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Post by justin520 on Dec 17, 2013 5:14:51 GMT
Ok so I'm sort of working on my bug out bag and figured hunting is super important post apocalypse (or whatever) lol. Now I've been hunting with a rifle plenty for medium to large game, this is not conducive to SHTF situations for 2 reasons, 1 is curing a buttload of meat on the go and 2 is ammo is precious. So my alternative here is a small game slingshot, fire some rocks at squirrels and birds and collect plants on the side to eat. All I want to know is, what is an optimal slingshot for this job? Durability is a must, and I would also like to know where to get replacement bands so as to have those in my bugout set up as well.
As always, please and thanks.
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Post by Onimusha on Dec 17, 2013 6:36:17 GMT
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Post by Barnaum on Dec 17, 2013 12:06:47 GMT
You should look at the designs from this guy: He makes the most inspired slingshots I have ever seen. Everything from gatlin to hunting slingshots. I believe he also posts schematics and sells some of his designs.
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Post by aussie-rabbit on Dec 17, 2013 13:42:20 GMT
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Post by justin520 on Dec 17, 2013 15:14:03 GMT
Thanks for posting guys! Anybody here have personal experience with any of these?
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Post by greypilgrim on Dec 19, 2013 14:29:33 GMT
I've always used a cheapo Wrist Rocket and steel ball bearings. Perfect for squirrels,rabbits,and other small game. There is really no need to go high tech on something like this. You can always make your own from a forked stick and a slice of innertube. My feeling is what you know will be far more important than what you have when the SHTF.
As with many things, practice is the key.
Just my 2cents worth,Kenny
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Post by Sir Thorfinn on Dec 20, 2013 1:22:23 GMT
My .02 www.simple-shot.com/collections/ ... slingshots Look thru his videos, this guy makes lots of 'normal' slingshots, but he also uses about anything with a fork in it too. I have a 'Scout' and love it. He sells bandsets that are in airtight uv proof bags for bug out kits, and is basically a wealth of info. But I agree with GreyPilgrim, if you have what you need for basic tools, what you know is far more important. Plus, if you think hitting a squirrel with a slingshot is easy....you need to practice more.
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Post by ineffableone on Dec 20, 2013 2:45:46 GMT
Bands for slingshots are the fatal flaw in putting too much stock in slingshots for PAW. The bands break down due to use (every time stretching rubber you are lowering it's lifespan) as well as just air and sun exposure breaking it down. Even completely sealed in mylar they will age and become brittle. 4-6 yrs is a typical life for many bands in heavy use. This means while the sling shot would make a good short term transition weapon for SHTF, it will not last into PAW for very long unless you find wild rubber tress and have the knowledge to harvest and produce new rubber. All that said, I do pack a slingshot in my INCH pack along with 2 replacement bands, a Saunder's Double Eagle with the black mamba band on it 1 black mamba replacement band, and 1 black tube band. The black rubber is a more powerful band, about a #40 to #50 pull. Also bands are better at releasing the stored energy than the tubes are. The replacement bands are stored in air and light tight packages. To preserve them longer. I plan on swapping my bands after 4 yrs and buying new replacement bands. So I always have a decent life left in them if there is a collapse of society. If you want long term durability and self sustainability you want to opt with a sling like Ned suggests. BTW you might want to check out SBGs The Unofficial Survival Thread viewtopic.php?f=17&t=775There are also quite a few other threads on SBG you might want to look through. Some sling shot related others just SHTF related. I am sure there are others but those are the ones I could quickly find. Bow, sling shot and crossbow for hunting/survival viewtopic.php?f=17&t=12662Creative use of a sling shot viewtopic.php?f=24&t=492Whats the top of the line survival gear? viewtopic.php?f=17&t=12413What's in your apocalypse bag? viewtopic.php?f=17&t=12124
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Post by justin520 on Dec 23, 2013 6:08:29 GMT
I could use some vids on technique for such a device. Can't these kill people with an immense enough swing velocity (i.e. a giant screwing with a sheep herder) Not that I'd want to do that, but knowing that it can also means that this is good for big game, which PAW means food and of course more slings Should they be short/long are there different styles? And again videos on technique for both hunting and combat would rule.
