Any Slingers amongst us? No not Swingers! Get back to your closet you lot.

So do we have any Slingers out there. You blokes (and Ladies) will know who you are, but for those who have no idea of what I'm talking about, the best known example would be the fable of 'David and Goliath', with young David who slew the giant, Goliath, with nothing but a humble sling.
I've been getting into it a bit of late. I had done a bit a few years back, having made my first sling by round plaiting (braiding) leather. It works a treat, even back then. I've recently been looking into other methods of making them at this site here Slinging.org - Welcome to Slinging.org! and made myself another one in five minutes using a lengh of 1/4in sisal rope. I use this one to lob tennis balls around the yard for the dog. Gives him some exercise and me some more practice, as I've also discovered a few new ways to use the sling.
I'll post up a photo of my two slings tomorrow sometime. I think I am liking this simple weapon more and more, although I can see, like cut-throat razor use, it will take some practice to get good results.


Mick

That look's interesting. After reading the archery thread, I 've been thinking of getting back into it. Then when you consider the threads discussing ammo shortages, maybe we should be looking into the old school method of doing things, it works for shaving. I've got my flail just in case things start to get :medvl:

Mick, I've never used a sling but after I clicked the link and reading a bit, I have a feeling I'll be making a sling this weekend lol

Made many out of leather as a kid,never new where the rock would go:)

I have a big spool of paracord in my bug out bag. I think I will try weaving that 5-strand paracord sling. It is a nice survival skill to have.

I used to be a fair shot with a good old fashioned sling shot as a kid. Maybe I should dig out some of my para cord and put a true sling together. Looks as if it could keep me out of trouble for a while.

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Originally Posted by nun2sharp

I used to be a fair shot with a good old fashioned sling shot as a kid. Maybe I should dig out some of my para cord and put a true sling together. Looks as if it could keep me out of trouble for a while.

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Or get you into trouble....how close are your neighbors and do they have any annoying pets? :)

You would be lucky to hit a pet at 20 yrds with a sling:)
I used to make them out of an old leather shoe tounge and leather boot laces.
I practiced for weeks to master the sling,was lucky to get a rock inside a 6 ft circle at 20 yrds against the side of our barn,is a very difficult art to master.I never did:(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nun2sharp

I used to be a fair shot with a good old fashioned sling shot as a kid. Maybe I should dig out some of my para cord and put a true sling together. Looks as if it could keep me out of trouble for a while.

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Actually that's what got me interested in the older sling. I was a good shot with my sling-shot (still am in fact), but I got sick of replacing the bands all the time. Using a Sling is a lot harder than using a Sling-shot. You've been warned :). A sling is also easy enough to make, unlike bands for a sling-shot.


Mick

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Originally Posted by ReardenSteel

Or get you into trouble....how close are your neighbors and do they have any annoying pets? :)

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Now you are giving me ideas, you instigator.

Geez Mick,
like i need more hobbies? i used to use them as a kid. leather thongs and a scrap of old chamois {usually left over from loincloths :idea:}
Had hours of fun with slings, slingshots {Dad called those ones "Shanghais"}, spears, bows & arrows, boomerangs, throwing knives, shuriken, tomahawks, etc, etc. That's on top of the "hang onto" weapons{clubs, swords, knives, axes, etc.}... Dear old Dad made sure i was proficient in them all..... so in retrospect i suppose "normal" was something i never had a chance at.... :tameshigiri:
Shhh - don't tell the media or i'll be sharing a cell with some whacko in no time. :angel:

Adam

Sounds like the whacko whose cell you'll be sharing is mine, Adam. I had a similar upbringing, except mine was self inflicted. And yes 'Shanghai' is what I call them too, but it seems to be a colloqiualism, so I said "sling-shot" instead.


I use the rope sling to lob tennis balls around the yard. I have to be gentle, because they do seem to get a bit more power for less effort. The dog has started to get excited everytime he sees the damn thing now. Might have to put a stop to that, as he'll be taking off looking for the rock I lobbed 200 metres down the paddock, one of these days :).



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Mick

Made a Balearic style sling today. I'm quite happy with it, but I know I can do better with more practice. I might do a few of these up just for fun. It throws nicely too! More practice required there as well, but I haven't moved past tennis balls yet. My neighbours< I'm sure are happy about that, especially the two who have had solid hits on their rooves...:o Good distance to travel though. I'd never throw that far with just strength/technique alone!


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Mick

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MickR

Made a Balearic style sling today. I'm quite happy with it, but I know I can do better with more practice. I might do a few of these up just for fun. It throws nicely too! More practice required there as well, but I haven't moved past tennis balls yet. My neighbours< I'm sure are happy about that, especially the two who have had solid hits on their rooves...:o Good distance to travel though. I'd never throw that far with just strength/technique alone!


Mick

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Mick, You are a bad influence. I am getting interested in these. I can see where tennis balls are good for practice. I know a couple of college students that left an Atlatl spear stuck in the second story side of a neighbors garage one night. :D

I would try it if I could buy some hand grenades to throw with it. Probably the only way I could do any kind of damage.

I read somewhere that the damage caused by a sling, is directly proportional to how expensive/costly, something will be for the user to replace, that gets destroyed. Accuracy with the sling is also determined by the same laws in relation to the position of the most expensive/costly object...Having it behind you just means you don't have the satisfaction of seeing you hit your mark :).


Mick

10pups, I reckon you could get some paintball handgrenades and have a bit of fun with them...Practice with tennis balls first though. You'll understand the first time you put a full power throw straight into the ground at your feet :).

I made another sling today, just a bt longer than the (other) Balearic style above. I've been out in the yard today enjoying the no longer soggy ground from all the rain, and finally having a chance to put in some good solid practice. No wife and more to the point no kids running around to get injured. My accuracy is crap, but I can get close to the man sized mark. I need to work on getting my man size target consistantly and then I'll work on smaller targets.
I was also using a figure of eight throw instead of the straight throw of the Apache style, which is what I do with my shorter slings. More power in the figure of eight, but accuray has dropped a bit. I shoot to my left fairly consistently, whereas I shoot either a little high or a little low with the Apache style, but in line with the target. Just a matter of practice :)!
These things are quite addictive...You've been warned! :p


Mick

I tend to sling lather all about the bathroom, prior to a shave. Does that count?

Nah! I do the same thing. It isn't as much fun as slinging yer balls around the yard :p.


Mick