OV9

So a hill, an entire hill is the backstop

Dave!

dinny_g wrote: Tue Mar 24, 2026 8:56 am They don't look like the hands of a man who works on his own car...

However, how many life lines do you have - you're going to live forever...

Looks like an awesome day out - I'll bet the noise was something else...

What can I say? Lots of swarfega and lots of moisturiser!

And noise - just a bit. The Barrett and the Cheytac particularly easily overcome the ear defenders and shake the ground and your body to it's core. Even with a moderator on the Accuracy International is still significantly louder than an unsilenced 12 bore.

Rich B wrote: Tue Mar 24, 2026 9:04 am

Nefarious wrote: Tue Mar 24, 2026 8:12 am

V8Granite wrote: Tue Mar 24, 2026 7:57 am How deep are the butts somewhere like that or is there just a huge open space ?

This was at a friend's farm. We were shooting at just short of 1km across a valley, using the opposite hill as the backstop

i presumed you’d only be able to shoot these sort of things at a proper range?!

You'd maybe think, but private land with owners permission, more than 200 yards from a public highway, do what you like

Nefarious wrote: Tue Mar 24, 2026 7:49 am

Did you shoot this stuff prone? My understanding of large calibre like that was you kick up a load of dust and muck if you are on the ground. Although perhaps your muzzle break sends it all sideways.

Nefarious wrote: Tue Mar 24, 2026 9:51 am What can I say? Lots of swarfega and lots of moisturiser!

Explosive Newt wrote: Tue Mar 24, 2026 10:08 am Did you shoot this stuff prone? My understanding of large calibre like that was you kick up a load of dust and muck if you are on the ground. Although perhaps your muzzle break sends it all sideways.

That's an issue if you're somewhere very dry and dusty and your life depends on staying hidden. In fact, it was common practice for snipers in Iraq and Afghanistan to piss in front of their firing position for exactly that reason. In not so sunny Scotland in mid-March, it is less of an issue

I'm waiting for the "throwy-thing" to make an appearance, and the accompanying news article

tim wrote: Tue Mar 24, 2026 2:13 pm I'm waiting for the "throwy-thing" to make an appearance, and the accompanying news article

Something like "Scottish man decapitates himself in act of extreme stupidity"?

Pictures aren't showing for me

DeskJockey wrote: Wed Mar 25, 2026 11:47 am Pictures aren't showing for me

Same. Discord image links are often very ephemeral and location/CDN/ISP dependant, and aren't permalinks. Learned that lesson before!

tim wrote: Tue Mar 24, 2026 2:13 pm I'm waiting for the "throwy-thing" to make an appearance, and the accompanying news article

First test of said "throwy-thing". Just 10kg counterweight (designed for 120kg).

Everything is fine! Nothing to worry about here

Nefarious wrote: Sun Apr 12, 2026 4:48 pm

tim wrote: Tue Mar 24, 2026 2:13 pm I'm waiting for the "throwy-thing" to make an appearance, and the accompanying news article

First test of said "throwy-thing". Just 10kg counterweight (designed for 120kg).

I made mine child friendly with a remote release and way of arming it without putting a child's chin under the arm.



I need to make a better sling as mine ripped to bits when I added an apple to it. Underestimated the acceleration at the end of the throw.

Mine is a classic drop style, I would call yours a high energy Sports Trebuchet

Dave!

Very nice job, Dave!

Mine is made almost exclusively from scrap (someone dumped a weightlifters squat frame outside my workshop!)

There is indeed a *lot* of energy in it, and that first test reveals that a 20mm mild steel main axle isn't going to cut it.

The plan is to use tennis balls filled with concrete as projectiles, and if all goes well, the sums suggest it might be able to throw one over 1/2km!

Mine has quite a whip but I wouldn't be surprised if yours isn't 20 times mine when you factor in the huge difference in weight. My basket will only hold about 20kg of metal nuts plus without a compound swing. At least if you're launching balls no-one will have a clue where they are coming from!!!

Mine was to throw flaming tennis balls to fight off the greens should they get in power

Are you able to record the release pin speed on a modern phone ?

Dave!

Time for a Trebuchet-off...

Who can we get to judge?

V8Granite wrote: Mon Apr 13, 2026 10:13 am Are you able to record the release pin speed on a modern phone ?

I've still got a fair way to go before it's ready for fine tuning, but I've seen video software that will do speed and trajectory calculations from footage far more basic than a current gen iPhone.
That said, when it's time to do the sync/optimisation thing, I'll probably borrow some fancy high FPS shizzle for the the job

Sounds good

No licence needed for a Trebuchet too!!

Dave!

Anyone remember on the early days of YouTube there was that German guy who made ridiculously powerful catapults, crossbows and trebuchets? Just thought of him after reading this

Mito Man wrote: Tue Apr 14, 2026 9:52 am Anyone remember on the early days of YouTube there was that German guy who made ridiculously powerful catapults, crossbows and trebuchets? Just thought of him after reading this

Jorg Sprave?

Still going - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVZlxk ... RJXhAGq42Q