We have to shake My 12 year old Grandson upside down, to get all the .36 cal. balls for His muzzleloader out of His pockets. He built a trebuchet out of PVC pipe, for the science fair, and they wouldn't even let Him throw a tennis ball with it. Hey, school is out before long, and I've got all summer to remove the politically correct stuff He's been fed with.
trebuchet bump!
My older brother made a breech-loader of rear-threaded galvinized plumbing pipe with a cap drilled for a fuse
Homemade 10X pine pistol handle with 2 steel barrel straps
Small Chinese firecrackers, paper-wrapped marbles
Match
Mudbank
Sucker would go pretty deep in the mud
Do not try this at home kiddies
A trebuchet..ehh? Sounds like fun. I wish I had the plans for one. Cool kid.
A few years ago, I built a SpudGun (with help from my then 11 yr old son). He wanted to use it in his science fair, so we came up with the idea of using the gun as a measuring instrument to chart the combustibility of various compressed gases; i.e, hair spray, deodorant, etc. He didn't win anything at the fair, but his teacher took me aside and asked if I would mind bringing the spudgun to school and demonstrating how it worked! I enthusiastically said yes! On the appointed day, I walked to his school with this Army green SpudGun over my shoulder and a bag of spuds and a couple cans of hair spray (we only lived two blocks from the school). When I arrived, his teacher dismissed his class (along with all the other 5th grade classes as well as the lady principal) to the playgrounds where we proceeded to light off many rounds from that SpudGun! It brought tears to my eyes to see dozens of fifth-grade kids screaming and jumping for joy each time a round was let off! Fun was had by all...
This was in Bakersfield, CA about nine years ago...
Move the kid on up to the .50 cal muzzloader & let him pack in 60-70 grains. When he goes to shoot that candle out during "Ronde," he won't even have to come close. The velocity will blow the dang thing out :-). Better yet, get him a smooth-bore. Doesn't even need shot for that. Just a pocket full of small rocks.
Started my son out on blackpowder, too. He was 11. Wanted him to grow up safe, with a healthy respect for firearms. He did, he's a darn good shot, & knew more about American history than most of his teachers, besides. Gentle & good-humored - he's never harmed so much as a sparrow. But, if he had to, I bet he could shoot a terrorist between the eyes at a hundred yards. Does he make me proud? You bet he does.
Have a great summer, Grandpa. Teach that boy well & keep him safe. BTW...you can call me what my son does...."Mom."