I don't think I will be able to add a magazine far enough back to be behind a detent without compromising the integrity of the tube. As it stands, the velocity is so low that I have to angle it up anyway if I want to hit anything more than about 15 feet away.
well i mean its not like this is a practical gun, would you really want to get into a firefight using this thing at 15 feet apart? you would get destroyed
The stick feed shouldn't be a problem. You could sand out the straight side of a T joint enough so you slide the T bar along the pipe. Then you can use the bottom opening to insert the stick feed. This way would allow you to easily cut the hole for the feed easily, attach the stick feed easily, and strengthen the pipe where you removed the material. Then if necessary, you can cut slots in the T joint to allow the string to launch the paintball.
The stick feed shouldn't be a problem. You could sand out the straight side of a T joint enough so you slide the T bar along the pipe. Then you can use the bottom opening to insert the stick feed. This way would allow you to easily cut the hole for the feed easily, attach the stick feed easily, and strengthen the pipe where you removed the material. Then if necessary, you can cut slots in the T joint to allow the string to launch the paintball.
The problem with that is it will put the stick feed either in my face or in the way of the draw.
Plus, I'm worried about weight. As it is right now, the plastic is flimsy enough that I can bend it about 30 degrees with little effort. I'll have to add a brace before I can do anything else to it.
__________________
Don't take yourself seriously. Nobody else does.
Assuming you'll be drawing with your right hand the majority of the time, you could place the stick feed on the opposite (your right shoulder) side instead of having it in your face.
Also a brace would be a good thing so you don't snap it while playing. The elasticity is a good thing if you happen to fall on it or drop it because it'll allow it some give, but once you reach a certain spot, it'll just snap and possibly shatter.
If you have enough of the piping and willing to purchase more, you could keep altering the design to find the best solution.
Assuming you'll be drawing with your right hand the majority of the time, you could place the stick feed on the opposite (your right shoulder) side instead of having it in your face.
That still wouldn't work if I wanted to get the ball behind the detent, because the tube would interfere with the draw.
__________________
Don't take yourself seriously. Nobody else does.
That still wouldn't work if I wanted to get the ball behind the detent, because the tube would interfere with the draw.
It shouldn't interfere with the draw because your barrel + detents don't have to end right at the hand grip of your bow. You should be able to extend it another 6-8 inches without any flex in the pipe. The stick feed being on the right hand side would allow you to draw back with your right hand unobstructed.
The detents aren't being used to keep the paintball at one spot inside the piping, but only to not allow it to roll out the front of the piping.
As shown in my render, your design of the slices down the center of the piping wouldn't need to be changed at all. The only thing that may be necessary would to slice a notch in the top and bottom on one of the sides of the T piece so the drawstring could go all the way forward. Even with the slices in the T piece, there would still be enough strength for the material to hold onto the piping pretty easily. And if not, you could always use epoxy to completely make the T piece stationary.
going back to the single loading from an openning in the tube, what if you put a notch to hook the string when you drew it back. then you can load your ball and bring your hand back to release the string for the shot?
You can make a "bolt" out of 1/2" CPVC, and situate the magazine just in front of where the string sits when not drawn. That way the bolt will block the magazine from feeding until you draw back. If you put a detent infront of and in back of where the paintball will sit, then the ball will stay in place to block the magazine from feeding when you are taking a shot
