PREP Slingshot recommendations

L

LibertyMom

Senior Member
Looking into getting slingshots for my boys. From what little research I’ve done, it looks like I can get a decent one for $30-50 many places, and ammo isn’t bad and is available.

I would like to know what types/sizes of ammo we might want for backyard target practice, small game, and maybe self defense?
 
W

WalknTrot

Veteran Member
Haha! We always used taconite pellets...picked up from the sides of the RR tracks for free. They are perfect but only available locally. ;) (N MN iron mining country).

The size and weight should give an indication.


taconite-shovel-ts-lrg.jpg



DhxYEIMX4AQD4qg.jpg:large
 
1911user

1911user

Veteran Member
I always liked the slingshots with a wrist brace; much better control especially with stronger bands. One with a folding wrist brace carries easy in a pack or maybe a back pocket. Unless desperate, I would not consider one for defense. There are much better tools for that job. Steel ball bearings and marbles are traditional ammo, along with found rounded rocks.

Something like this would be a start for $10:
www.walmart.com

Daisy B52 Sling Shot, solid frame, Shoots Sling Shot Ammunition - Walmart.com

Today Buy Daisy B52 Sling Shot, solid frame, Shoots Sling Shot Ammunition at Walmart.com
www.walmart.com
 
L

LibertyMom

Senior Member
We have better options for defense, but just thinking multi-purpose.

Been planning on wrist brace design, just wondering what size for squirrel/possum or larger.
 
D

dvo

Veteran Member
Sounds like fun I haven’t had since I was a kid. Amazon has bunches of them, but I’d probably stay away from the strange Chinese sounding names. Daisy and Marksman are two traditional choices. Get some spare rubber tubes to fit as well. One vendor there sells steel bearings in different sizes.
 
NoDandy

NoDandy

Has No Life - Lives on TB
1911user said:
I always liked the slingshots with a wrist brace; much better control especially with stronger bands. One with a folding wrist brace carries easy in a pack or maybe a back pocket. Unless desperate, I would not consider one for defense. There are much better tools for that job. Steel ball bearings and marbles are traditional ammo, along with found rounded rocks.

Something like this would be a start for $10:
www.walmart.com

Daisy B52 Sling Shot, solid frame, Shoots Sling Shot Ammunition - Walmart.com

Today Buy Daisy B52 Sling Shot, solid frame, Shoots Sling Shot Ammunition at Walmart.com
www.walmart.com
Click to expand...
I have one of those, lot of fun in back yard. Cheap, bought a spare band. But if need more than toy, I will use a rifle or shotgun.

Would be good for kids. Teach them responsibility, have fun, & self control. Teach them NOT to shoot at innocent animals, or each other !
 
BadMedicine

BadMedicine

Would *I* Lie???
how big of ball bearings? they come in all sizes:-P

As far as the wrist brace, unless you are very frail or weak, unnecessary. Extra moving parts, extra bulk, and extra 'set-up' getting it 'deployed' -unfolded and arm through the hole..

Damn, those taconite pellets look awesome!! They're iron? Whew!! There's probably a side market for those if you packaged 'em up. Are they actually part of the RR bed construction, or just lost off of the cars in transit?

For really powerful hunting I'd look in to the flat bands they make from exercise bands. The gold are the strongest. There are some great youtube channel including one by an aussie called "Gamekeeper" (aussie for game warden) and he hits birds and rabbits dead with one shot at 30 yards ALL THE TIME... I grew up shooting sling shots and have killed probably dozens of rabbits and squirrels and birds over the years, but this guy is a SNIPER!! So once you get pretty good, you can switch to a tiny "pickle fork" and still be sniping rabbits out past 20 yards!

I recommend wide forks, and uniform ammo for beginners.
 
BadMedicine

BadMedicine

Would *I* Lie???
Also, they make great "distractions" You can silently shoot a rock against something far away or behind the enemy/ game and either distract its attention, or drive it towards you. My dad taught me to carry one while archery bow hunting for this purpose and I've used it for moose hunting the same way, or to "check" if something is in some thick brush.. I now always carry the rock sling, la honda, when hunting. It can be used to launch chicken-egg sized rocks a hundred or so yards and has become instrumental in clearing brush I'm suspicious about.

Anything a sling-shot is good for, a rock sling is good for but with more power. It does take quite a bit more practice, but a few sessions and you'll be good enough for distractions..
 
H

Horn

Contributing Member
Check out

SimpleShot.com

I have a Scout and a Ocularus that I like very much....As was said earlier Flat bands are much easier to shoot and learn on than big tubes. Also check out the videos on Youtube by simple Shot and Bill Hicks.
 
