense applications, and will last a lifetime.

I agree stupid questions deserves stupid answers but that answer was just flat out retarded.

Ok, I agree Swede. That was a little much. I have term papers, I'm crabby. Apologies to the origional poster.

Dude, don't do it. Go buy a nice little REAL, SAFE .22 or other nice stater firearm. Zip guns are asking for a trip to the ER, regardless of how well made they are.

Fingers are nice to have. My dad still wishes he had all his.

Thanks for the input guys, I seriously had no clue and was on my way to build one. I think I'll finish it for fun, but I'll definitely think twice before firing it.

The ones on thehomegunsmith are pretty sound in design. I'm not going to say they're perfectly safe because there are too many variables in constructing your own firearm for me to give you that guarantee, but there's nothing inherently dangerous in those designs.

However, anything on this forum, with the exception of LavaRed's suppressor design, is hugely dangerous and shouldn't be attempted.

thanks for the review. the pipes involved that i have are a bit thicker and I didnt think a .22 really would destroy it. this is my first time doing this so im definitely doing all the research i can before i test it so all the input is definitely appreciated.

They are plenty safe. Use PVC pipe or any plastic tube laying around the house. And rubber bands with nails are the best firing pin out there.

Make sure to get a pipe big enough for at least .357, although .44 or better is what you really need to achieve big here.

This will be suitable for hunting and home defense applications, and will last a lifetime.

PVC pipe? Rubber bands? Sounds safe to me.

to set the record straight these pipes being used are steel. anyone who would use pvc is foolish and deserves what they get. once again the design comes from homegunsmith

The best thing to do would be to buy a factory-made barrel. You can get brand-new 10/22 barrels for less than $50 (example (http://www.e-gunparts.com/product.asp?chrProductSKU=287340)). I'd like to make a simple single-shot rifle out of one some day.

Provided you have a fair idea of what's going on and use a low pressure round like a .22LR with subsonics there isn't that much risk. Especially if you use real barrels or even pick up some cheap $5 junker at a gun show that you can salvage the mag, and barrel from (Maybe the trigger or at least parts of it too).

edit: and just to throw it out there, .303 and 7.62x54 Rimmed share the same bore size as the .32ACP pistol round, and you commonly see SMLE and MN barrels for pretty cheap, all you'd need is a chamber reamer ;) . However you'd probably have to make your own mags since i don't think high cap .32ACP mags exist.

I'm pretty certain the old CZ Skorpion came in .32ACP.

I'm pretty certain the old CZ Skorpion came in .32ACP.
That would be correct.

However if I remember correctly some models were chambered for other cartridges.

That would be correct.

However if I remember correctly some models were chambered for other cartridges.

Such as the .380 ACP.

Such as the .380 ACP.

Or even 9mm Mak and 9mm Para.

Oh, and on zip guns don't do it. Its a bit dangerous. The only zip gun I've seen work are the one shot shotguns made from old 3/4" steel seamless pipe. And they do blow up after some use, so no.

Provided you have a fair idea of what's going on and use a low pressure round like a .22LR with subsonics there isn't that much risk.

Just a quick note on this. Pressure isn't what's important, force is. For example: SAAMI specs say that a 22LR has a max chamber pressure of 24000psi, whereas the 45ACP has a max of 19000psi. However, the bore diameter of the 45ACP is about twice as large as the 22LR. If you do the math, you'll find that the force pushing back against the bolt face of a 45ACP is FOUR TIMES that of a 22LR.

Moral of the story: low pressure cartridges aren't always the safest.

It wouldn't have anything to do with the bore size would it? the .45 slinging a projectile almost 6x the weight and close to the same velocity would be that cause for that.