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Post by Chuditch on Dec 23, 2013 8:58:54 GMT
I don't know if I will get in to trouble for spruiking a particular type of slingshot but I do use and recommend the Pocket Predator line of slingshots. My accuracy and lethality with a slingshot was always a subject for hilarity but using these slingshots that quickly changed. They shoot 'gangster' grip so side on, like a bow. Pretty sure they are also good for shooting arrows for larger game also... www.pocketpredator.com/
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Post by Chuditch on Dec 23, 2013 9:34:53 GMT
A further point to consider, I grew up in rural and remote Australia and as a kid hunted feral Rabbits, Monitor lizards etc using throwing sticks or 'kylies' as we called them. We even used them on fish with good effect! Nothing fancy, just a length of heavy timber about an inch or so thick and a foot to a foot and a half long. Very effective on rabbits, re-useable and sustainable, easy to make. Sometimes I think we get all carried away with survival technologies when simple ancient technologies (like the simple 'David' sling above) evolved as refining design with the matter of survival and ease of use and construction being high on the agenda.
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Post by jlwilliams on Dec 23, 2013 13:13:46 GMT
I have a slingshot with a flip-up arrow rest on my X-mas list this year. I'm hoping to see one of these www.chiefaj.com/ under the tree. Should be fun. This rig is better than most because you can use it with arrows or with ball, and more importantly it's all set up to take a reel if you want to archery-fish with it. Hopefully I'll have some target shooting to report soon. I searched all over for fold-up arrow shooting slingshots and found this one to be what looks best as far as versatility, available accessories and all that. Besides, Chief AJ is a colorful showman. I just like him and his stuff. My plan is to use this for recreational shooting with some small game hunting and hopefully some archery fishing (that I will have to travel for, not much good archery fishing where I am) All of the points made about slingshots (and the bands) not being sustainable if the whole of industrial civilization goes away are true enough, but I don't get too wrapped around the axle on that line of thinking. While I do believe that large scale disasters can and do happen, I find many people paint a future imagined from watching too many bad doomsday movies. If you are planning a "bug out bag" you are more than likely to use it because of a temporary regional disaster or (MOST likely) a disaster that has befallen you alone. By that I mean you are stuck in the middle of a remote area you were driving through when something went wrong, or beating feet because of something in your own life not related to comets, zombies or nuclear anything. Getting lost while hiking or even taking to the trails for a few weeks to avoid subpoena, loansharks, 'civil process' or whatever until you can face them on your terms really happens to people all the time. Zombie apocalypse not so often. (this impeachment of chat-room teotwawki/shtf/whatever 'wisdom' not pointed at any posters thus far in this thread. I've read a bunch of nonsense online and bet you may have too. You know what I mean) Point is, if you want a good slingshot, by all means get the best one you can lay your hands on, have a great time with it pre-doomsday and maybe doomsday happens, maybe not. My son and I spent some time last summer really shooting our slingshots a lot. The biggest factor in slingshot effectiveness is your own ability to hit with it. I got a big bag of garbanzo beans to use as practice ammo. They are fairly consistent size and shape and they fly fairly well. They lack mass and density so they don't have much kinetic energy. That means ricochet is less dangerous that with steel ball bearings. DO NOT UNDER ESTIMATE THE DANGER OF RICOCHETS. A steel ball can bounce off a hard object and come back with enough force to burry itself in your skull. I'll dig around and find a youtube video of that happening. It's ugly. The projectile that is best for hunting is lead balls. Much better penetration than steel. Musket balls are available (as are ball molds) if you really want to kill small game. One huge advantage of the slingshot is that you can take it out hiking and get a little recreational target shooting in the outdoors without getting in trouble like you might if you tried the same with a 22 pistol, or even a pellet gun. Both of those are great, don't get me wrong, but a slingshot is super compact and portable, quiet shooting and is seen by most authorities in a much friendlier light than almost any other small game capable weapon.
