Competiton slingshot shooting

[craftsman]

I found a great Instructable using 1" PVC pipe and a bedsheet to make a backstop to catch the marbles shot from a slingshot when used for practice or competition target shooting.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Slingshot-Backstop-or-Catch-box/

Sam Cade, You may want to make one for the boys and yourself. I'm going to try to make one for home use and to bring to the 2015 AKTA NE RE Regional throw next May, but portable ...

Mod the instructable design as follows to make it portable - do not glue up, drill pilot holes in the Tees and elbows, use self-tapping sheet metal screws, so it can be taken down. Do not seam the bedsheets, and (safety first), use 1" x 6' tube foam pipe insulation ($1.40 @ Lowe's hardwre stores) to cover all the exposed PVC pipe (shock absorber & reduce possible rebounds), and use it to secure the bedsheet to the pipe.

 

[Sam1911]

Sam Cade, You may want to make one for the boys and yourself. I'm going to try to make one for home use and to bring to the 2015 AKTA NE RE Regional throw next May, but portable ...

You might have meant me instead of Sam C., but that's ok! That is a great design! We've been using a box full of rags, but there are drawbacks...

 

[craftsman]

Sam1911,

You are correct. You guys ("Sam...") all look alike here! ROFL!

I used a wine bottle case as a slingshot target holder and pellet catcher. There are 12 bottle seperators, cut into the length of the box, just a little bit shy of an 8.5" x 11" paper target - centered, bent back the 3 divisions for the outside (long) edge- taped them in place. Stuffed about a dozen plastic supermarket shopping bags each into the wine bottle divisions, and used paper clamps (those black triangle things with the silver wire handles on each side used to pry them open) to hold the paper target in place.

I'll have to take some pictures and post them. Works well, not as good as the pellet gun backstop I used at the ATKA throw back in May ... but far less expensive, and does a fine job at catching and containing the shots.

 

[craftsman]

Just found this link to the East Coast regional Slingshot Tournament http://www.simple-shot.com/blogs/news/14153633-the-sixth-annual-east-coast-slingshot-tournament Held in Alverton, PA (about 30 Mi SE of Pittsburg), was held back in June.

SAM1911 - maybe you and the boys can head out to that one next year 9gives you some time to build a real nice backstop and catcher and get some serious practice in.

Anyone else care to join in?

 

[Sam1911]

Oh, heck that would be cool! Will definitely have to try!

 

[Deltaboy1984]

SLINGSHOTS are fun.

 

[craftsman]

I spent the money (maybe shouldn't have, I dunno ...) on the PS-62 slam-bam-thankyouM'aam all the bells and whisltes slingshot. http://www.catsdomain.com It has it all ... pivoting yoke ... red-dot scope ... green laser ... 3 iron sight ... set up for a slingbow. It is still (stripped down) - just a slingshot. Been looking at the others out there, and not seeing any technical differences that make me want to get something else.

Anyone have a PS-60 or other high-end sling? Your opnion?

 

[Sam1911]

WOW! I would definitely want to try that! We'll be having squirrel dinner for a few months to pay for it, but that's ok by me!

 

[craftsman]

There ARE several high-priced ("high end" - ??? ) sling shots online. I like three others - one is the survival slingshot (http://survivalslingshot.com/product-2/ has a whisker biscuit to make it a slingbow), the other is the Saunders WristRocket Pro which is the only high-price model using flatbands, and is a "Starship" (over the top) style https://www.sausa.com/product.php?id=2&category=16 and finally, the "Big Game Hunter" by Simpleshot http://www.simple-shot.com/collections/the-scout-slingshot/products/big-game-hunter-s-combo (least expensive of the four). Maybe once I hit the lottery, I'll get the other three, but for now, I'll stay with my "cheapie" to learn to shoot, and then once I get decent, I'll use the PS-62.

Also, once I get that good, I'll get this auto-flip slingshot target. https://www.sausa.com/product.php?id=305&category=27

 

[craftsman]

I ordered a Barnett Pro Diablo 2 slingshot from Wal-Mart (about $7 cheaper than anywhere else, plus ship-to-store is free). Should have it before the end of this week. Just want to see if the counterweights make a difference.

Here's the ammo catcher/target holder made from a wine bottle case I've been talking about ... http://www.instructables.com/id/Making-a-Slingshot-Target-HolderAmmo-Catcher-from-/ ... and a competition size target face (bulls-eye should be printed at 2 inch diameter, so adjust as needed).

 

[g.willikers]

Did Ja' know that slingshots, of the David vs Goliath variety, was a mainstay weapon of the Roman Legions?

 

[craftsman]

G.Willikers,

No, I was not aware that slings were standard issue back then. I know there are a lot of Isreali soldiers today that use them, and compete in competitions out there.

My new toy came in (see: http://www.barnettcrossbows.com/products/slingshots/pro-diablo-slingshot )

Has to be put together (arm brace, three counter balance weights, AKA stabilizers), and then position the pin sight. Feels real nice. Can't wait to test it out this weekend. Great price at WalMart, too. Ship to store.

 

[craftsman]

I'm not a big fan of finger braced slingshots, I prefer the wrist braced pistol grip style. OK, so I was able to get outside for a short time this afternoon, and test my new Barnett Pro Diablo II slingshot.

Initial observations ... It really feels comfortable. I like the pistol grip, and the grip is a soft plastic (my other sling handles are hard). The bands are much longer than my other slingshots, and the pocket is huge! The wrist brace is well designed. It is NOT a foldable slingshot, so transportation becomes a concern. The three anti-torsion stabilizers make this look alien, but give it a well balanced feel. The pin-sight looks very professional.

