Slingshots... Now don't laugh!

I used to be pretty good with a homemade slingshot when I was a kid. I could hit my sisters in the fanny from quite a distance. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> I am not likely to go after large game even if I had a gun with me --- small game would be more my speed.

Does anyone have any recommendations for nicely-designed slingshots?

Sue

You might try Bulltetproof Primitive Suppy. Madison Parker, who owns it makes really great slingshots. He operates out of Florida and is a really nice guy. I was looking into a slingshot before I decided to go with a .625 caliber blowgun. His website is down right now http://www.bulletproofprimitivesupply.com/

I have his card with his contact information, but its at home right now. At this year's SHOT show, I read they had a slingshot with a laser sight on it, known as the LaserShot. Trust me, Madison Parker's rigs are much more primitive.

When I was about 7 or 8 years old my dad got a Wrist Rocket. It was suppose to be his but once I got it, I carried it everywhere with me. I found that the brace across the wrist and the strong surgical tubing made a very powerful slingshot. We had trouble at that house with stray dogs and the Rocket worked wonders on them. I found it also useful for moving squirrels out of their nest or around a tree when hunting with my companions who were lucky enough to have pellet rifles. I not only still have that old Rocket but have added a folding Marksman to my collection as well. If you were competent with it I do not see why you could not take the careless rabbit, squirrel, duck, goose and like sized animals with it. You will need new tubing every so often and will be deadlier with lead or steel shot but even a good old river rock will do in a pinch.

I was the kid with the pellet rifle, but my buddy had a wrist rocket he bought off another kid. He was almost as accurate as I was with the air rifle and that thing was pretty powerfull too. The nice thing was he could keep it in his bag, while I always had to carry the rifle. If I remember he took out some small game with that thing every once in a while.

Gee Susan, no ideas where to get a good slingshot, I used to make them when I was a kid. That shooting someone in the fanny sounds useful though, to get a slowpoke moving.
<img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Susan:

If you check some of my old posts, you will find me to be a big believer of carrying a folding slingshot into the outdoors.

Matter of fact, when one of our forum members alluded to needing THOUSANDS of rifle rounds, I told him to learn how to use a slingshot because it is cheaper to practice with.

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Susan,

You could take a look at: http://www.slingshotworld.com/

They have some nice folding wrist rockets and a selection of ammo and replacement tubing. Not too expensive.

I took a lot of bunnies with a slingshot and they were clean kills (and good eating). First good one was a wooden one my Dad made me from 1" plywood, surgical tubing, and a pouch from a leather shoe tongue. Had to know how to repair the elastics on that one. Much later, a wrist rocket and frankly, that style (braced) is a lot easier to be accurate with.

I used industrial marbles for serious ammo - they were really cheap and there was a local source for bulk purchases (minimum 1000). Acorns were great for messing around with. River pebbles are a closer range proposition - too inaccurate compared to marbles. I used some 36 cal lead balls from time to time but really, the marbles were the best thing for hunting IMHO.

Long time ago... they have better commercial slingshots now. Carry a spare set of elastics, though.

Thanks for your post, Sue. I've been interested in learning how to use a slingshot, and your post is a helpful start.

Christina:

You mean you are going to learn to use a slingshot by shooting at your sisters fannies? <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

A slingshot is a good choice in the bug out bag in your car, if you live in a anti gun state like CA.

A slingshot is better than nothing, or carrying a gun and going to jail.

"You mean you are going to learn to use a slingshot by shooting at your sisters fannies?"

That's called "incentive", Bounty!

CA (where I was born & raised): The State doesn't like guns in the hands of the victims. All the criminals have guns. Hollywood is in CA, it is anti-gun, but the film industry has made more money off guns than any group of drug lords. Am I missing something here?

Sue

Unless you live in a place (NYC) that litterally puts a wrist brace slingshot in the EXACT same category as a pistol - yep carry an illeagl pistol or a slingshot - same penalties apply

Yep, Wally World/K-Mart is as good as any place. Around here, Central PA, Lowes home store carries surgical tubing, and the Dollar Stores usually have bags of marbles. I think they are meant to be used in fish bowls or flower pots. I got my sling at Wally World. Pretty amazing thing from the ones we used when we were kids.

Susan:

What you are missing is called "Hypocrisy".

Did you know that Arnold, Mel, and Sly are all anti-gun? Go figure that one out.

Bountyhunter

Then that would make them pro-money at the cost of their values.

Hypocricy indeed!

Can you tell me the source of your information that Mel (I assume you mean Mel Gibson) is anti-gun?

