Any Slingers Here?

M

me2

Joined
Oct 11, 2003
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I started slinging about 4 years ago, and at one point was pretty good, or at least much better than when I started. However, so few people do it, it's hard to compare where one is in terms of possible skill. Below is youtube link to my only video of me doing it. Anyone tried? Anyone hunt primitive like this? Any tips? I learned to make them from slinging.org, and youtube provides a fair amount of decent (I assume) instruction.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNfcJ578E0M
 
Someone did an excellent video on Slings a few weeks ago, you might want to look for it on Advanced Search.
 
I've never tried it, but it looks like an awesome skill to have in ones survival arsenal.
 
It takes a LOT of practice to be able to hit anything consistently, at least for me. I've see people hit Frisbees from 50 feet or so consistently, but it's still nothing like 100%.
 
I sling, totally suck at it.
About the only thing I improved in was sling building.

Found that paracord is about the worst material you can possibly use to make a sling, its extremely noisy, it twists on itself(both during and after releasing a stone), while using small stranded string of any kind and twisted rope from it makes a very silent sling. You can actually twist paracord and it makes it silent as well but then its to thick for a sling, something about twisted string/rope makes its passage though the air far quieter.
I actually found Microcord or 75pound braided fishing line twisted over once on itself makes very quiet yet very fast slings, you need to pad out the finger loop so it doesnt dig in to much yet they dont make the WWWWZZZZZZZZZZZAP noise when you sling... only a very slight wosshh! thats is very easy to be drowned out by natural weather.
If you are any good with a sling and want to use it for hunting this is the kind of sling you will want to make.
 
I haven't noticed any undue noise from paracord slings. How do you make them? I use either nylon straps from my old harness like in the video, or weave a pouch in a double sheep shank knot. My braided paracord slings are just 3 strands braided for about 4" then doubled over for a finger loop. This gives 3 sets of 2 for the rest of the retention cord (the one with the finger loop). I then split it to make 2 sets of 3 for a split pouch, and bring it back together to 3 sets of 2 for the release cord. I usually taper the release cord, dropping 3 strands until its just 3 single cords for the final 8" or so. These are easy to make too heavy, but I haven't noticed them being very loud.
 
You guys that makes slings, how about some pictures?

Here's mine - I mostly make netted pockets.

Slinggroup-edited.jpg


Coyossling2.jpg


As far as my slinging goes, I don't worry about hitting myself anymore :D

Doc
 
me2 said:
Never tried a netted sling. How do you like them compared to leather?
Click to expand...

Leather pouches are easier to make but I don't notice any difference in performance. The reason I started making netted slings is because a buddy who is in his 60s now, said when he was a kid, netted slings were all they used. Probably because when he was a kid he used to make nets for the fishermen on the east coast (Newfoundland). At first, I had a bit of a problem making them 'pouch' properly, but managed to work that out. In the top picture, the slings were made out of nylon, butcher's cord, and jute. The bottom picture is jute. I've tried to find a tougher cordage than jute, including waxed net cordage, but nothing I have found so far, holds a knot as well as jute.

For the most part, jute works well, but another buddy, who likes to sling cement blocks (ok, maybe a bit of exaggeration) finds the jute cordage abrades fairly quickly, allowing the strings to break. Mind you, I have pointed out to him that early people, using natural cordage, would have the same problem when slinging heavier ammo.

One of the joys of making a sling, is that you can almost use anything to make one. On one discussion form, a guy made a sling incorporating kind of a can in which he would put multiple stones and used it like a primitive shotgun for birds. I'll see if I can find a picture.
 
My first slings were from Slinging.org using 550 hole paracord and belts from old cars, then paracord and leather, now I just use microcord twisted on itself with goat leather for pouchs. Slinging.org instructions use full paracord.
You are using paracord stands which is likely acting much the same as twisted string, I cant braid effectively however and inner cord is so slick it wont maintain a twist so I looked for something else and found microcord works wonders for me and was very quiet no matter how fast I sling.

me2 said:
I haven't noticed any undue noise from paracord slings. How do you make them? I use either nylon straps from my old harness like in the video, or weave a pouch in a double sheep shank knot. My braided paracord slings are just 3 strands braided for about 4" then doubled over for a finger loop. This gives 3 sets of 2 for the rest of the retention cord (the one with the finger loop). I then split it to make 2 sets of 3 for a split pouch, and bring it back together to 3 sets of 2 for the release cord. I usually taper the release cord, dropping 3 strands until its just 3 single cords for the final 8" or so. These are easy to make too heavy, but I haven't noticed them being very loud.
Click to expand...
 
I've done it a few times. I prefer a slingshot, but the sling is fun though.
 
played with a paracord made one a while back - just for fun though I doubt I'd ever get proficient enough
 
I've been toying around with a sling-staff lately. Basically a staff with a sling on the end. The staff has one end of your sling's cord securely tied to it, and the other end loops over a notch at the very end of the staff (alternately you can make one end of the cord long enough to run through a hole drilled through the end of the staff, so you can hold and release it the way you would with a normal sling). It's basically a two handed sling that lets you generate a lot more speed and power. I can't see how you'd ever be accurate with it, but it sure is fun to watch rocks sail away into the sky :p

I'm guessing ancient armies with a few thousand of them would've made a pretty fearsome long ranged weapon.
 
The benefit of a staff sling is the ability to throw heavier stuff. There are some youtube videos that look like the rocks are 20 oz. or more. I've done 16 to 18 a few times but they hurt my shoulder and dont go very far.
 
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