Electronics

Beware of a tack – DIY sniper rifle fires unusual ammo

Beware of a tack – DIY sniper rifle fires unusual ammo
Patrick Priebe's tack-shooting rifle
Patrick Priebe's tack-shooting rifle
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Although the rifle does have a scope, Priebe tells us that it's not very accurate on its own, and is used mainly just to see the small laser dot on the target
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Although the rifle does have a scope, Priebe tells us that it's not very accurate on its own, and is used mainly just to see the small laser dot on the target
Five tacks can be shot per 12-gram canister, with additional canisters located in a storage area behind the barrel
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Five tacks can be shot per 12-gram canister, with additional canisters located in a storage area behind the barrel
The canisters are loaded into a bicycle tire inflator, which is itself activated by the rifle's trigger
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The canisters are loaded into a bicycle tire inflator, which is itself activated by the rifle's trigger
The tacks are stored in an "ammo clip," which is actually an enclosed bar of styrofoam that they're stuck into through a series of holes
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The tacks are stored in an "ammo clip," which is actually an enclosed bar of styrofoam that they're stuck into through a series of holes
The rifle features a wooden stock
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The rifle features a wooden stock
Patrick Priebe's tack-shooting rifle
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Patrick Priebe's tack-shooting rifle
View gallery - 6 images

Whether you call them tacks or push pins, German cyberpunk weapons-maker Patrick Priebe has created a one-off sniper rifle that shoots them as ammo. As can be seen in the video that he sent us, it's surprisingly accurate, too – all the watermelons out there better be on the lookout.

Priebe started with an existing breath-powered blow gun, designed to shoot darts. It now serves as the barrel of the rifle, and is housed within an aluminum body.

The tacks are stored in an "ammo clip" (an enclosed bar of styrofoam that they're stuck into through a series of holes), then loaded into the barrel by hand and pushed into place using a bolt-action lever.

Although the rifle does have a scope, Priebe tells us that it's not very accurate on its own, and is used mainly just to see the small laser dot on the target
Although the rifle does have a scope, Priebe tells us that it's not very accurate on its own, and is used mainly just to see the small laser dot on the target

They're fired via a blast of air, supplied by a compressed air canister through a custom-turned steel valve. The canister is loaded into a bicycle tire inflator, which is itself activated by the rifle's trigger. Five tacks can be shot per 12-gram canister, with additional canisters located in a storage area behind the barrel.

Aiming is accomplished using a 1-mW red laser. Although the rifle does have a scope, Priebe tells us that it's not very accurate on its own, and is used mainly just to see the small laser dot on the target. For added accuracy, an aluminum bipod can be folded down from the front of the gun.

The whole build process took approximately 50 hours. You can see the finished product in action, in the video below.

Source: Laser Gadgets by Patrick Priebe

Selfmade Tack firing Sniper Rifle

View gallery - 6 images
3 comments
3 comments
riczero-b
Certainly not a pointless device. I look forward to a tacktical attack version if Patrick can get the tax break...
ChgoSTrider
This rifle REALLY does have tack-driving accuracy.....
f4ccc9a576964dcfb490f3b613abcb1b
There are available today pressurized air 'rifles' that do fire arrows with enough power to hunt and kill large animals. They operate on about 3,000 psi, which means a tank for re-fills. I've seen a few different manufactures who offer different choices. Since they are smokeless and relatively quiet compared to a firearm they will be enhanced in the future.