Slingshot discussion thread

I have a wrist rocket, I rarely use it because guns are easy to get here and legal to carry and I shoot in my yard, that said I've been playing with pellet rifles they're just cheap fun but I'm thinking of messing around with a sling shot again.

I did have to buy surgical tubing for my spear gun so I've got plenty to make sling shots with, I'm gonna have to play around. Other than the wrist rocket style, what's the best shape for a compact pocket model?
 
T. Erdelyi said:
I have a wrist rocket, I rarely use it because guns are easy to get here and legal to carry and I shoot in my yard, that said I've been playing with pellet rifles they're just cheap fun but I'm thinking of messing around with a sling shot again.

I did have to buy surgical tubing for my spear gun so I've got plenty to make sling shots with, I'm gonna have to play around. Other than the wrist rocket style, what's the best shape for a compact pocket model?
Click to expand...

I'd look into some of the wire frame models put out by Dankung. Good shooters, smaller profile, takes tubes easily too. Also, MetroGradeGoods.com has some cool designs. But, making a natural fork is lots of fun and about as cheap as it gets!


-Xander
 
Rupestris said:
:thumbup: Xander.

I've got a science surplus near my house that sells latex tubing but no flat bands. I think I'll stop by today and see if they have some thinner stuff. That BB shooter sounds like a fun little project.

I still have the unused yellow band from the picture above and might try to bend up a home made model similar to yours.
Click to expand...

Both the shooters I posted last use office rubber bands! The big 1/4" wide by ~4" (unstretched) bands. Great for BB's, or any other lightweight projectile. The pouch is also very light weight, I used 1mm buckskin and made it 50mm X 10mm with an ammo hole in the center (hole is smaller than a bb).

That Daisy frame is really popular for modding, lots of people ditch the handle, paracord wrap the frame, do lots of different things to it. But, if you really want to get that thing shooting, ditch those black bands and get the Trumark red tapered bands. They shoot only a little bit slower than Theraband gold. One thing to remember with elastics, pull weight has ZERO effect on speed or power. It's all in its return speed. Pure latex is about the best, theraband is latex with some UV stabilizers and other additives too. So you can actually have a lower draw weight and a faster, harder shooting sling.

Here's my wire frame again, just did a paracord wrap on it.

Fotor_143372361232385_zps64ggfss5.jpg~original



-Xander
 
fast14riot said:
Both the shooters I posted last use office rubber bands! The big 1/4" wide by ~4" (unstretched) bands. Great for BB's, or any other lightweight projectile. The pouch is also very light weight, I used 1mm buckskin and made it 50mm X 10mm with an ammo hole in the center (hole is smaller than a bb).

That Daisy frame is really popular for modding, lots of people ditch the handle, paracord wrap the frame, do lots of different things to it. But, if you really want to get that thing shooting, ditch those black bands and get the Trumark red tapered bands. They shoot only a little bit slower than Theraband gold. One thing to remember with elastics, pull weight has ZERO effect on speed or power. It's all in its return speed. Pure latex is about the best, theraband is latex with some UV stabilizers and other additives too. So you can actually have a lower draw weight and a faster, harder shooting sling.

Here's my wire frame again, just did a paracord wrap on it.

Fotor_143372361232385_zps64ggfss5.jpg~original


-Xander
Click to expand...

Nice marlin spike.:thumbup:
 
I had home-made slingshots as a child.....Way back in the 50s when all cars ran tube tires and tubes were made of real, stretchy rubber (not the modern "butyl" stuff that has the stretch of denim...)
Anyway, I both made 'em and bought the popular Wham-O commercial jobs.

I experienced the Wrist Rocket when they first came out....Our local big Sports Show had a booth where you could shoot at moving targets.....I was impressed. Bought one as soon as I got out of the army. Very nice but not easy to carry.
Still, I much prefer the design, since it not only is easier on your wrist but eliminates the possibility of thumb-whack.
(very painful....I speak from experience)

I currently have a Daisy-branded model which does in fact fold up. I shoot marbles for ammo.....You can buy a big bag at dollar stores. An old quilt hung from a rope makes a fine backstop.
 
mwerner said:
I've been using slingshots since I was a kid in the 50s. First ones were made from tire-tube rubber, back then almost all tires ran tubes and tubes were made of real, stretchy rubber, not the modern non-stretchy butyl stuff.
Anyway, I graduated from home-made items to the "Wham-O" commercial numbers with the gum-rubber bands.... Good shooters.

I got a 'Wrist Rocket" shortly after they came out... I went to a local sports show and they had a booth. You could shoot one at gallery-type targets.... I was impressed.
The only problem with the design was that you couldn't put it in your pocket. Now, I have a Daisy model that you can; it folds up.

