Slingshot as a viable BOB weapon/game harvester??

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mole

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After seeing Jorg's last slingshot video, the panther, I got to wondering if a slingshot like that would make a viable Bug Out Bag weapon. Its main use would be hunting small critters like rabbits and squirrels, but with strong bands I do believe that it could be a deadly weapon---with proper shot placement of course. Not very good for personal defense, but one takes what one can get.

I still believe that my ruger 22/45 is a better choice, but if searched for some reason officials might ignore such a "toy" or a non-gun friendly mate might be convinced add one to the pack. An added bonus would be that ammo is potentially under your feet. The quietness of the slingshot would be a great asset.

My only experience with slingshots is one that I bought when I was about 14 to play around with. It was pretty strong, but limited. What do you guys think?

John
 
It might be better than a sharp stick. I don't know. I keep eyeballing the Wrist Rockets on the shelf at Wal Mart, but still haven't brought myself to make the $7 investment. Now, If Jorg ever mass produces any of his slingshots, those might be viable BOB weapons.
 
It will take a lot of practice to be able to hit critters with a slingshot. If you want to add one to your outdoor/survival gear, trying to learn at the time that you really need it will be too late IMHO.

Start practicing with one now.
 
Practice Ammo

Practice.

Practice A LOT.

Use ball bearings, quarter-inch nuts, stuff like that.

Buy spare rubbers for the slingshot, and expect to wear out a few as you gain proficiency. Wear eye protection. Really.

Oh, and practice. Just in case I forgot to mention that.

There's a video out there that has been linked here before showing a southern gent who could literally shoot flies off a flower with one, so serious accuracy is indeed possible.

You get good with one of those, bunny stew can be yours.

 
Google search Rufus Hussey, the Sling Shot Man. Best slingshot ammo I have ever used is taconite pellets advertised on EBAY. These will stop rabbits, squirrels, feral cats, birds up to crow in thier tracks and wiil sure discourage a coyote. At one time there was a company that made traps, Victor, that sold slingshots for trappers in areas where they could not use firearms. A 44 cal lead pistol ball was favored in this usage. If it sounds stupid and it works, it ain't stupid. There is now an area that allows black bear to be taken with slingshot. In my opinion, I don't care if that works, black bear with a slingshot is STUPID!!!

blindhari
 
Depends.

The type of slingshot we think of in the U.S., whether the small fork or larger "wrist rocket", is something very different from the cloth sling used to throw brick halves or 1" rocks. Those kill people in the Middle East every year.
 
blindhari said:
Google search Rufus Hussey, the Sling Shot Man. Best slingshot ammo I have ever used is taconite pellets advertised on EBAY. These will stop rabbits, squirrels, feral cats, birds up to crow in thier tracks and wiil sure discourage a coyote. At one time there was a company that made traps, Victor, that sold slingshots for trappers in areas where they could not use firearms. A 44 cal lead pistol ball was favored in this usage. If it sounds stupid and it works, it ain't stupid. There is now an area that allows black bear to be taken with slingshot. In my opinion, I don't care if that works, black bear with a slingshot is STUPID!!!

blindhari
Click to expand...
I too use the Ebay taconite pellets, which I find is the cheapest source of relatively accurate slingshot ammo, but I use steel balls for hunting. The only problem is that the taconite is dirty! Have you found a good method of cleaning it, Blindhari, or do you not bother?

BTW, in the (Evil) Empire State, wrist-supported slingshots are illegal! That means I can legally carry my .44 Model 29 to the supermarket, but I can't use a wrist-supported slingshot in my backyard. Gotta love it!
 
i have no doubt that jorg's 1" steel balls would end a two legged predator with ZERO problem! watch that panther video and just listen to the impact.
 
Dave Canterbury's sling bow adds an interesting twist to the slingshot as a tool for the BOB or small game hunting.
Combining the small and portable slingshot with an arrow/bolt is a pretty good idea for the aforementioned purposes.
 
Small game getter -- possible, with a lot of practice.

Self-defense? Not a realistic weapon. I'd rather have just about any handgun over a slingshot. Remember that a defensive weapon is a reactive weapon. Threat appears, and you react to it. It would be tough to fish a slingshot out of your pack and load it in time, and then you just have a single shot with a slow load time. It's also not "scary" and may not intimidate a bad guy.

If you read Robb White's Deathwatch, the slingshot used by the good guy to stop the bad guy is used as an offensive weapon - from ambush. Lots of primitive weapons are pretty good from ambush, but not for defense in a bug-out or similar situation. I love Joerg's videos, but I'll stick to a handgun.

Regards,
Dirty Bob
 
It really takes a hell of a lot of practice to be able to hit anything with a slingshot. And I mean, a hell of a lot of practice.

I think you'd be better off with an air pistol.
 
Mole; I have two of them and an Extra band for each.
1. Stays in my BOB
2. Stays in my GHK ( Get Home Kit )
 
Deadliest Warrior displayed a slingshot with the IRA episode. I think they went up against the taliban. anyhow, the IRA expert used a slingshot, with pretty impressive accuracy against a skull. Put a steel ball directly into the eye socket. Not a mortal wound, but would certainly cause a lot of agony.

I don't know, I don't really respect the slingshot as a self defense weapon. Maybe Dennis the Menace had something to do with that.
 
game?
sure! (with a LOT of continuing practice)


defense?
nope! (too slow)

A slingshot (or a sling for that matter) will not put rabbits in the pot alone, maintaining skill with one is a constant thing, not something you can dink around with for a weekend and call good for a year. If you're willing to practice on a regular basis and replace bands, a good slingshot is easily capable of taking small/close game.
 
I shoot a slingshot more than a fair amount. I tend to shoot with the fork to the side like a target shooter. Being a die-hard bowhunter shooting a sling shot in this way helps with muscle memory and draw technique. I always have one in my hunting pack while bowhunting. I have used it to kill rabbits, squirrels, oppssum, racoon. If a un-wanted animal keeps hanging around my stand I will switch to a paintball or other non-lethal means of driving the critter off.

I don't even consider them a viable defensive weapon. I do assure you a two legged critter could be knocked out or much much more with one.

I have also noticed that traditional archers can become very very effective with a sling shot with a little practice alot quicker than they might believe. Consistancy kills and that only comes with practice and disipline.

When we were kids my older brother and I used a slingshot and fishing arrows to take dozens of carp and gar at a little river from a old jon boat. Frogs were certainly never safe.
 
As a weapon it will work from ambush or snipering with really strong bands and lead or steel balls. Head shots or a Jorg custom that will shoot 1 inch lead balls or smaller ammo using speargun rubber tubes will end your days with a chest hit.
 
Lots of people hunt small game with slingshots. Not a problem, if you hit a rabbit or a pheasant, it will kill the animal on the spot.

Slingshots are silent, in most cases a rabbit won't even run away if you miss. It will hop on a few feet and then sit down again.

However, for those who don't want to invest the necessary practicing time, there is an alternative. As silent and effective, but very easy to shoot. All you need in your BOB is the band set.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQulkCAY4U4
 
Yeah, shoot it sideways using the top fork as an aiming point. I like the tapered rubbers the best. I don't think it takes that much practice to hit game but a body hit will require you to run it down. I carry one in my bug out bag.
 
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