Slingshot: children's fun and professional weapons. Men's toys (about slingshots) How to make a hunting slingshot with your own hands

A hunting slingshot may look exactly like a device familiar to everyone since childhood, or it may have a modern ergonomic design and additional options like a comfortable palm rest and an adjustable handle.

A hunting slingshot differs from any other in several ways:

convenience and simplicity of design;
noiselessness of the shot;
it should allow the use of special industrial-made balls and any other objects suitable for shooting, such as pebbles;
shot speed must be high.

Such a slingshot can be purchased at the store, or you can make it yourself.

What is a homemade hunting slingshot?

Homemade slingshots for hunting are most often made of wood, plastic and metal, they are distinguished by a wide variety of shapes, especially wooden ones.

There are woodcarving craftsmen who can make a real masterpiece.

But enough to make a high-quality slingshot and an ordinary branched branch, in the very simple version the bark is not even removed from it.

Video in which you can see the process of making a slingshot from wood. Happy viewing.

How to make a hunting slingshot

Regardless of the material and method of manufacture, the approximate width between the "horns" should be from 4 to 7 cm, the length of the handle and horns are selected individually, they are not very important for successful shooting, more affect the convenience for the shooter. Therefore, try to imagine what will be more convenient for you, and choose the length and width of the slingshot according to these parameters. But remember that a slingshot cannot be too thin for hunting; it must withstand frequent firing with heavy projectiles. The horns should be at the same angle to the handle and should be as uniform in thickness as possible.

Wooden slingshot. It is best to use walnut, oak, maple or ash. You will need either a naturally forked branch, or a piece of plank if you want to carve the slingshot yourself. Using a jigsaw, we cut out a slingshot of the desired shape, it is better not to make it flat - a flat slingshot is not very comfortable in the hand. If you managed to find a suitable branch, peel it from the bark. We grind the workpiece with sandpaper manually or using a grinder.

We are preparing a place for attaching the rubber band. You can attach it in several ways.

We make cuts corresponding to the width of the elastic, at a distance of 1.5 - 2 cm from the ends of the horns. We wrap the elastic around the horns, tie a knot.

We make cuts as described above, put the ends of the elastic band on the horns so that they are not perpendicular to them, as in the 1st paragraph, but serve as a continuation of the horns, and we tie them in the place of the cut with a thin elastic band.

We drill holes corresponding to the diameter of the elastic band at the same distance from the ends of the slingshot, thread it into them and tie knots so that the elastic band cannot pop out.

Epoxy glue slingshot. Knead "Poksipol" or any other two-component epoxy glue, mold it into a slingshot of the desired shape. When sculpting the handle, take the epoxy mass in the palm of your hand and squeeze it a little, but not much, as if not pressing it. If you squeeze too hard, the slingshot will be uncomfortable to hold in your hand when shooting.

After hardening, we act according to the papier-mâché principle - we glue the slingshot with 5 - 6 layers of paper using PVA glue. The paper must be torn by hand, it is better to alternate plain paper and newspaper in layers - this way you will see if the entire surface is glued with a new layer. After the last layer has dried, we drill holes for the elastic at a distance of 1.5 - 2 cm from the top edge of each horn. On the one hand, you can slightly expand the hole so that the knot does not stick out from the outside, but “sits” in the recess.

We grind the product with sandpaper, and then primed with PVA mixed with chalk, or water dispersion. Sand again with fine-grained sandpaper and paint.

Such a slingshot looks very aesthetically pleasing, in terms of its qualities it is in no way inferior to a traditional wooden one.

Holes and slots for rubber bands in any version of the manufacture of a slingshot must be sanded as best as possible, otherwise the elastic band will quickly rub off.

The saddle of the slingshot (the part in which the projectile is placed) is best made from a piece of thick leather 3 cm wide and 5 cm long. We make small holes along the edges, thread an elastic band through them, tie a knot.