They are great fun. Principal of shooting is the same as archery.... Consistent release and good form. Marbles make good, cheap, consistent ammo and old blankets hung from a rope make a great backstop.
The big advantage of the wrist-brace design is that it eliminates the chance of you whacking your thumb. Painful.....
Click to expand...

mwerner said:
I had home-made slingshots as a child.....Way back in the 50s when all cars ran tube tires and tubes were made of real, stretchy rubber (not the modern "butyl" stuff that has the stretch of denim...)
Anyway, I both made 'em and bought the popular Wham-O commercial jobs.

I experienced the Wrist Rocket when they first came out....Our local big Sports Show had a booth where you could shoot at moving targets.....I was impressed. Bought one as soon as I got out of the army. Very nice but not easy to carry.
Still, I much prefer the design, since it not only is easier on your wrist but eliminates the possibility of thumb-whack.
(very painful....I speak from experience)

I currently have a Daisy-branded model which does in fact fold up. I shoot marbles for ammo.....You can buy a big bag at dollar stores. An old quilt hung from a rope makes a fine backstop.
Click to expand...
Hehe...you got zombied! :p

I've been known to search for info only to have the search lead me back to my own thread I started years ago.:D
 
fast14riot said:
Both the shooters I posted last use office rubber bands! The big 1/4" wide by ~4" (unstretched) bands. Great for BB's, or any other lightweight projectile. The pouch is also very light weight, I used 1mm buckskin and made it 50mm X 10mm with an ammo hole in the center (hole is smaller than a bb).

That Daisy frame is really popular for modding, lots of people ditch the handle, paracord wrap the frame, do lots of different things to it. But, if you really want to get that thing shooting, ditch those black bands and get the Trumark red tapered bands. They shoot only a little bit slower than Theraband gold. One thing to remember with elastics, pull weight has ZERO effect on speed or power. It's all in its return speed. Pure latex is about the best, theraband is latex with some UV stabilizers and other additives too. So you can actually have a lower draw weight and a faster, harder shooting sling.

Here's my wire frame again, just did a paracord wrap on it.
-Xander
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the help.

The one in the pic is a Trumark. I've already got plans to lose the clear acrylic shot holder handle and replace it with wood. I'm thinking Cherry.

I stopped by the Science and surplus store today. They had tubing and some "giant rubber bands" that were red, about an inch wide and about 6' around. I passed on the giant rubber band but picked up three feet of 5/16" OD tube which should give me enough for two projects. I have a piece of 5/16" X 3' threaded rod that might serve as a handle on a cord wrapped home-made.

I'll keep you posted.
 
I only have one thing to say. You're gonna put your eye out. That's what happened to my avatar. :p
 
And not legal in New Jersey !!
We use various things to put amateur radio antennas in trees, slingshots, bow+arrow , fishing rod + reel, and this week I'm supposed to see a "tube gun "? in operation. This is apparently a PVC pipe , a tennis ball for the 'bullet' with some light line !!
 
UffDa said:
I only have one thing to say. You're gonna put your eye out. That's what happened to my avatar. :p
Click to expand...

Safety glasses. I look better with them on :p.

When shooting that "ballistic gel" I wore 'em. If there is any chance of a ricochet, I have safety glasses or polycarbonate sun glasses on.
 
This thread brings back some fond childhood memories. My grandfather used to cut his slingshot frames from 3/4" plywood. He brought used catheters home from the hospital and cut pouches from the tongues of old leather shoes. The thought of buying a slingshot was anathema.
 
A couple that arrived this week:

Axiom Poly OTT/TTF banded up with Linatex tapered bands.

b777c524cd786195564e9805f5452b3e.jpg


BunnyBuster Hammermil Hunter

b6c82d7ee833fb9faac67b77abb538ab.jpg
 
Bill Hayes SEAL Sniper(with included targets and steel shot). I also ordered some of his wadcutter lead ammo.

530d712480a6c8d5de2f675ced4782e0.jpg


ac91c3178ba3f8d99b37954c6c94c204.jpg
 
Just got 20 feet of Cando Gold in the mail yesterday, going to try my hand at cutting flat bands. I need to get a rotary cutter as I understand this is the best method for cutting.

Also, gonna get some new frames built this winter, I've got tons of HDPE at home.


-Xander
 
I've been shooting wrist rockets for close to 40 years, and think they're great. I didn't have a real gun to carry around the woods with me as a lad, so I got pretty comfortable finding and shooting the right type of rock pretty accurately. When I was about 14, I made a wooden slingshot out of a manzanita branch and sliced up inner tubes, and had it slip out of my hand and whack me in the chin so hard I couldn't close my mouth for the rest of the day (weird). This really helped me decide that the wrist brace type of slingshot was the way to go!

As a growed up man, I find a slingshot without the wrist brace is easy to shoot, but I'd really like to find something much more powerful than the standard tube bands available for slingshots.

Is there some kind of really heavy tube I can get, or do I need to switch over to the flat band slingshots?
 
Go for the Trumark red tapered bands, they're nearly as fast shooting as theraband gold flat bands. Also, with rubber pull weight is not directly related to shooting speed. I like the red tapered bands, I always keep a couple extras around as I like how they shoot.


-Xander
 
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