After pre-stressing the tubes, I shot three rounds of six shots each to start. Now, with my "Daisy Powerline", I was hitting the target face consistently with the first three shots. However with the Barnett, aligning the marbles in the pocket was challenging. The draw was comfortable. but I quickly found that the pin sight was more decorative than functional. As per the enclosed illustrated directions, I held it "gangsta" style (the "Y" parallel to the ground, or "horizontal").

It took until I was through the 2nd round before I could hit the target face. By the end of the 3rd round, I was able to figure out how to best sight in with it ... like shooting with a blowgun, both eyes open, and align the target between the two forks.

The Barnett has the longest tube length of all my slingshots, so the pull back is easier. When it does hit, it hits with a resounding "thump", so there is a good bit of power delivered.

It is going to take a lot of practice to zone this in for competition shooting, but as of now, I feet that it has the potential of becoming my "go to" slingshot.

I've compared my three slingshots in an attached PDF file. ("Band" refers to tubes ... I don't have any flat-band slingshots ... yet.)

 

[Pete D.]

I own a dozen slingshots and shoot them regularly.....3/8" frosted glass marbles which I buy by the case.....4000 or so at a time. (all shooting is outdoors at distances from 50 ft. to 50 yds.
I wish that I could say that I am a marvelous shot. I am not. I am fairly capable.
The slingshot that I do best with is a flatband from Pocket Predator.
http://pocketpredator.com/
He has some impressive performance videos.
Pete

 

[craftsman]

I've looked at the predators ... I think it is more the shooter, than the slingshot ... as I said, I'm not a big fan of finger braced slingshots, I prefer the wrist braced pistol grip style.

HOWEVER, where do you get your ammo?

I have .50 cal. roundball lead ammo (for hunting) coming in @ $12/100 http://www.simple-shot.com/collections/slingshot-hunting-supplies/products/lead-ammo PyramydAir's .50 cal is $30/100. Even the cost of the .36 cal. is less expensive there (and is nickel-coated for better penetration).

I'm still a newbie to slingshot shooting ... learning for targets at 33 ft (10 meters).

 

[Pete D.]

marbles

Two places that you can order "peewee" marbles (12mm dia. = 1/2") for about $10 a bag (180 marbles+/-) are Rainbow Turtle and Megaglass.com.
I will have to look up where I bought the cases that I have.
The most common diameter marble is 14mm or 9/16"....they can be ordered in 25 pound cartons (3000 marbles). Prices between $46 - $60, plus shipping.
http://www.megaglass.com/p/mkMBo47.html

Interesting about slingshot style choices....I prefer the finger braced because I can put one in my pocket. I have both styles and even collapsible wrist braces but the Predator gets used the most.

Pete

 

[craftsman]

Pete D., Thank you for the info. I'll check it out.

Does anyone have, or have used the Saunders Wrist Rocket Pro https://www.sausa.com/product.php?id=2&category=16 ?

This one comes with a lot of history, nice rep - but is a flat band, over the fork style ("Star Ship"). Initial price is not outrageous (pricey, though) @ $44
Add in the stabilizer and fiber-optic sight, and its cost if well into the EXPENSIVE range. Would like some feedback before I consider adding this to my "list".

Anyone use a slingshot release aid? I've seen a few around, also very expensive (cheap one for about $17, pricier one between $43- $57). I know people who use them for archery, and swear by them. Don't know anyone having them for the slingshot. Thanks.

 

[craftsman]

WOW! I see 25# of their least expensive is $47 + $43 shipping, and a $2 processing fee. That's $92 ... I'll need to look around a little more.

 

[Pete D.]

$

WOW! I see 25# of their least expensive is $47 + $43 shipping, and a $2 processing fee. That's $92 ... I'll need to look around a little more.

Yep. That is a chunk of money up front........look, though, at the cost per shot compared to what you are using now. Remember...you are buying 3000 of them.
Lead round balls are at 12 cents each. The marbles are three cents each.
So...four shots for the price of one lead round ball. Plus....and this is really helpful if you are a beginner or an expert: Buy white or light colored marbles and you can see where they go. You are not gonna do that with metal ammo.
Pete
O
PS - I gave up on metal ammo for slingshots about one day after I bought my first "Whamo" about 50 years ago.

 

[hso]

slingshots, of the David vs Goliath variety

Slings, not "slingshots", were ranged weapons used for hunting as well as combat from paleolithic cultures into the development of bows.

 

[wild willy]

McGills Warehouse has 30lb for $45 shipping included.But they have 11 or 16mm.

 

[Pete D.]

Yes

McGills Warehouse has 30lb for $45 shipping included.But they have 11 or 16mm.

Yes!! That's the outfit. 30lbs of 11mm (7/16") marbles is a lot of marbles.....something over 5000.
I use the M105 11mm.
Pete
Ps - I am away from home this week and just could not remember the info that wild willy found.

 

[craftsman]

Pete D. / Wild Willy,

Fantastic link!
Many thanks. $50 for $30 lb. (11 mm 11/16 in.) @ 5,400 marbles. Averages out to $ 0.01 per. It'lll be a long long time before I can loose this much!

 

[jlr1962]

I found my wrist rocket that I had as a kid in a box in the garage this weekend. The sheet thing sounds like a good idea. I can't wait for the feeling of shooting my left index finger again. It has been over 30 years. Last I remember the tapered bands were the latest thing in the late 70's.

 

[dblwide]

One question about the design, where does the sheet go? I don't see it in the diagram.