The choice of gum, perhaps most important for the lethal power of the slingshot. best score extensibility - 80% of the length in a "calm" state. The fastest shrinking, and therefore the most powerful, will be flat latex. Thera band is the most favorite manufacturer of slingshots, but other types of rubber can be purchased if you can’t find it. You can buy such latex in sports stores, it is used by athletes for training. From it you will need to cut a strip with a width of 1.5 to 2 cm.

You can also use a round rubber tourniquet - for example, a latex catheter bought at a pharmacy. You can buy a special rubber band for slingshots, but as a rule, it is not very easy to find it.

Elastic band length determined individually- it depends on the length of the shooter's arm, and on how well the rubber stretches. To pick up optimal length, you need to try to “shoot” a slingshot with different lengths of elastic.

What to shoot

Traditional pebbles are not very good for hunting when every shot counts. Different dimensions and weight do not contribute to the development of automatism when shooting.

For hunting, buckshot 8.5mm is best suited, with its help you can shoot quite far, it is cheap, it is always on sale.

Special metal balls for slingshots, fishing sinkers and foals (pieces of thin fittings) can also be used for hunting.

Who can be hunted with a slingshot

They beat small animals and a bird from a slingshot. Best of all, the slingshot shows itself when hunting game that rises almost from under the feet - great snipe, woodcock, partridge, hazel grouse, pheasant. Fans of experiments can also hunt thrushes, larks, buntings, bullfinches, waxwings - in traditional Russian cuisine, these birds were often used both as an independent dish and as an addition to pies and sauces.

When shooting at long distances, the effectiveness of the device is sharply reduced, so, for example, you can shoot a duck, but it will be much more difficult.

Before you go with a slingshot for prey, you should take the time to practice, choose the best position for shooting, adjust the length of the slingshot gum. If you have not had such experience before, most likely at first you will not hit the target too well. But over time, having trained, you will be able to successfully use a slingshot in hunting.

Below you can see a photo on the topic of slingshots for hunting. Happy viewing.

The slingshot is a familiar bully weapon from the childhood of many boys. Especially those whose childhood passed during the Soviet era. Few people know that modern powerful slingshot- This is a fairly serious weapon that is used for hunting small game. A hunting slingshot, which uses special steel balls for a slingshot as projectiles, easily penetrates a protective construction helmet or a motorcycle helmet.

Device and principle of operation

The device of a simple slingshot is quite simple and consists of several parts:

The “flyer” itself or the bed, on which all the other elements of the slingshot are attached;
Rubber bands or "strands" that serve to be used as a bowstring for a slingshot;
Kozhetok or saddle, where the throwing projectile is embedded.

Homemade slingshot (classic) is a simple wooden handle, forked at the end, like the horns of an animal. A tourniquet is attached to these "horns", which sends the projectile to the target. The projectile is embedded in a leather jacket, which is made of durable leather. Slingshots can be used for various purposes, it depends on their design and application. various materials when assembling them.

Types of slingshots:

A light slingshot is mainly used for recreational shooting or mastering shooting skills. Basically, these are small slingshots of a classical design;
The medium slingshot is a more advanced model and can be used for sport shooting. A slingshot for hunting from this group is unlikely to succeed, since the average slingshot does not have the necessary power reserve for this;
A large slingshot (also called a fighting slingshot) can be used to hunt medium-sized game. It may look like an average slingshot, but the quality of the materials used to create it is noticeably higher.

In addition to dividing by size, slingshots are also divided by purpose:

The hunting slingshot is a factory expensive model. To use it, you need sufficient experience in using slingshots. This model can cause serious injury if not handled carefully. Although the medium slingshot is also dangerous, the steep hunting slingshot is already a weapon (although not legally defined as such);
A sports slingshot is a rather expensive and powerful model. Shooting from a slingshot designed for sports is a very exciting activity that develops the eye. For professional sports shooting, both a medium slingshot and a large one can be used.

