Who here uses a sling?

[FortyTwoBlades]

I recently just found Slinging.org through the W&SS links page here and made my first sling the other day. It's kind of terrifying how effortless it is to lob rocks with these things! Accuracy will come with time, I'm sure, but I just had my first session with it yesterday so I'm not expecting much yet!

I went down to the stone beach by the pier in town during my lunch break yesterday and started lobbing beach stones...almost hit a seagull at one point by accident!!! Got a few folks watching and wondering what I was using, too.

So who here likes using a sling and what style of sling/throwing method do you use? Preferred ammo? I can see how being good with one of these guys could be a real advantage in the bush in a survival situation--it's easy to make, and works a lot better than using just your arm!

Now my arm just needs to stop being sore so I can go throw some more.

 

[Bushman5]

I used to fling sling a few years ago, i need to get back into it. My ammo of choice was 2 oz lead fishing weights.

 

[pict]

As a kid I lived on top of a hill. My brothers and I discovered slings early on. Our favorite target was a large dead tree at the bottom of the hill about 100 yards away. Ammo was plum sized rocks gathered from a field. Be careful as it will wear your arm out.

I don't sling anymore because of a shoulder injury not related to slinging directly but I wonder if I did some joint damage that was later compounded. You can get very good with a sling but it is a perishable skill. Mac

 

[Masteroffajitas]

I want to make a paracord sling one day, they have a bunch of sights on it, but to have a leather one, would be awesome.

 

[Jeff Venture]

Made a paracord and leather sling on a campout 2 years ago for a friend to try. He kept it and took it home to practice. Last year I saw him and he was hitting a foot wide tree with it from about 25 yards, and the stones were shattering on impact. They are fun to use and make.

 

[kgd]

I use one gifted to me by Doc-Canada. Its a super fun activity. Surprises you how within minutes you can toss rocks far faster and further than you ever could by hand. It is a tonne of fun.

Pict - I think there are some throwing techniques that lesson the strain on the shoulder. The trick taught to me by one of Doc's friends who throws almost daily is to use one over head swing then release on the sidearm just like you would when skipping a stone.

 

[TATTOOMAN]

This thread needs pictures. Randy

 

[Jeff Clark]

I learned to make a paracord and canvas sling and use it from a book called "Rick Brant Science Projects". http://series.net/brant/volumesp.html

The most interesting part was the swing technique. Put long finger of right hand through loop on end of one cord. Pinch a knot tied on end of other cord. Insert rock in pouch. Hold the pouch in your left hand and cord-ends in your right. Hold left hands in front of you. Release the pouch and swing it down diagonally to the right of your right knee. Continue the swing behind you and up diagonally to cross in front of your face. Swing it back behind your left shoulder. Finish the throw by swinging the sling over the top of your head and down--much like an overhand baseball pitch. Think of it as like a figure-8 where the middle is over your head and the loops sag on either side of you.

The advantage is control. It is like pitching overhand instead of side-arm.

 

[SilverFoxKnows]

I made a few when I first discovered slinging.org. They're a lot easier to make than to use. I got to where I could hit a tree at 30' with some consistancy but I'd starve to death if I had to rely on one to get food. They're a blast, though.

Frank

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Be careful as it will wear your arm out.

QUOTE]

I'm all sore today, so I hear what you're saying.

 

[the lone gunman]

I just went on slinging.org. Have made 2 already. will have to get out today and try them out. At least this hobby will be cheap. Got a feeling I will be hooked on this for awhile.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Switch between using your right and your left arms.

 

[pict]

I could probably do PT and get my shoulder back into reasonable shape. I went a whole school year (as a teacher) not being able to write on the board above chest level. I had deflected a falling log with my upraised right hand and it really screwed me up. Overhand throws are out for me, my pitching days are over, no spears, no football, no baseball.

My sling started down by my right ankle and came up and around sidearm (right handed) as I stepped forward with my left foot. It was very powerful and accurate. The overhand technique described above also works well. Just going through these motions I can feel that my shoulder would act up.

One thing is for certain, if you have ever seriously trained with a sling it makes the biblical story of David and Goliath look very accurate (1 Samuel 17). I have no problem believing that a slung stone could cave in a man's forehead. BTW David didn't kill him with the stone, he used Golaiths sword to kill him then to cut off his head. Somehow that last image never makes it into the Sunday School flannel graphs. Mac

 

[Diomedes Industries]

Doc needs to chime in here. He made my slings!

TF

 

[TwoDogs]

Mr. Parker makes some great ones and uses them quite a lot! Here is a link to his site with pics etc.

http://www.primitivesupply.com/woodframe-slingshots.htm

 

[kgd]

I BTW David didn't kill him with the stone, he used Golaiths sword to kill him then to cut off his head. Somehow that last image never makes it into the Sunday School flannel graphs. Mac

Yeah but it is entirely appropriate on blade forums Don't ask a piece of string to do the work of a knife!

Also true enough about the story. Remember the cultures that use slings do so from an early age and undoubtedly get very proficient at them. The one thing that truly amazes you with a sling is the size rock you can throw and power of the throw. Again, I have to emphasize that you can throw a far heavier rock by sling than you would by arm without injury. Last week whipped rocks for a half hour straight. While my shoulder was a little bit taught 2 days later, it was nothing like what it would feel like if I threw baseballs at full cock for 10 minutes.