Attention! Hunting with a slingshot is prohibited on the territory of the Russian Federation; this information is provided for informational purposes only. Follow the hunting rules and laws of your country.
Many experienced hunters have a rather contradictory attitude towards this type of weapon, such as a hunting slingshot. And there are reasons for this, since without understanding this type of weapon, it is difficult to imagine how it could be better than a gun and a carbine. However, hunting with a slingshot has a number of advantages, you just need to study the “subject” in more detail. For example, using a slingshot you can successfully hunt squirrels, hares, muskrats and otters. There were cases when a small boar was even shot with a slingshot. Therefore, very often the choice of hunters falls on this type of weapon.
What is a hunting slingshot?
First you need to figure out what parts the slingshot consists of.
At first glance, it may seem that its structure is elementary:
- Handle or base. A tourniquet is attached to the handle, which helps to hold the slingshot in your hands when firing;
- Tourniquet – when pulled, it accumulates energy for a shot;
- Kozhetok - holds the projectile in its grip during the shot.
The first material used to create homemade slingshots was wood (cherry, oak, apple tree and others). To do this, they selected the densest and tightest branch in the tree, then tied the slingshot supports together with twine. This structure was left for three months so that it acquired the desired shape and secured it. Only after acquiring the shape, the branch was sawed off from the tree and the bark was cleared. The form was fired over an open fire and polished with a cloth.
The main element is the elastic band; it is necessary that it quickly returns to its original position after the shot. An elastic band up to 30 cm long was put on the base, and it was pulled not in one, but in several layers. The tourniquet is attached in small strips to the base, they are called “harnesses”. The ends of the elastic are attached to the leatherette. A leatherette is a small piece of leather with two holes for a tourniquet. Tanned leather, for example, from an old belt, is suitable.
GloveShot slingshot – within the limits of the law
Easy to disassemble and assemble, training is required to hit the target. Powerful survival slingshots are banned in many countries. After all, the latter are equipped with hand protection; and strong cords allow heavy projectiles to be thrown far and accurately. But thanks to the genius of Jörg Sprave, this ban is circumvented. The GloveShot may not be a full-fledged slingshot with hand protection, but in terms of its capabilities it is very close to one. Let's start with the fact that its strands allow you to apply a force of 7.26 kg to the projectile; and thanks to its design features, it is suitable for both right and left hands. So you can throw nine-millimeter metal balls at a speed of 45 m/s. The hand rest is very reliable. And such a slingshot can be used quite legally. Shooting requires some practice, as this device is more like a small bow than a regular slingshot. The fork on the handle can withstand a maximum force of 250 kg; and the stainless steel nuts are easily removed, which allows you to quickly assemble and disassemble the device. So this weapon can be carried discreetly, for example in a bag or backpack.
Price: 12,000 rub.
Advantages and disadvantages
Every hunter will ask the question, what are the advantages of this type of weapon?
The advantages are quite enough to choose this type of weapon for hunting:
- This is a very inexpensive weapon.
- High shot power with minimal noise.
- The damage radius is up to 10 meters, and there are models with a damage radius of up to 70 meters.
- It is difficult to carry a gun or bow unnoticed by people, and a slingshot for hunting, given its small size, few will notice.
- If the hunter is well prepared, then a shot from a slingshot can be carried out in an instant, and due to the lack of noise, a second attempt can be realized in a few seconds.
- A hunting slingshot can be used in any conditions, even while walking or fishing, because you can hit any target within reach.
But there are several disadvantages to this type of weapon:
- Short aiming range and small killing range compared to a shotgun.
- Due to the low shot force, it is not possible to hunt large animals.
- The harness wears out very quickly.
- For a successful hunt, the hunter must have extensive experience and good aiming skills.
Principle of operation
So, on what principle does this compact and fairly powerful type of hunting weapon work? A classic-sized slingshot can easily fit in a hunter’s fist.
We’ve already figured out what a slingshot consists of, but how it works needs to be studied in more detail. A projectile is placed in a tourniquet or elastic band. After the projectile is inserted, you need to stretch the elastic on the sides, then take aim and release the leather insert with the projectile in one movement.
The shot itself occurs according to the following principle: with a sharp contraction of the rubber band, kinetic energy from it is transferred to the projectile. This energy is enough for the projectile to reach a speed of up to 80 m/s, and the range can reach up to 200 m. These figures will depend on what material the slingshot is made of, what its design is and the type of ammunition.
The types of ammunition are quite varied. It can be:
- Plastic balls of various sizes - used for training and practicing shooting skills. Multiple uses.
- Shot, buckshot made of metal of various sizes. Used directly for hunting.
- Small and medium stones.
