Atlatls

Is anyone out there using the Atlatl? I have been dabbling with them and have made several, it's actually not bad exercise and a fun little hobby when you actually hit what you are throwing at, in my case about one in every thirty throws or so...

That's pretty cool that it's legal for deer in MO, not legal here...I was amazed at how much energy is generated at the spear-point,I make field-tips out of sharpened nails and can drive them through a half-inch ply-board fairly easily. All I have available locally for spear shafts is four foot dowels from the hardware store and can only throw them 180 feet. If I didn't use the Atlatl, I'd be lucky to get 25 feet...I need to find some river cane somewhere. And you're right, walking after the spears keeps you young!

Thanks for the links, gives me a place to start...here's a couple of pics of some the Ats I've made. The weighted one is what I use for all out distance and the two pear-wood ones are what I carry in the woods while killing stumps...

I've looked at the web-site and they seem to be right in the running with a couple of others...dart prices vary, but not by much. Making your own At is pretty easy, generally, the best length is from the V of your thumb and fore-finger to mid bicep, leaving enough length for your grip...longer lengths can give more distance, but tend to be less accurate, shorter is more accurate, but you may sacrifice a little of the power...I found the split knuckle grip was easier to learn the throwing mechanics with and gave me better distance, but now I use a hammer grip for closer targets. I use turkey feathers for for the fletches(they are literally everywhere here now) nails in a piece of copper tube(mash them down around the head with a vise) for field points. I have made a couple points from the shoulder blades of a cow, but if you hit a rock I'm sure they would break. I have been saving them for hunting when I get better at it...

Here's a couple of pics for the points, I guess I used goose feathers on dart with the bone point...the four foot dowels suck, they are too rigid and short. I'm going to try to get some cane or bamboo, but I have to travel to Bend(I hate goin' in amongst 'em)to get them and haven't gotten around to it. I use a Dremel to cut the bone point out, you can only get one per shoulder blade...

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-Atlatl/?ALLSTEPS Cooldil, try this site, shows you a quick way to knock out an At without spending much...I am going to try to put together a picture sequence to show how to make one using the Matt Graham method as shown on Dual Survival, it's pretty easy(my wood-working skills are entry-level at best)and how I made the two pear-wood Atlatls...