Back in the late sixties, we preferred drainpipe howitzers :-)
Bury about 10" of heavy galv downspout, aimed loosely at the houses over the road. Pour in black powder from a few "blank" 12G shells
Pour in a handful of gravel and ignite.
Listen for the rattle of gravel on corrugated iron roofs.
OH&S probably precludes that as "fun" these days
Andrew