Balls for slingshots 10 mm, 8 mm, 12 mm
It's time to talk about slingshot ammunition. The slingshot is widely used among amateurs and athletes, since it does not require special equipment. They are quite easy to purchase, as well as make them yourself from scrap materials. The choice of shells directly depends on the weight and the slingshot itself. Basically, the choice of slingshot is designed for the owner of this weapon, for his strength and endurance. It is taken into account that the balls for the slingshot must still be made of metal. 10 mm balls are mainly used for hunting small animals, but can also be used in sports. Metal balls measuring 10 mm increase the speed of fire, and their size also affects the speed of the shot.
photo. Metal slingshot
Objects measuring about 10 mm hit the target from a long distance, and the force of the shot remains the same. The probability of a hit is quite high, it is enough to fire 1-2 shots to hit the target. Metal balls with a diameter of 10 mm are quite durable and do not change shape, which allows them to be used many times. They can also be used for shooting at targets from a long distance, which is probably why they are in quite high demand among athletes. Balls measuring 12 mm are also common. Metal balls with a diameter of 12 mm should always be at hand. Due to their round shape and fairly high density, 12 mm steel balls fly further and hit harder, and also make it more accurate. To make shooting more interesting, use 10 mm and 12 mm metal balls, they will help achieve this. They are perfect for shooting at targets from a long distance, so they are in fairly high demand among athletes. Balls measuring 12 mm are also common. Steel balls for slingshots with a diameter of 12 mm should always be on hand.
Thanks to the spherical shape and the required density of the material, 12 mm steel balls for slingshots significantly increase the range and power of shooting, making it more accurate. If you want your shooting to become more interesting, then using 10 mm and 12 mm metal balls will help achieve this.
Shooting technique
How to properly use a slingshot for hunting and make the most successful shots that hit the target? Hunting with a slingshot can be a pleasure if you know the shooting technique.
The main thing in hunting with a slingshot is the aiming and stance of the hunter. That is, you need to understand the essence of how to shoot from a slingshot. First, let's look at the aiming technique. There are basically two techniques: instinctive and targeted.
Instinctive shooting
The essence of this method is that the hunter aims “by eye”. In this case, two eyes are focused on the target, the hunter sees the slingshot and skin only with peripheral vision. In this way, the goal is achieved more by intuition than by sight. If, according to the hunter’s feelings, the direction of the weapon and the rubber bands is correct, then the skin itself goes down. The advantage of this type of aiming is that the projectile range is automatically calculated. And when hunting, calculating flight range is a very necessary quality.
Another advantage is that it does not matter which eye sees better. The disadvantage of this type of aiming is that when changing the slingshot or the rubber band on it, you will have to re-master the aiming technique, because the trajectory of the projectile changes depending on the quality characteristics of this type of weapon. In order for shots to be accurate when intuitively aiming, you must be able to mentally imagine the trajectory of the ammunition. And this requires shooting experience, which can be gained by shooting at cans or targets. During the learning process, you need to constantly imagine which line the projectile will fly along, try not to blink during shots, and see the point where the projectile hits after the shot.
Aiming with an eye
When shooting with an eye, the results are more effective. The sight can be any landmark on the slingshot that aligns the eyes, the shooting device itself, and the target. You can make your own guide. The point of aiming will be that the aiming eye, the sight of the slingshot, will be lined up strictly in a straight line. For this type of aiming, it is better to use one eye, which has sharper vision. The second eye can be closed for convenience.
Most often, when using an eye gauge, the skin will be in a tense position in the area of the face on the side of the dominant eye. But we must not forget about convergence, which can significantly deteriorate the quality of shooting. Therefore, the slingshot sight must be placed at some distance so that the lines intersect at the location of the target. The scope is convenient to use when several models are used for hunting, with different tension forces and shot quality.
Depending on the hunter’s stance, and also depending on whether he is moving or standing still, several types of aiming and shooting can be distinguished:
- Aiming technique while moving - keeping the sight steady while moving is a very difficult task, almost impossible. But this type of technique does not require the hunter to be completely immobilized. When moving, the sight should move along a line similar to a figure eight laid on its side, or along the line of the infinity sign. The point where the circles will intersect should be the target point. In fact, the point of aiming will be that the skin will be released when the line of sight coincides with the location of the target. It is important to act quickly here because how quickly the skin is released plays a big role. As you gain experience, your shots will be well-aimed and accurate. The sight line can move along other trajectories. Some use horizontal or vertical movements of the sight.
- Fixed aiming technique. With this technique, you need to aim the sight at the target, lock it and fire the shot. With experience, this technique gives very high results. To achieve high results in this technique, the main thing is to learn how to hold your hands with the weapon in a stationary position for as long as possible, and when shooting, make a minimum delay, up to about 6 seconds. This tactic is mainly used when shooting from a sports slingshot.