How to make a slingshot with your own hands

If you are thinking about how to make a slingshot with your own hands, the first thing you need is to find suitable tree for its manufacture. A slingshot made of wood is classic model from childhood. For the manufacture of slingshots, only deciduous trees with good combination hardness and elasticity. Acacia or rowan are ideal. One of the main criteria when choosing a blank for a future slingshot is the same thickness of the "horns".

The workpiece should be cleaned of bark, sanded and dried thoroughly. At the ends of the "horns" you need to make grooves, rubber for the slingshot will be attached there. Some craftsmen, to the question “how to make a slingshot”, will answer that for a slingshot, in addition to wood, you can use steel bars, thick plywood or plastic. However, steel slingshots are considered the best, and turning a slingshot into a work of art can only be done using wood with a beautiful structure.

A rubber medical bandage is used as "strands", although now the most optimal material is surgical latex. If you want to be one hundred percent sure of the quality of the rubber bands, the slingshot construction scheme should include branded rubber kits for slingshots. Trumark products (USA) are of stable quality and reasonable price.

Manufacturers of modern slingshots

It is not enough to find a slingshot that is suitable in shape and parameters. It is very important to choose quality product, because the modern slingshot market is filled with fakes, which often completely copy famous brands. It must be remembered that good producer will always give a guarantee for his slingshot, and the sellers' assurances of the quality of their product are not a document that will help in the event of a marriage. There have been repeated cases when a break in the tourniquet led to injuries to the eyes or face, and a steel slingshot (from an unknown alloy) that broke when pulled can stick a broken piece into the hand or face.

If funds allow, it is better to choose a slingshot made by "Marksman" or "Combow". Italian slingshot brand "Advance" is also of good quality.

Ammunition and slingshot shooting

For shooting from a slingshot, you can use different objects, ranging from stones under your feet to special "slingshot" projectiles.

Stones, rubble and other suitable objects are traditionally used for shooting from slingshots. Due to their different sizes, shapes and weights, they fly along an unpredictable trajectory and are unsuitable for long distances;
Glass balls allow you to track the trajectory of your flight, are ideal in shape and weight, but flying fragments and high price do not make them popular enough;
Hunting buckshot is cheap option steel balls. Quite convenient projectiles, the disadvantage of which lies in their toxicity to the environment;
Steel balls - perfect option for use in slingshots. Their only drawback can be called a high price;
Steel nuts can also be used as projectiles for a slingshot. Some hunters press lead into the middle of the nuts, making such projectiles deadly.

You can shoot from a slingshot at a distance of up to 25 meters, although this is not the limit. The main criterion for shooting accuracy is systematic training. There is a book that details the theory and practice of slingshot shooting (“Slingshot Shooting” by Jack Koechler).

Once upon a time, hunting was one of the main human activities. Successful results provided people not only with food, but also with clothes, shoes and even jewelry. In our time, commercial hunting has practically disappeared, and now it is more of a hobby. Expensive, requiring not only desire, but also certain skills. Weapons and devices have been invented in such quantity and quality that the hunter often only has to aim and pull the trigger. But real professionals do not recognize such tactics. Some of them also disapprove of such a type of weapon as a slingshot for hunting, considering it ineffective. However, this statement is controversial and in order to understand who is right, one should take a closer look at this ancient weapon.

No man needs to be explained what a slingshot looks like. A homemade slingshot, made from improvised materials, was in the hands of almost every boy. But remembering, still does not hurt. Moreover, modern hunting slingshots have undergone some improvements, and manufacturers have long ceased to use forked branches specially looked out for on a certain tree. Although the principle remains unchanged.

So, a slingshot for hunting consists of three main parts:

The base, which simultaneously serves as a handle and a place for attaching the harness.
Harness. From the elasticity and elasticity of which depends on the power and range.
Kozhetok. A specially selected piece of dressed leather in which a projectile is inserted.

