Are potato cannons legal in California?

Question

I have gotten mixed messages from many sources. I know people still make them and I just launched one at school for physics class, but still I hear that they are illegal, so I checked official California law and it states,

"person, firm, or corporation who, within this state,
possesses any destructive device, other than fixed ammunition of a
caliber greater than .60 caliber, except as provided by this chapter,
is guilty of a public offense and upon conviction thereof shall be
punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed
one year, or in state prison, or by a fine not to exceed ten thousand
dollars ($10,000) or by both such fine and imprisonment."
California Penal Code Section 12303

So does this mean a combustion potato gun is illegal? if so is there a way around it?

Anonym · Accepted Answer

It's illegal if you make one using an explosive gas. You can make one that is much more powerful using air pressure and pneumatic valve based on truck brakes. That's what they use in pumpkin chunkin. It's a valve that has air pressure applied charging the reservoir and sealing off the barrel with a flap. When you remove the air pressure behind the flap  the reservoir pressure pushes the flap Bach allowing all the stored air to rush in. It's very easy to make. Gives a very long range. And no fire.

Netti · Answer

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Are potato cannons legal in California?
I have gotten mixed messages from many sources. I know people still make them and I just launched one at school for physics class, but still I hear that they are illegal, so I checked official California law and it states,

&quot;person, firm, or corporation who, within this state,
possesses any...

Anonym · Answer

Potato Gun Legal

WRG · Answer

You need to go back and read CPCS 12301 for the definition of a destructive device. Here it is in part. By my reading of this and the rest of 12301 a potato cannon would be legal.

a) The term "destructive device," as used in this chapter,
shall include any of the following weapons:
   (1) Any projectile containing any explosive or incendiary material
or any other chemical substance, including, but not limited to, that
which is commonly known as tracer or incendiary ammunition, except
tracer ammunition manufactured for use in shotguns.
   (2) Any bomb, grenade, explosive missile, or similar device or any
launching device therefor.
   (3) Any weapon of a caliber greater than 0.60 caliber which fires
fixed ammunition, or any ammunition therefor, other than a shotgun
(smooth or rifled bore) conforming to the definition of a
"destructive device" found in subsection (b) of Section 479.11 of
Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations, shotgun ammunition
(single projectile or shot), antique rifle, or an antique cannon. For
purposes of this section, the term "antique cannon" means any cannon
manufactured before January 1, 1899, which has been rendered
incapable of firing or for which ammunition is no longer manufactured
in the United States and is not readily available in the ordinary
channels of commercial trade. The term "antique rifle" means a
firearm conforming to the definition of an "antique firearm" in
Section 479.11 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Tringle · Answer

Is anything legal in California?

Anonym · Answer

I wouldn't be surprised if potatoes were illegal in California.

Glynda · Answer

No.

Are potato cannons legal in California?

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