H

Horn

Contributing Member
Amazon for steel or Clay balls. Simpleshot videos explain how to match bands to ammo...I would start with 3/8 clay or steel and work up if necessary.
 
Samuel Adams

Samuel Adams

Has No Life - Lives on TB
My Pop made me build my own.

He handed me a broken bicycle inner tube, a pocket knife (my first !! :) ) and pointed me to the woods to fetch a forked stick......

He said I’d learn more that way and, well.....back in those days, school teachers didn’t earn much “disposable income”, as Pops was fond of reminding me.

:shr:
 
W

WalknTrot

Veteran Member
BadMedicine said:
Damn, those taconite pellets look awesome!! They're iron? Whew!! There's probably a side market for those if you packaged 'em up. Are they actually part of the RR bed construction, or just lost off of the cars in transit?
Click to expand...

They are iron ore...not iron. Actually, powdered ore mixed with bentonite clay and limestone, then formed and fired at high temp to harden. Ready made to feed into a blast furnace at a steel mill and easy to handle and transport. Yep, they are great for slingshots. Haha! I wouldn't be surprised if some enterprising soul hasn't figured out to salvage them off the tracks, and sell them for the purpose. They just fall off the open ore cars and lay there.

38313385361_ec0ed0b4a6_b.jpg
 
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F

fish hook

Deceased
My uncle gave me two five gallon buckets of marbles that he had won as a youth.He must have been an awesome marble shooter.My dad set about to teach me how to shoot a slingshot.Don't know how that was supposed to happen,when he was the only one shooting.A short time later we had a couple more buckets to tote water in.
 
T

Thinwater

Firearms Manufacturer
You can buy marbles from the dollar store for cheap ammo. As an interesting side note, when I was a cop, I discovered that the glass marbles shatter when they hit a window and don't leave much for evidence.

Single band slingshots can use up to a 3/8" ball bearing. Bigger is to heavy. A dual or triple band slingshot can shoot 1/2" steel ball bearings.
 
Jmurman

Jmurman

Veteran Member
My grandfather was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was also a dead on shot with a slingshot. He used to get metal plugs from his work at Bethlehem Steel. He would take rabbits in the yard regularly. One time I remember him complaining about some bikers who would park near his house and rev their engines into the wee hours of the morning. One shot from his sling onto the thigh of a biker put an end to their fun and games.
 
Snyper

Snyper

Veteran Member
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The Slingshot Forums

A forum community dedicated to slingshot owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about optics, hunting, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
www.theslingshotforum.com www.theslingshotforum.com
Aug 24, 2020 · Welcome to The Slingshot Forum! The official online community of The Slingshot Channel hosted by Joerg Sprave.
 
C

Coulter

Veteran Member
Watched a youtube couple years back where the guy was using a slingshot make in Australia. Claimed it was one of the best.

But I can't remember the name - anybody know what it is?
 
West

West

Senior
I know the slingshots with the wrist support or wrist rockets? That use the yellow tubing for the tool, will and does disintegrates in less than a year if stored in a area that's not temperature controlled. And does not do much better in temperate controlled storage either.

Just figure a year. Then buy more rubber tubing.
 
Millwright

Millwright

Knuckle Dragger
_______________
I could see a bit of harmless fun being had with one.

Sending some 3/4" ice balls into those peaceful protesters.
 
L

LibertyMom

Senior Member
Millwright said:
I could see a bit of harmless fun being had with one.

Sending some 3/4" ice balls into those peaceful protesters.
Click to expand...

I would not advise my boys or anyone else to take pot shots at protestors. That would just stir up more trouble than we already have.

However, I do like the idea of ice balls for practice. Environmentally-friendly, don’t need to worry about clean-up, never-ending supply of materials.
 
L

LibertyMom

Senior Member
To-late said:
Mostly marble size. But other sizes are occasionally are used. Depending upon what the target is.
Click to expand...

So I would assume, like anything else, you would want to practice with what you will use. So would the biodegradable clay ones be good for practice if you want to take out small game such as a possum? Would steel BBs be preferable for hunting or is any ol’ rock acceptable?I’ll probably end up getting an assortment.
 
Dennis Olson

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
_______________
All these suggestions for ammunition, and many of them are worthless. Anything less than iron, steel or lead don't have enough inertia to travel very far.
 
FreeSpace

FreeSpace

Veteran Member
I shot .36 cal lead balls with my slingshot for years.

Hits real hard and takes out squirrels and bunnies real easy, if you do your part.
 
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