[003]

I'm not exactly sure where to post this since there is no "general" forum here. Hope this is all right.

Anyway I am looking to buy a good slingshot for hitting targets and hunting small game. The usual -- nothing too fancy.

So I am wondering what slingshot I should get. The Precision Shots PS-55M is currently the most attractive to me so far.

But I am concerned that it may be a gimmick and will easily break or something like that. Does anybody have any experience with it?

The laser sight and red dot scope make it very attractive, I have to say. How well do they work?

[plumberroy]

http://www.slingshots.com/html/sling-shots-ws1.html
One of the first commercial made braced still the best IMHO:D
http://www.slingshots.com/html/slingshot-bands-rr2.html
Put these bands on it.:D
I killed a rabbit with the heavy bands and a paint ball :banghead: was just trying to convince him to stay out of my garden
Roy

[003]

Hmm with that slingshot, if you use the powerbands, wouldn't the prongs of the fork get closer together? Isn't that bad?

[Tom Krein]

I don't see a problem with those bands on that slingshot...

We used to call them wrist rockets. Man I loved mine when I was a kid!!

Tom

[Crunker1337]

I don't think either an optic or a laser would be effective at all. Optimum velocity of a projectile isn't very high, so there's a lot of projectile drop, reducing the effectivity greatly.
Simplicity is the key here. Buy a no-frills sling shot with a wrist strap and you're set.

[theotherwaldo]

One of the handiest survival tools ever made. I've used wrist rockets to take rabbits, squirrels, carp, turtles, snakes, all kinds of birds, and even used it to harvest fruit and nuts. I've used them to cast bait and lures without a pole and to flip lines over high limbs for caches. Don't go into the woods without one.

The one suggested by plumberroy is a good model. Folding models work, too.

[003]

I guess my only real concern is that all the "real" slingshots you can get seem like they are very cheap (as in cheesy quality) and would break quite easily. Like most seem to have hollow hard plastic handles, would that not break after repeated use?

Why aren't any made of solid stainless steel for example? Sure it would be heavier, but it would also keep it much more stable.

[22-rimfire]

I think the problem is that the target audience for slingshots are kids. Kids for the most part don't have much money, so they are made as cheaply as possible.

The wrist rockets are okay. But the rubber bands break with some age. The same applies to the Crossman version. I have a couple of them.

I use them to scare squirrels (notice I said "scare" not kill) as I have not found a steel ball that will penetrate. Lead doesn't work either. Waste of $ unless you are shooting extremely thin skinned animals such as a rabbit or bird.

[Boomerang]

I agree with Plumberry and unless there are some new super slingshots on the market, the old ones worked well and were comfortable.

I preferred the plain wrist rocket.
Good accuracy too. Put the top arm on the target and pull the band to your nose. Don't put your thumb between the arms and change the bands when they get old or you get smacked in the face when they break.

[Mongrel]

Hmm with that slingshot, if you use the powerbands, wouldn't the prongs of the fork get closer together? Isn't that bad?

No, they don't get closer together to any degree that would be a problem.

I guess my only real concern is that all the "real" slingshots you can get seem like they are very cheap (as in cheesy quality) and would break quite easily. Like most seem to have hollow hard plastic handles, would that not break after repeated use?

Why aren't any made of solid stainless steel for example? Sure it would be heavier, but it would also keep it much more stable.

I think you may not understand how they are made...

Most of them shown on that link are one piece made by bending a solid aluminum rod into a 'frame'. The handle area is covered with a plastic (space-age plastic no doubt) cover and a small piece of tubing is put over the wrist-rest area. There is really nothing to break or wear out as far as the frame\handle is concerned. Of course any rubber\silicone product is subject to breakdown and will eventually need to be replaced. I 've seen these things from the sixties that have been kept in a closet and still work today. Definately a 'fun' bit of survival kit that really works.

