How to Make a Paper Shotgun

You just need a few sheets of paper to make a shotgun that really fires.

Whether young boys should be allowed to play with guns is a controversial parenting topic today. According to Lucy Rector Filppu of education.com, "Most child experts agree that by forbidding gun play entirely, parents give it far more power and will probably drive it underground." If you choose to allow children to play with toy guns, you want to make sure that they absolutely cannot harm themselves or each other. Creating paper guns is a simple way to ensure this. They're also suitable for demonstrations of basic concepts in physics.

Things You'll Need

• 3 sheets 8.5 inch by 11 inch paper
• Clear tape
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Lay a sheet of paper in front of you so that the long sides of the paper are horizontal. Starting at one horizontal side, roll the paper into a tube of approximately one-inch diameter.

2. Verify that the tube is even on both ends. Cut three pieces of clear tape and tape the edge of the rolled up tube so that it stays in place. This is the barrel of your gun.

3. Lay another piece of paper in front of you so that the short sides of the paper are lying horizontally in front of you. Starting at the end of the paper that is closest to you, roll the paper as tightly as you can.

4. Tape the edge of this roll down with three pieces of tape once it is a tight cylinder. Cut the cylinder in half. One of these halves is the handle of your gun.

5. Take the barrel of your gun and the handle of your gun and form a right angle. Tape them together in this formation using generous amounts of clear tape. Be careful not to tape over the openings of the barrel of the gun.

6. Take your final sheet of paper and cut it into three equal sections. Take one piece and roll it into a cone shape. Tape the pointy section of the cone to hold it in place and so that no air escapes.

7. Stick the pointy end of this cone into the opening of the barrel of your shotgun near the handle, as far as it will go. Cut away the paper that sticks out of the barrel. Roll that piece of paper into a cone-like shape and tape it into place. Repeat these two steps with the other two pieces of paper to make more bullets.

8. Stick each bullet into the barrel of the shotgun by loading it in via the opening near the handle, with the pointy end of each bullet going in first.

9. Fire your gun by blowing hard into the opening of the barrel by the handle. The harder you blow, the further the bullets will go.

Tips & Warnings

• Bear in mind that even well taped paper "bullets" can cause injury. Never point this "shotgun" at people's faces, eyes or other vulnerable areas.

References

• Nool Music: How to Make a Paper Shotgun
• Education: Boys and Shotguns