Previously, the process of making a slingshot began with the search for a suitable branch. The type of wood also mattered. Oak, ash, cherry or apple tree were best suited for this purpose. A dense forked branch was tied with twine and left for a while so that it would take desired shape. Only after that the blank for the slingshot was cut off. The bark was removed from it, polished and fired.

A multi-layer elastic tourniquet was attached to the upper ends, in the middle of which a skin was fixed - a small piece of dressed leather. Then it was necessary to shoot the slingshot, because it is impossible to make products identical in strength, range, accuracy and lethality.

AT modern models other materials are used. More durable and flexible.

Shooting principle

A projectile is laid in the skin. The tourniquet is pulled strongly. The distance of the target in this case does not play a role. The projectile must receive the maximum charge of kinetic energy. Not only power, but also the accuracy of the shot depends on this. Aiming is carried out. Then the skin is abruptly released, the tourniquet instantly contracts and sends a projectile. At the same time, the speed can reach 70-90 m / s, and the range is 200-250 meters. These indicators are not applicable to all types of slingshots. Everything will depend on the material from which it is made, the design features and the type of projectile.

Ammunition

There isn't much variety here. But after many years and even centuries of practical exercises, three types of projectiles for hunting slingshots were chosen:

Plastic balls, various weights and sizes. On the hunt, they are not very effective, or rather, too light, but they are ideal for training.
Metal buckshot and shot. This one is just combat options.
And, of course, small-sized and suitable-shaped pebbles. This type of shells can be easily found right on the spot.

Advantages and disadvantages

The controversy on this topic will never subside. Some consider the slingshot to be the ideal weapon for hunting. Others, on the contrary, do not put it in any comparison with the same bow or hunting crossbow. And there is nothing to say about a good branded gun or carbine. However, not all so simple.

The undeniable advantages of a slingshot:

Possibility of use under any circumstances. Even if you went to the forest for mushrooms or go fishing in the river, you can make an aimed shot at any time.
With certain skills, preparation for a shot takes only a few seconds. Which, coupled with noiselessness, makes it possible for a second attempt to hit the target, if the first one was unsuccessful.
The slingshot is easy to carry and even with a supply of shells is quite light.
Relatively high power. There are slingshots, the lethal force of which reaches 70 meters or more. Of course, it cannot be compared with a gun, but in a dense forest sometimes there are even ten meters left.
Noiselessness.
And the last argument is cheapness.

What other arguments can be in favor of a hunting slingshot? They, of course, are, as well as disadvantages:

It takes many days of training to learn how to use a slingshot correctly and successfully for hunting.
Big game is not available for this type of weapon, although wild boar have been reported.
No matter how high-quality the tourniquet is, its service life is very limited.
Not a great aiming range. This point was also noted in the merits, so it all depends on the circumstances in which the slingshot is used.

Having considered both lists and estimating what outweighs the advantages or disadvantages, it remains to make a choice: will you take a slingshot into service and go hunting for hares, squirrels and other medium-sized game. Or you will prefer a more lethal weapon that will provide an opportunity to get a bigger beast.

Proper shooting technique

This concept includes two components: aiming and the hunter's stance. If you do both correctly, you can achieve amazing results. Experienced hunters are able to hit a target that is not standing still. Yes, and shoot yourself while on the move, too, is not uncommon.

In this light, there are two aiming techniques worth considering.

instinctive shooting

This method is based more on imagination and feelings, although it does not change the laws of physics. Aiming is done with both eyes, and the slingshot is controlled by sensations, because it is completely outside the direct gaze. When the hunter feels that the direction of shooting is chosen correctly, by lowering the hand with the leatherette clamped in the fingers, the trajectory and range of the projectile are regulated.

The undoubted advantage of this method of aiming is that the shooter does not care which eye he sees better. But the minuses include two facts:

If the hunter is not good at imagining the trajectory of the projectile, he is unlikely to achieve any success. This is the same imagination on which the method is based.
The second is the fact that after replacing a worn harness, you will have to spend some time zeroing in.