Thanks, Vince

Norad45:

He is an Austrailian and I think (but am not sure.) that there was mention of him in one of my American Rifleman magazines. Strictly based on heresay.

Remember Diane Feinstein is anti-gun but owns a .38 snubby, so if you have seen Mel hunting somewhere, that does not make him pro-gun.

If you have different information, please advise.

Bountyhunter

I get the American Hunter which generally has the same political updates. Arnold is no friend and I do remember something negative about Stallone but I can recall nothing about Gibson. The only complaints I have been able to find that concern him were over that horrible Lethal Weapon 4, but he also made The Patriot, which despite its other faults is about as pro-gun as you can get. It's dangerous to judge an actors politics by the roles he plays though--look at Alec Baldwin <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Regards, Vince

FYI Mel Gibson is an American. He was born in Peekskill, NY 01/03/56. He didn't move to Australia until age 12 and he has always maintained American citizenship. As for his views on gun control I hear he is as conservative about that as he is everything else - very right wing. The Handgun Control propaganda that showed up as set dressing in Lethal Weapon 2 was courtesy of Richard Donner and Danny Glover

I knew he was American. And I kind of figured he was probably well to the right of the Hollywood crowd when it came to RKBA. Thanks for the info.

Regards, Vince

Norad45:

He may have made a pro-gun movie because the producers were pro-gun but I would still question his personal stand.

What about Alec Baldwin?

Bountyhunter

Eodman:

The last I heard, he, his wife, and his family live on a large ranch in Australia. If he is maintaining American citizenship, I would question his reason for maintaining primary residence in Australia while retaining American citizenship.

If I was as popular and as in demand as an actor, and as financially well off as Mel Gibson, I would demand roles without the anti-gun rhetoric of any movie I was asked to star in.

Bountyhunter

"What about Alec Baldwin?"

I was referring specifically to his role as Lt. Col. James Doolittle in "Pearl Harbor". His appearance did provide the final nail in the coffin of a truly execrable movie (my opinion only.) The point again being that you can't tell an actors politics strictly by the roles they play.

Vince

Bounty,
Yes he has a ranch in Australia. Also 1 in Wyoming and vacation property at Lake Norris in Tennessee. He lives in Malibu. Should he choose to reside in Australia, so what? He spent his teenage and early adult years there and probably loves the place. There are literally 100's of 1000's of American expats around the globe and each chooses to do so for their own reasons.

I suspect that if Mr. Gibson only made films that he thought were politically acceptable he would not be nearly as wealthy or in demand. That's why they call it acting <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Ed

And ya might not be working nearly as much as he is; give the guy a break, bounty, after all he's an actor, not a senator. Drifting slightly, why is it that a vast sector of society is so insecure with their own thoughts and beliefs, that they feel the need to follow an actor or sports star... doesn't anybody think for themselves (outside this circle, of course) any more???

Troy

P.S. The reason I've been so quiet lately, is that I've been busy with another outage, I got out of LaSalle stn. last Sunday, and start Cordova on Monday. I'll probably be M.I.A. for another month again, but it was good to get a chance to catch up on the posts. Keep yer heads down and yer eyes open...

P.P.S. By the way, a slingshot makes an excellent addition to the survival armory, if you take the time to practice with it, on the same line of thought, a sling (two strings and a pouch) is even better (more power and longer range), but takes a LOT more practice to be any good with.

If you're hot, you're hot.

Dennis Franz from NYPD Blues is fat, balding, older middle aged, not what one would consider handsome, a very good actor who supports and participates in NRA sponsered events and still works in the primarily anti-gun hollywood.

Mel Gibson would still work a lot for high salaries because in addition to being a good actor, good looking with a full head of hair, still young, physically fit, and based on "The Passion of The Christ" success, a great director and movie producer. He tackled a movie that made him more enemies with his movie than he would demanding the removal of anti-gun themes in the movies he stars in.

I am not saying push the pro-gun issue, just play the part you are hired for without subtle inferences to political idealogies that may be contrary to your beliefs.

Bountyhunter

"I am not saying push the pro-gun issue, just play the part you are hired for without subtle inferences to political idealogies that may be contrary to your beliefs."

You really have to see "The Patriot". It's kind of like "Braveheart" with firearms--just not as good.... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

But he does actually cast his own bullets. Nothing subtle about that movie at all.

Regards, Vince

I saw "The Patriot" where he cast a ball out of one of his dead sons little lead soldiers.

