http://www.dankung.com/emart/jungle-hunter-dankung-slingshot-iiusalong-handle-p-319.html

The above is really a great slingshot! I love mine. I would label it "indestructable". Only $19 plus $2.85 shipping (registered mail from China to USA).

For practice ammo, I use Gobstoppers jaw breaker candies. You can find these on sale for about a dollar per hundred. These are perfect size (1/2") and biodegradeable. Shoot them at a brick and they crumble leaving a small pile of sugar to mark where you hit. If a miss ends up loose in your yard, a lawnmower hit will pulverize it rather than throw it out the chute. Plus, after the first rain or sprinkler watering it will dissappear (or the dogs will eat it!)

When you put the slingshot in your kit, add some 3/8" or 1/2" steel shot for ammo. Or .44cal or .50cal lead ball. You can hunt with either the steel or the lead. Plenty of humane-clean-kill power for things like rabbits, ducks, etc.

Given a few hours of practice you will find it's easy to shoot accurately. I can hit a 1.5" bullseye at ten yards about 30% of the time now. And I've only been slingshotting for about two weeks.

Buy replacement band sets in different powers ...

http://www.dankung.com/emart/rubber-tubing-set4strand-2040-p-231.html
http://www.dankung.com/emart/rubber-tubing-set4strand-1745-p-250.html
http://www.dankung.com/emart/4strand-2050rubber-tubing-set-p-376.html
http://www.dankung.com/emart/rubber-tubing-set8strand-2040-p-232.html

Or make your own from components (just a sample or what's available) ...

http://www.dankung.com/emart/10-meters-special-rubber-tubing-for-slingshot-yellow-2040-p-201.html
http://www.dankung.com/emart/10-meters-special-rubber-tubing-for-slingshot-yellow-1745-p-204.html
http://www.dankung.com/emart/firstlayer-yellow-soft-bullskin-pouch4-holes-p-225.html

It took about two weeks for delivery from China to the USA. You can pay a bit more, but get it faster in the USA if you order here:

http://www.trulytexas.com/dankung-slingshots.html

The TrulyTexas distributer only has a small number of the numerous slingshots available at the main Dankung website, http://www.dankung.com

To learn more about slingshots, go on over to http://slingshotforum.com/ There are plenty of great slingshots available these days. I really really like my A+ Slingshots model PS2. The Dankung style slingshots might be better for storing in a survival kit however (long lasting bands, easy change bands, and made of stainless steel).

Are there any good slingshots made in the United States that anyone can recommend for us here? (Just to get a popular opinion of who likes what best...)

-M

Trumark sling shots are made in the U.S.A.

http://www.slingshots.com/

Saunders makes very nice slingshots. Of the commercial manufactured ones, Saunders and TruMark are the top. You might want to look at the Saunders Falcon II if you prefer the wrist brace style. Or the Suanders Hawk if you don't want the brace (I don't like wrist braces myself). The TruMark model FS1 is a classic but solid design. I have seen TruMark slingshots in my local Sports Authority store. I have not found Saunders locally, only online.

For handmade slingshots, I recommend Perry's A+ Slingshots. They are fantastic, and not expensive. https://sites.google.com/site/aplusslingshots/ The PS2 model is perfect for new shooters.

Check out http://slingshotforum.com/topic/15-master-list-of-commercial-slingshot-manufacturers/ for a decent list of slingshot makers.

The "typical" standard for a "hunting" power production slingshot seems to be the Trumark FS1 with Trumark RR-2 (heavy black bands) and shooting .45-.50 caliber lead balls or .50+ steel bearings. The hardcore slingshot enthusiasts make their own bands by cutting Theraband flat bands on a taper.

My own setups is a FS-1 with the wrist brace removed, a tennis racket grip tape over leather wrap on the handle, and sporting the RR-T (light red bands) bands. I shoot paintballs in the backyard (no ricochets), and 5/16 steel bearing elsewhere. For pellet weights under 100 grains, the RR-T are faster than the RR-2. I can land 80-90% of my shots on an 8" target from 10 meters.

Go here to talk to better shots then me.
http://talk.slingshots.com/forums/index.php

Wrist rocket? With the folding brace

Nothing can beat this one: http://www.catsdomain.com (well, in precision - for sure).

That's what I used to use. Plenty accurate and strong, IMO you really need a wrist brace to shoot well, on that model it folds so the whole kit(slingshot, spares and ammo) will fit into an ammo pouch or cargo pocket.

Also the 3/8" BBs are plenty large enough for large rabbits, raccoon, and duck.

Wrist braces do help some people by steadying the slingshot or supporting a weaker wrist. However, I find it much more accurate and comfortable to shoot without a brace. The deal is in how you hold the slingshot. Without a wrist brace you don't want your index finger and thumb down on the grip like you're griping a hammer. You want them both up on the forks. The index finger wrapped around one side of the fork and the thumb pressing forwards on the other side. In this manner you are steadying the forks while keeping things low in your hand to greatly lessen the torque. With the hammer grip the forks are sticking up really high and the pull of the bands exerts a lot of torque on your wrist. Plus, a non-wristbrace slingshot is much much much smaller and pocketable than a wristbraced one.

Hold like this: http://www.dankung.com/dk/images/XIE.JPG

Slingshot story shared for giggles.

When I was a kid, I bought a cheap slingshot. Wire frame, lightweight rubber bands, small metal shot, etc.

I played with it for a while in the backyard, using a stout wooden fence as a backstop. Got pretty accurate over those short distances and could punch a hole into an aluminum can.

But I really wanted to see how far it could shoot. So I went out front, to the one block cross street that ended at a schoolyard. I figured it *might* go as far as the school, but both the visible buildings didn't have windows on the wall facing me, so I figured no problem.

Pulled back, aiming up about 45 degrees, and let fly. That shot was still rising when I lost track of it. I'm sure it cleared the school completely, and maybe even the freeway behind it, with LOTS of houses on the other side. And lots of windows. Not to mention the cars if it didn't clear the freeway.

I spent the rest of the day playing in my room.