Atlatl

[vamo]

So this week's top shot replanted the atlatl seed in my mind. Does anyone have any experience at all with them? Are they easy enough to use? They're sold online here http://www.thunderbirdatlatl.com/?page_id=1141 with prices ranges from $24 to $130 and I honestly have no clue what the difference is in the models or the purpose of the items you can add to them like loops and boat stone weights.

I only plan on yard target practice, so I definitely don't need the best atlatl money can buy, but would like it to be serviceable.

 

[jdub3]

I would call the people that make them, and ask them. Looks very cool though, you've got me interested now.

 

[rcmodel]

The best atlatl money can buy??

Buy???

Our ancestors made them without tools 8,000 years ago.

You can too, if you are half as handy (without tools) as they were!!

After all, you have Crazy Glue, Nylon dental floss for wrapping, & the internet now.
And they didn't!

http://www.ilovehistory.utah.gov/fun_stuff/how_to_make_an_atlatl.pdf

http://www.primitiveways.com/atlatl_branch.html

rc

 

[Speedo66]

Good instructions, finding a responsible adult may be the hard part.

 

[Gordon]

After seeing then on top shot I'll stick to javelins as MUCH more reliable. A dead tool that deserves it's fate IMHO What a waste of time on a shooting show!

 

[vamo]

Well I agree that I would have hated to be sent home for not being good with an atlatl, but it seems like a cool thing to have especially for those of us that have a small yard in town limits and can't exactly run off to the backyard to pop off a few rounds. Darts with a garage backstop on the otherhand...

 

[Ron James]

If you do it properly, you will need more than a large back yard.

 

[TimboKhan]

After seeing then on top shot I'll stick to javelins as MUCH more reliable

I am not some well versed atlatl expert, but I don't quite understand what you are mean by reliable. The atlatl offers a mechanical advantage, and if thats all you have to use, I am sure it's plenty accurate.

 

[jrdolall]

I remember playing around with them when I was younger but I had a friend who made them. The ones we used required WAY too much practice to get comfortable with but we were "minute of plywood sheet" at 20 yards or so. This was 30 or more years ago and we never hunted with them but we did kill a few deer with a spear.

If you don't watch out someone will point out to you that a .308 is a much better weapon.

 

[mokin]

Start with a low end atlatl and see how you like it. My wife and I try hers out once a year or so. The games last until we begin to exceed the safe range in the alley ... maybe 40 yards. I think the trick is in the dart more than the atlatl. Once you get the hang of it they're pretty cool. It's amazing how far you can launch a dart.

 

[glistam]

I attended a class on them last Spring. They are great fun even if you are inexperienced. Being accurate takes some work. Part of the class involved some goofing off by seeing who could hit a 1x1 square box first at 20 yards.

 

[USAF_Vet]

I made one but couldn't get the darts right. A fun little project, but I think I'll stick with blow guns for primitives.

 

[Bikewer]

There's lots of resources on the web. I've been involved in primitive archery, and a lot of the guys have fiddled with the atlatl.
They are also pretty standard stuff for anthropology students to make... I came on an entire class at the school I police tossing darts at a cardboard-box "mammoth" one day.

I made a thoroughly not-primitive one a couple of years ago...Cut the atlatl body out of an old 2x4 with a skilsaw and then made my darts from those vinyl-covered aluminum "garden stakes" you can buy at any hardware store.

Duct-tape fletching and some lead solder wrapped around the front end to make the balance right.... Thing was easy to throw well over 100 yards with my first attempts.
The old History Channel show, Weapon Masters, had a segment on the weapon:

http://military.discovery.com/weapons-technology/videos/weapon-masters-shorts-the-atlatl.htm

I think the whole episode is up on YouTube.

 

[GCBurner]

I remember the Discovery Channel atlatl show. As I recall, the distance record with an atlatl dart is about 285 yards, which is a pretty far piece, for a hand-thrown weapon.

 

[SleazyRider]

For argument's sake, let's assume you became deadly proficient with the atlatl. Wonder if they're legal for hunting whitetail deer in most states? After all, I believe they were once used for dispatching mastadons and such.

 

[Mauser lover]

Slinging.org has a forum for non-sling devices. You can find several threads on the atlatl there.

http://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl?board=other

 

[jrdolall]

For argument's sake, let's assume you became deadly proficient with the atlatl. Wonder if they're legal for hunting whitetail deer in most states? After all, I believe they were once used for dispatching mastadons and such.

Unfortunately Mastadon are not legal to hunt in Alabama
It is however perfectly legal to hunt deer with an atlatl.