Slings and Stone Throwers

[DMW1116]

Anyone else use slings or stone throwers? I started about 10 years ago. I found a pile of tennis balls we use for the dog and happen to have a sling they will fit. I am very out of practice but managed a few hits after a couple dozen practice shots.

When I was doing it a lot more I could hit branches on the bushes in the back regularly using golf balls. Today I was doing good to hit the ground. I think my distance record was about 200 yards, but the place I would do that is gone now. I need to make another rock sling and find a place to go for distance. It's pretty good rehab for my shoulder too.

 

[hso]

I used to be pretty good with one. Sounds like a fun way to get the dog some exercise.

 

[JShirley]

I hear you can take a giant down with one, if you're good...

 

[DMW1116]

Just added a picture of my tennis ball thrower.

 

[JShirley]

Tutorial, good sir!

 

[DMW1116]

How to make or how to use? For use I recommend MrJugas on YouTube. He uses a couple of horizontal spins before releasing. I have the best accuracy with just one spin and release, though I think he certainly has more power and much better accuracy. Every culture that used them had a different style, and some styles are more accurate for me than others. I also use a couple of vertical rotations and an underhand release similar to releasing a bowling ball. There is also a figure 8 style with a motion much like a tennis serve. I'm not good with vertical styles, but the figure 8 is very strong and gives good lateral accuracy.

I hook the finger loop onto my ring finger and hold the release cord between my thumb and index finger. Held this way, when I release, my palm is facing generally toward my target and the projectile will be spinning like a bullet or football. For tennis balls its not really important, but for rocks or lead projectiles (glandes), it helps with accuracy and distance. I prefer egg shaped river rocks but they are fairly destructive. You can also make your own with concrete or grout and some plastic Easter Eggs for molds.

 

[DMW1116]

For making this one, I used 2 pieces of leather about 1.25" inches wide and 4.5" to 5" long. I punched holes in the center of each end, tied paracord through one set of holes, crossed the pieces of leather to make the cupped shape, then tied the other set of holes. This forms what is known as a split pouch.

I prefer braided slings for rocks. The chords are flat braided and don't twist up in use. Paracord can twist in use and make things a bit more frustrating until you figure out how to stop it.

 

[DMW1116]

This has some slow motion.

 

[JShirley]

Thank you! Very helpful.

John

 

[DMW1116]

This is a braided split pouch from some scraps I had. It works, but just barely. You can see how the pouch halves are crossed to form a cup. It's also fairly short which makes it easier to control. My normal braided ones are not as thick either. This one has 18 strands of jute twine. My others typically are 10 at most. They're more flexible but a bit harder to control at first. A dozen or so throws will get one used to them. I also tapered the release chord. Dropped from 18 to 15, 12, then finished at 9.

 

[JShirley]

Have you ever considered making slings for sale? I would personally be interested, depending on cost.

John

 

[DMW1116]

I have sold a few in the past. I make about 5 different kinds, so cost varies with type. The braided ones are the most time consuming and expensive. I don't know the rules here for that sort of thing. Are there private messages?

 

[JShirley]

Well, I asked. In general, it's okay to mention (for instance) that you occasionally make them for others, and members can contact you if they're interested.

 

[DMW1116]

Ok. Some forums are very strict about that sort of thing. I do make them and anyone interested can send a message. There are solid pouch and split pouch versions with leather, nylon webbing, or braided/woven pouches.

 

[JShirley]

What do you think the most cost effective missiles are for intermediate (say, up to 20 meter) distance?

 

[theotherwaldo]

I used to make these back when I was a kid. I never was as good with them as I was with a slingshot, though.
Slings really shine when you're using larger missiles. The smallest that I used were .69 round balls and the largest were casting net weights, which are very similar to the sling bullets found at the sites of ancient battles (except for the hole, which makes a warbling whistle when properly thrown).
A real man-killer, if you're accurate.

Another common missile is to take a wad of clay and roll it between your hands until it's shaped like a football and would just fit in the pouch of your sling. Let it dry, then use it for practice. It makes a lovely puff of dust when it hits.
Once you get good, take those dried little clay footballs and drop them in the fire to get really hard.
Then they are really great general-purpose sling ammo.

 

[JShirley]

I forgot fishing weights. Good call!

 

[DMW1116]

When you say cost effective I hear free. Lead fishing weights in the 3 oz range seem like they would work if properly shaped, but I've never tried them. I've used rocks, tennis balls, & golf balls mostly. I had a whole bucket of rocks dredged out of a river, so they were shaped perfectly after I got rid of all the flat ones.

 

[theotherwaldo]

-Don't forget plums, tomatoes and small water balloons... .

 

[DMW1116]

Hickory nuts and walnuts work too, before they're shelled.

JShirley, if you want to hunt, I'd recommend a suitably shaped fishing weight. Make sure you can reliably rifle/spiral the projectiles or use round balls. Get a tarp or blanket that will stop the lead without damaging it and paint a target on it. The rocks/weights will just fall to the ground and you can reuse them. Consistent ammo help a lot with learning to be accurate.

 

[JShirley]

I got a couple of slings from DMW for a very fair price. My son got the chance to take his out today and is getting the hang of it after maybe an hour's practice.

Here he is demonstrating how it's done.

 

[DMW1116]

I meant to ask if anyone had broken a window yet. Soak the tennis ball in water and it will spin water in a good size disk 2 or 3 feet from the ball. Snowballs work too.

 

[DMW1116]

Some people pick it up really quickly. It took me about 3 months of practice to hit things and about a year to get really good distance. It would probably take that long again for both if I started back regularly.

 

[lemaymiami]

Your best bet in the fishing sinker end of things is probably what's called an egg sinker (oval shaped with a hole through the center lengthwise) - I use them regularly with customers (fishing) in sizes from 1/2 oz up to about 3oz - but you can buy them up to about 8 ozs if you choose... I've had egg sinkers thrown at me from fishing piers and bridges over the years while I was on my boat (don't ask...) and can confirm they make a serious impact when just thrown by hand... From a sling I suspect you'd produce a casualty with any impact on a living frame...

 

[JShirley]

My (11 y/o) son reported a surprising distance capable with the tennis ball, in his first day of use. I haven't gotten feedback yet from Sam, whose kids got a different style sling and several lbs of marbles.