A project to build an airgun whose piston is actuated with a solenoid ala gauss gun style.

NiMH batteries appears to be the way to go due to their high-drain capabilities.

Rechargeable D-Cell batteries with 10Ah available here

Diameter of 33.2 ± 1 millimeters (1.3 inches). Overall length of 61.5 mm.

With 4 D-Cell batteries, some possible power configurations:

10Ah @ 4.8V 20Ah @ 2.4V 40Ah @ 1.2V

Two of the transformers currently available from scavenging are 10:1. I could use a booster converter as well, or chain multiple transformers together, or attempt to changing the windings.

I may be able to scavenge an old 20:1 transformer (a mains powerbrick for going from 120V → 5V). I might be also able to scavenge or otherwise source a UK/European 5V PSU–that would be designed to take 240 → 5V meaning a 40:1 winding.

Regardless, my target is 330V. It would seem that I cannot go straight from my battery source, not without increasing my cell count (at the cost of Ah, no less).

The firing capacitor(s) have been scavenged from old external flashes.