How to Shoot a Homemade Blowgun

A blowgun is a simple yet effective weapon that consists of a long narrow tube and darts that are fired from the end of the tube using the power of the lungs. Since blowguns are so simple in their design, it is easy to create effective blowguns from a variety of basic household materials such as copper tubing, PVC, or even the tube of a normal pen. Similarly, darts can be made from nails, pins or other slender and sharp objects. If you have created a homemade blowgun with darts, it is important to use proper form and safety precautions to shoot the gun effectively.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Homemade blowgun
• Homemade blowgun darts

1. Hold the blowgun parallel to the floor, and load a dart into the end you plan to blow into point first. Push the dart in so that any tassel or or other type of fletch is all the way into the tube.

2. Hold the blowgun tube firmly with both hands. One hand should be toward the middle of the tube to bear its weight and balance it, and the other should be near the mouthpiece end to make sure the mouthpiece is steady as you put your mouth around it.

3. Inhale deeply before putting your mouth around the tube.

4. Place your mouth around the tube, and create a tight seal with your lips.

5. Steady the tube with the forward arm, and aim slightly higher than your target.

6. Powerfully expel the air in your lungs in a short and sudden burst using the diaphragm. You should try to release your air quickly and all at once to impart as much power to the dart as possible.

Tips & Warnings

• As with any shooting device, it takes practice and control to fire blowguns accurately.
• Never inhale while your mouth is around a loaded blowgun, as it may cause the ammo to get sucked back into your mouth.
• Always make sure there are no other people anywhere in front of you when shooting a blowgun. Blowguns are not toys and can cause serious injury, just like a slingshot or a real gun.

References

• Info on Blowguns
• More on Blowguns