A twelve gauge shotgun can be made from 3/4" water or gas pipe and fittings.

Materials Required:

• Wood 2"x 4"x 32"
• 3/4" nominal size water or gas pipe 20" to 30" long threaded on one end
• Solid 3/4" steel coupling
• Metal strap (1/4" x 1/16" x 4")
• Twine heavy (100 yards approximately)
• 3 wood screws and screw driver
• Flat head nail 6D or 8D
• Hand drill
• Saw or knife
• File
• Shellac or lacquer
• Elastic bands

1. Carefully inspect pipe and fittings.
   1. Make sure that there are no cracks or other flaws.
      
   2. Check inside diameter of pipe. A 12 gauge shotshell should fit into the pipe but the brass rim should not fit.
      
   3. Outside diameter should be at least 1 inch.
2. Cut stock from wood using saw or knife.
   
3. Cut a 3/8" deep V groove in top of the stock.
   
4. Turn coupling onto pipe until tight.
   
5. Coat pipe and V groove of stock with shellac or lacquer and, while still wet, place pipe in V groove and wrap pipe and stock together using two heavy weight layers of twine. Coat twine with shellac or lacquer after each layer.
   
6. Drill a hole through center of pipe plug large enough for nail to pass through.
   
7. File threaded end of plug flat.
   
8. Push nail through plug and cut off flat 1/32" past the plug.
   
9. Screw plug into coupling.
   
10. Bend 4" metal strap into "L" shape and drill hole for wood screw. Notch metal strap on the long side 1/2" from bend.
    
11. Position metal strap on stock so that top will hit the head of the nail. Attach to stock with wood screw.
    
12. Place screw in each side of stock about 4" in front of metal strap. Pass elastic band through notch in metal strap and attach to screw on each side of the stock.

1. Locate a barrier such as a stone wall or large tree which you can stand behind in case the weapon explodes when fired.
   
2. Mount shotgun to a table or other rigid support at least ten feet in front of the barrier.
   
3. Attach a long cord to the firing strap on the shotgun.
   
4. Holding the other end of the cord, go behind the barrier.
   
5. Pull the cord so that the firing strap is held back.
   
6. Release the cord to fire the shotgun. (If shotgun does not fire, shorten the elastic bands or increase their number.)

1. To load:
   1. Take plug out of coupling.
      
   2. Put shotgun shell into pipe.
      
   3. Screw plug hand-tight into coupling.
2. To fire:
   1. Pull strap back and hold with thumb.
      
   2. Release strap.
3. To unload gun:
   1. Take plug out of coupling.
      
   2. Shake out used cartridge.