Using a sling?

Z

ziptrickhead

Joined
Sep 1, 2004
Messages
490
Does anyone practice with a sling for hunting or just target practice?

I've always been interested in them but never really had a chance to experiment around with them. I mean, it seems like a decent way of knocking out small game and would be really easy to make in pinch. I guess the only bad thing would be that it takes a lot of skill and practice to get good at. So I was wondering if anyone here practiced with a sling and maybe even post up some pictures? Im going to make one myself and test around and practice with it when I get back on campus.
 
I really like slings, although I haven't been practising much this year. Too many interests, too little time.

Coyossling2.jpg


This is made out of jute.

Doc
 
Man, I can see this leading into another obsession! Hum... knife making or slinging?

Thanks for the posts!
 
naked said:
Hum... knife making or slinging?
Click to expand...
I'd say stick with knife-making... you can use what you've learned right away.

A sling takes a really, really long time to learn; it's by no means as simple as it looks. A person could starve before he caught anything to eat with a sling.

It's effectiveness as a primitive hunting weapon is tied to it being part of a community hunting application: kids learned it early, and by the time they were old enough to join the hunting party, they were good enough to depend on it as a solo weapon.
 
Both! One is an indoor activity and the other is an outdoor activity.

I do have a question about the pouch. If I weave one from some sort of string and make it too big, will it tend to get in the way of a clean launch if I'm using something smaller? Lets say I make a pouch for something the size of a ping pong ball but then want to use it to sling small marbles, will there be an issue? Or should I just make the pouch for just a particular size?
 
Zip, if your pouch is stiffer and flatter, like made of leather, it will give you a wider range of sizes for ammunition, from egg-sized rocks to acorns.

I just set aside a lightweight sash, about 5' x 3" that I'm going to try next time I get down to the lake.

Accuracy is a product of a lot of practice, though. Slingshots are much better for instant gratification, even though NJ thinks they are firearms. :rolleyes:
 
slings are alot of fun to play with, but unless you grow up slinging, and practice ALOT, it will not do you much good for getting food.

for loads of information, you can check out this site: www.slinging.org

they have tutorials for making and using the sling, and thier own discussion forums.

(no affiliation with slinging.org)
 
Your first try with a sling is just about as likely to send the rock backwards as forwards. I can't think of a more difficult weapon to use with crude proficiency. Start out in an open field and if you have friends have them take cover.

I think slings are a lot of fun. I prefer the bent-figure-8 swing that finishes with an almost vertical overhand pitch. Most people would be lucky to consistently hit a human at 20 yards with a sling. There is a significant wind-up to launching your projectile which tends to scare off nearby game.
 
I found I got my best control with a slow overhand swing, two or three times around to get my aim right, then a snap on the release. No backwards surprise, no damage to bystanders, the standard problem was hitting too high or too low. I worked on that by smoothing out the snap, by not overdoing it. I'm still not accurate enough to brag about it. :p
 
Yea I will probably end up making a pouch from a piece of leather. But I love making stuff from paracord so I figured I would make something from gutted cord. I do have a 1000' spool coming in.

Obviously using a sling isn't easy. Heck, I think its the prospect of how hard it is that is the reason why I haven't done it yet. But still, people that know me know that I like to be able to do a wide variety of things. Curiosity I guess you could call it. Thats why I'm waiting till I get back on campus to practice because then I can just go into the woods and not have to worry about sending a rock BACKWARDS into a window.....

I saw the slinging.org site before I started this thread and it seems pretty good. Does anyone else know of any good websites on slinging?
 
I sell a book from loompanics on the sling. I'll be taking a bunch to the Riddle as well. Underhand works great for distance, the overhand is best for accuracy.
 
Jeez, yeah! I find it really improves my accuracy.

I like the 1907 slings from Turner Saddlery, they're beauties!








Yes, I understand the thread, I'm just kidding around.
 
ziptrickhead said:
Does anyone practice with a sling for hunting or just target practice?

I've always been interested in them but never really had a chance to experiment around with them. I mean, it seems like a decent way of knocking out small game and would be really easy to make in pinch. I guess the only bad thing would be that it takes a lot of skill and practice to get good at. So I was wondering if anyone here practiced with a sling and maybe even post up some pictures? Im going to make one myself and test around and practice with it when I get back on campus.
Click to expand...

Yes i did as a child, after you get the hang of it, it works great. Your friend at the post, Donald S.
 
Jeff Clark said:
Your first try with a sling is just about as likely to send the rock backwards as forwards. not to mention straight upwards :( I can't think of a more difficult weapon to use with crude proficiency. Start out in an open field and if you have friends have them take cover.

I think slings are a lot of fun. I prefer the bent-figure-8 swing that finishes with an almost vertical overhand pitch. Most people would be lucky to consistently hit a human at 20 yards with a sling. There is a significant wind-up to launching your projectile which tends to scare off nearby game.
Click to expand...


You windup sounds similar to mine. I agree about scaring off the game, but only game that is normally skittish. Rabbits have a tendency to stay put, and birds like Spruce Grouse can be easier targets. I always thought, haven't tried it, but if you had a sling with a largish leather solid pouch, you could use multiple smaller stones, and use it like a shotgun for things like Spruce Grouse.

And you're right, slings are a lot of fun.

Doc
 
(With apologies to the jazz world)

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that sling...doo-wap doo-wap doo-wap doo-wow!

:D
 
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