What happens when the neighbors cat or kid wanders in?
***It will show up on our laptop screen. We can scare the cat away, and go outside to yell at the kid...
What are the goals of this project?
***There are multiple goals. 1) having fun with a semiauto bb gun. 2)scaring the critters out of the back yard. 3) cool automation project with the son. 4) Woodshop project wherein my son makes a good looking wooden stock for it.
Getting rid of pests?
***Partly. Killing isn’t a necessity. Squirrels, crows, skunks, etc. For part of the project.
If so there are much better ways. No matter how well designed your Rube-Goldberg would be you could never guarantee a clean kill.
***I’m not looking for a clean kill. I’m looking for the critters to go somewhere else. I did that a few years ago with an airsoft plastic pellet gun, but it jammed constantly.
I would hate to have an animal only wounded by your contraption. That’s not humane.
***To each his own. If I were the animal I would prefer to be wounded over being dead.
"***To each his own. If I were the animal I would prefer to be wounded over being dead.",
Seriously think about what you just wrote. I say this in all due respect. I am going deer hunting later this week. I still don't agree with your methodology. Why don't you check it out with your local DNR and see what they have to say.