The movie was pro-American revolution, but nowhere in the movie did he extoll the virtues of gun ownership like his movie with Danny Glover where they made constant references to teflon coated bullets as cop killers and even had a tear jerker scene where a young cop hiding behind an empty 55 gallon drum gets shot by a "cop killer" bullet and dies.

The average person does not know that you do not need a teflon coated bullet to penetrate an empty 55 gallon drum and the bullet goes where it is shot so the only "cop killer" is the guy doing the shooting.

Bountyhunter

Hell ! I hate to be the one who has to tell it, but the others don't have the guts !!

Bounty, you aren't !!! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

But don't let the fact despairs you. Here, on the ETS forum, I'm sure there are people who do love you ... well... there must be some... who at least like you ...
Anybody ?? no ?!? hu...... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Frenchy:

Please get naked and do deep knee bends in a cucumber field. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Thank you very much. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

well ... I guess I understand the purpose of the proposed exercise...
How nasty !

I was just trying to help ... and I DO like you ... honest !

Frenchy:

Nasty but not automatically censorable. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Don't worry, I am not as sensitive as S. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Yeah ....
I knew carrots give pink tighs.
Now I understand cumcumbers give muscled thighs ....

When ever i go out into the wood i take a Black Widow catapult (made by Barnett) with me. They are realy strong anthe the folding wrist support gives it a bit more strength. But if you want real precision you should always go for the Pro Diablo. It is very similar to the Black Widow but has special wieght attached. Hope this has helped [color:"black"] [/color]

Hi Susan. Nice to see other people's fondness for such a useful piece of survival gear. Thought I was a rare breed to think that the slingshot was a viable weapon. The one I would recommend is the Tru-Mark FS-1. I have been using one now for 17 years and my Dad has been using his Tru-Mark for at least 25+ years. They are well made, light, cost effective and don't have a little plastic insert on the tubing to worry about. A little swipe of an alcohol pad (or lick of the tongue on the arms) and the bands are replaced. Have used it for squirrel, doves, snakes, rabbits, pretty much any small game. Even used it to kill a rabid skunk. Also the FS-1 has a hollow handle great for either storing ammo or holding a small knife blade for skinning and fire starting kit like mine. As with any weapon practice is key and since I am sure your siblings wouldn't mind helping you, a cardboard box full of loose wadded paper balls makes a great shot trap. Put it on the floor to practice shooting downward, that's where most of your shots will be. Have one in my apartment, not only is it nice to practice inside, but great way to relieve stress. Sorry this is lengthy, just wanted to be thorough.

How are you killing small game with a slingshot? Knocking them unconcious with head shots? I have put 6 38cal rounds in a skunk and not killed him.

GRanted this was a Texas skunk amd I'm sure y'all know that EVERYTHING IS bigger in Texas! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Hey Brian. Used a 3/8 steel shot with the RR2 bands. Same kind Tru-Mark has on their site. Was about 20 or so feet away, hit dead (no pun intended) center between the eyes. Had to use a slingshot because it was in the bikes on one of my buddy's porch. To close to use anything else without worrying about a fearful ricochet. Admittedly it was already sick and probably on it's last leg, but to be safe I was backed up by two people, one with a shovel and one with a pitch-fork, in case it just got really POed and came after me. Everything else I just get as close as possible and good shot placement (lot's of practice). Have used 38 cal. bullets before, but to much weight is as bad as not enough.

That's what happened during my one close encounter with a skunk (which I should add, appeared to be rabid). Althought in the end the skunk died and I lived, I felt for atleast a week as though he has wont the battle. So did anyone that came near the house or truck for about a week after that. I have never messed with a skunk since. I will walk barefoot in the woods and not even flinch when I see a snake but I see a skunk these days and I'm terrified! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Understand the fear. Not many things can get me riled up and toe-stepping away from a camp faster than a skunk. Just something about even though it may be gone, the gift it left will stay awhile. Wasn't to afraid of left over smell around the house seeing that it was my buddies and I could go home to a skunk free home <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Although one would think I had a trophy elk in my sights the way I was shaking <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Simple to use, cheap ammo and could be used to get small game. Plus being generally legal ... A good idea for a kit.

TRO

I am curious about a tool referred to as a DELBOW. Woods Hoods mentions it and they are supposed to be basically a carabiner using a sling shot band to fire off a dart. Kind of like a multi-tasking pocket crowssbow.

However, I have found little or no information about it.

Ron Hood shows you how to make the Delbow in his vol. 3 - Survival Kits video. I think it may have also been discussed in his forum (linked to in his website). If you're wondering whether or not his videos are worth it, let me just say this, I own all his DVDs. <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />


Robert