Safety precautions
When shooting with a slingshot, it is important to follow safety precautions so that you don’t get hurt instead of the animal:
- When hunting with a slingshot, you should always wear safety glasses;
- You should not aim at animals if you do not intend to shoot at them;
- you always need to see who or what is behind the animal you are aiming at;
- do not shoot into the air over hills and buildings if the target is not clearly visible;
- beware of ricochet.
The same rules apply when shooting from a sports slingshot.
Hunting tactics
You can hunt small animals or birds, such as hares, ducks, and squirrels.
The tactics of hunting with a slingshot are somewhat different from hunting with other types of weapons and have some features. In this case, the hunting tactic is to get as close as possible to the animal, or to lure it out of the hole. In this case, the ammunition is released silently and if the first attempt is unsuccessful, there is a high chance of making a second, more successful shot, since the animal may not notice or hear the first shot.
Review of popular models
Nowadays, the market offers a huge selection of slingshots for every taste, but among them there are the most popular factory-made models, and not homemade slingshots:
- Dankung Hunting Slingshot is a powerful hunting slingshot. Simple in design, it perfectly performs its functions. Made of aircraft-grade aluminum, its weight is about 200 g. Its main advantage is shooting accuracy, which is ensured by a narrow spear. Ideal for hunting.
- Gloveshot Combat Slingshot is made of anodized aluminum and can be disassembled for easy portability. The rod is wide, which reduces shooting accuracy, however, with constant training, accuracy increases significantly.
- Pocket Predator Hathcock Target Sniper – this combat slingshot fits perfectly in the hand and does not cause any discomfort when shooting. The base is made of steel, which is surrounded by a layer of rubber on top. Can be classified as a sports slingshot.
- Survival Slingshot Archer Complete is a tactical slingshot designed for hunting. It is distinguished by its equipment, which includes a flashlight that helps with night hunting. You can also use arrows as ammunition.
- The FS-1 model from Truemark has been on the market for more than half a century. It is lightweight and has a clip for charges. The hand rest can be removed.
Ammunition for slingshot
Slingshot with arrow.
Suitable projectiles:
- buckshot;
- metal balls from bearings;
- large fraction.
From this list, 8.5 mm buckshot would be the best choice. The use of arrows with greater lethality allows you to expand the range of targets.
To shoot arrows or darts, a wire guide is attached to homemade slingshots.
In production models, “Whisker bristles” are installed for this purpose. It is a torus-shaped part with long-pile filler. This design replaced the traditional shelf, which significantly increased the dimensions of the weapon.
Do it yourself
You can make a slingshot for hunting with your own hands, it’s not very difficult.
Materials needed to make a slingshot:
- wood, plastic, metal for the base of the structure;
- rubber for slingshot;
- a piece of tanned leather.
Tools you will need to make your own slingshot:
- jigsaw (if the slingshot is made of wood).
- sandpaper;
- scissors;
- drill.
Stages of work
How to make a slingshot for hunting without spending a lot of money and time is described below. This is the most common and basic model for hunting.
The best wood for a hunting slingshot is walnut, oak, ash or maple. You need to find a forked branch of the required shape or cut a slingshot of the desired shape and size from solid wood. If the choice fell on a branch, then you need to clear the bark from the rock.
The workpiece is sanded using sandpaper. Next, prepare a place for attaching the elastic band. Two slits are made on the handle, according to the size of the elastic band. The distance from the end of the horns should be about 2 cm. An elastic band is wrapped around each horn and tied in a knot. The ends of the elastic band are placed on the horns so that they are a continuation of each horn, and in place of the slots in the handle you need to tie them with a thin elastic band. It is better to sand all the holes and slots perfectly so that the rubber does not wear out too quickly.
The “saddle” of the slingshot is best made of leather measuring 3x5 cm. Small holes are made along the edges through which an elastic band is threaded and a knot is tied. The elastic band is the main part in this device. The elastic band can be replaced by using a slingshot tourniquet. The slingshot for hunting is ready!
You can make a slingshot with your own hands from other materials - for example, make a blank from metal or plastic. You can make a powerful slingshot with your own hands if you pay special attention to the quality of the elastic and spare no expense on it. It is better to buy rubber for a slingshot from a branded manufacturer that has all the necessary physical characteristics. A homemade slingshot can be a worthy alternative to a factory model. Plus, you can make a slingshot with your own hands to perfectly fit the size of the hunter’s hand.
What does a slingshot consist of?
Three required parts of any slingshot:
- The handle is made of various materials, providing a uniform grip, fastening of all components and additional equipment.
Slingshot for hunting. - A tension mechanism, which can consist not only of elastic cords, but also block systems similar to crossbows and bows.
- Leather saddle (saddle) for placing and centering the projectile. Its size should not create parasitic windage that reduces power.