I was really glad to see Tru-mark still around and plan on getting one of these just for nostalgia. Well, actually, I was on of those kids that had to make my own slingshots so I wasn't allowed to purchase on of these new-fangled jobs...

hahah...

[MikeJackmin]

I recently got interested in slingshots and played with a number of them; I admit I was surprised to find that the good ol' wrist-rocket style slingshots are still the best. The fancy ones are generally slower, and offer no real advantage that I can see.

The good news is, this is a cheap hobby (even cheaper if you can find a deal on ebay). Get them all! My favorite turned out to be the Crosman folding model, which was most comfortable against my forearm than any of the others.

Steel ball bearings and paintballs make for excellent ammo; lead balls are better left for your muzzleloaders. Power bands will break, so always wear eye protection. Accuracy comes from a consistent stance and a smooth release. I aim by putting the thumb of my draw hand into the pouch of my cheek, laying the top band over the bottom band and putting the front prong just above the target. For live game, get as close as you can, then get closer.

Oh, one other thing - I'm a big fan of the plastic pouches that have the little raised dots inside to hold the ammo centered. Most folks seem to prefer plain leather.

[theotherwaldo]

Lead shot that is larger than .32 is a waste of time. One bag of OO buckshot will last you for years of rat-shooting and pinecone plinking. For most other shooting I prefer marbles of various sizes.

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

And if you go after larger game:

http://www.naturelich.com/archives/images/trebuchet.jpg


:D

[DeTerminator]

Google slingshot forums, and hook up with a guy called "Flatband".

He's a great guy, and is a slingshot guru. Tell him what you want. Tell him Kerry sent you (DeTerminator). He makes a lot of slingshots, and can steer you in the right direction!

Kerry

[Loomis]

I wonder...is there a such thing as a crossbow style slingshot? Something with a trigger released sling? and maybe a shoulder stock of some kind?

[TimboKhan]

I wonder...is there a such thing as a crossbow style slingshot? Something with a trigger released sling?

When I was in High School, I traded a guy that lived down the road from me a carburetor for this slingshotty-rifle sort of thing, and it was AWESOME!!! I specifically was made to fire blowgun darts, and it was surgical right on out to about 10 or 15 yards or so.

Sadly, I have no idea where that thing is or whatever happened to it. I actually wish I still had it, because it was hellacious on pesky rabbits and mice and stuff like that. Except for the twang, it was about as quiet as it gets...

Also, if your just into whacking stuff with the least technology available, might I suggest learning how to use a sling? Believe it or not, there are sling enthusiasts, and they are evidently pretty deadly with them. I am interested enough that I might just make one and goof around with it as a camping game or a "look what I can do" sort of thing.

Finally, I agree with everyone else. I used a wrist rocket for a long time, and found it to be perfectly suitable for all varieties of mischief.

EDIT TO ADD: Also, at one point when I was 8 or 9 or so, I had this little handheld thing that you put these condom-like nipply rubber things on. There was a "reservoir tip" that you put a BB in, then you pretty much just pulled it back by the tip and let rip. I don't remember where I found that (probably at a flea market), and it might have even used actual condoms, but it was fun to sit in the basement and shoot cans with it.

[conwict]

it might have even used actual condoms, but it was fun to sit in the basement and shoot cans with it.

:neener:

[Tacbandit]

"The laser sight and red dot scope make it very attractive, I have to say. How well do they work?"


Can you get Hi-caps for it??? :) Just kidding...haven't seen these in a while...
where else can you find these...?

[Loomis]

something like this, timbokhan?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCvQczUJbLU&feature=related

[TimboKhan]

No, although that looks fairly fun... It was basically just a handle with a round hole that you put the condom over. No barrel or anything like that. It wasn'
t all that powerful, though it was relatively accurate. I doubt seriously that I could have killed anything outside of a mouse at point blank range with it...

Here, I used my awesome Paint skills to sort of draw it. I honestly don't remember how one attached the condom to the handle, but there was some way you could do it, obviously...

http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll191/Timbocaster/condomgun.jpg