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Post by ineffableone on Dec 23, 2013 18:48:21 GMT
If the video your thinking of is Jorge's "safety slighslot" video, then it is a hoax. It was made to mess with people and as a promotional stunt for his zombie movie he is working on.
It is true you should watch for ricochets and that they can be dangerous. Just not that video as an example.
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hhmoore
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Post by hhmoore on Dec 23, 2013 20:26:20 GMT
One thing to consider before heading out and about with a slingshot - the so called wrist rocket type is illegal in a number of places. I was under the impression that a "gangster grip" was pretty commonly used (with modern slingshots, at least). Never heard it called that...but maybe that's why I got such a kick out of it.
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Post by jlwilliams on Dec 23, 2013 21:43:21 GMT
That was the one I was thinking of. I didn't know it was staged. He did an excellent job, that looked real.
I stand corrected about that video example but stick to my statement that the humble ricochet is not to be underestimated.
I like his videos. He has an interesting approach to rubber band power. If he's doing a low budget independent Z-flick, it should be fun.
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Post by ineffableone on Dec 23, 2013 22:19:10 GMT
Sling shots themselves are illegal in NJ, not just wrist rockets, "without a lawful purpose" to have one. They are still sold in some stores here, and there are competition sling shot groups, that use competitive shooting as their lawful reason. Hunting however in NJ is not a lawful purpose. I made sure to talk to my LEOs and get the legal purpose of target shooting, and using while camping to shoot a bear bag line into a tree approved.
Of course you have to love terms like "without lawful purpose" when reading a law regarding an item. Really? can you get a little more vague? :roll:
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Post by john570 on Dec 30, 2013 18:33:40 GMT
Go on YouTube and checkout Dave Canterbery's sling bow.
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Talon
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Senior Forumite
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Post by Talon on Jan 24, 2014 3:40:42 GMT
I've been getting into Slingshots lately and I came upon this beauty www.montiegear.com/Slingshot_Y-Shot.htmlI love the design of it but for what it is it's way overpriced.Still easy enough to do a version of it so I'm going to buy a block of Aluminium and make one Apparently flat bands are better than tubes.It's been years since I owned my old Barnett strike nine,but I've got fond memories of terrorizing tin cans with it.
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Makoto Pat
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Post by Makoto Pat on Nov 3, 2014 1:43:33 GMT
I have used slingshots for about 30 years...I was inspired as a boy by watching a The Bean Man on the Heartland Series, an old public television show. He was an old timer who made and used slingshot and he used beans for ammo. You can get a fairly inexpensive 'Chinese Style" slingshot from the Bay of e and remove the handle and replace them with a paracord wrap of some useful lengths...I place some survival gear in the wrap ( a fire steel, some monofilament line, and fishing hooks, etc...) I also discovered you can buy a large length of replacement tubing of various diameter for real cheap...I just put some old leather, rubber bands (for tying off) small zip ties, and tubing in a Altoids can. I can replace my bands 3 times and carry only a few ounces. You can also get the Whisper Biscuit arrow rest and attack it like in Dave Canterbury's video...But it costs twice as much as all my other slingshot gear combined. But arrows are good medicine when hunting or spear fishing (which is often illegal).
I like Talon's suggestion of making one...but that may not be everyone's cup of tea. I also just enjoy shooting my slingshot into the river using stones found there.
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Makoto Pat
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Just got my favorite alert status from U.S. Postal Services- Out for delivery!
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Post by Makoto Pat on Nov 3, 2014 1:53:50 GMT
Here is the link...I can only imagine how good he would have been with this modern tubing...
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