Development this method requires a lot of practice. But having mastered it, the hunter is unlikely to leave the forest without trophies.

Aiming with an eyeball

Installing a target on a slingshot for hunting can significantly increase the efficiency and accuracy of shooting even for an inexperienced shooter. But here there are some nuances:

You will have to aim with one eye, the one that is sharper.
The reference point should be set a little to the side, since the hand with the leatherette will be in close proximity to the face, and this fact may adversely affect accuracy.
When choosing an overlay for a landmark, you need to make sure that it matches your individual color sensations.

The essence of aiming with an eye is as follows: three points must be lined up on one line. Eye, sight and target. The flight range is determined in the same way as in the previous method.

A well-made and individually shot eye gauge can be easily used with several types of slingshots, simply by rearranging it from one to another, which can significantly increase hunting results.

Hunter Stance

When hunting with a slingshot, sometimes there is no time left to take the correct stance. Find support for the legs, fall on one knee, or vice versa straighten up. All these movements in the forest, where any movement means danger to the animal, can frighten off the prey, and you will have to spend some more time searching for it. Therefore, the hunter's stance is reduced to two concepts, from which the method of aiming follows.

In move. Experienced shooters advise not to try to keep the sight exactly on the target while moving. It is almost impossible to do this, and by and large not required. The sight can move along a certain trajectory, the ideal example of which would be the infinity sign - an eight that fell on its side. The junction of the imaginary lines will be the aiming point. As soon as the shooter feels that the movements have converged at this point, and it, in turn, coincided with the target, a shot is fired. "Infinity" is not the only option. The trajectory of the movement of the sight should be selected individually.
Fixed aiming. At first glance, nothing complicated. Aim the sight at the target, make sure that all three points coincide and release the skin. But there are subtleties here too. Learning to hold a stretched slingshot smoothly throughout the entire time of the sight is not easy enough. And one more thing: between the moment when the sight found the target and the shot, the delay should be 5, maximum 7 seconds. In the forest, this method is rarely used for hunting, since you cannot sit in an ambush with a slingshot, so it is more suitable for aiming for sports competitions and shooting.

In general, there are nuances. However, having mastered all these skills, you can safely take a slingshot into service.

How to make a slingshot for hunting with your own hands

A fairly wide selection of slingshots is presented in the hunting equipment store, but remembering childhood and making it yourself is also not difficult. To do this, you will need a very small set of materials and tools:

A suitable piece of branch. Can be replaced with a plastic or metal part.
Rubber or special harness.
A piece of tanned leather.
Jigsaw.
Drill.
Scissors.
Sandpaper.

The algorithm of actions is the same as in a cheerful happy childhood.

A carefully selected horned branch should be cleaned of bark and treated with sandpaper.
On each horn of the sighting part, about two centimeters below the ends, we remove the annular chamfer under the elastic band.
The elastic is wrapped around the horns, tied with knots, and the knots are wrapped with threads.
The center of the gum is measured and cut.
In a piece of leather selected under the skin, holes are made along the edges.
The ends of the elastic are passed through these holes and tied with a knot.

The homemade slingshot is ready and the drawings were not needed. The main thing is that the ends of the elastic bands are the same in length, otherwise the skin will be shifted to one side. It remains to pick up suitable shells and start shooting.

Overview of several popular models

But back to the store. It is rather difficult for an inexperienced person to choose a truly high-quality slingshot for hunting, and even a strong, accurate and durable one. Therefore, here are a couple of the most popular models:

Model FS-1 from Truemark. Very light. The kit includes a clip for projectiles. Removable hand rest. Designed almost 50 years ago, but is still one of the best-selling models.
Survival Slingshot Archer Complete. Purely hunting model. The kit includes a flashlight. Arrows may be used.
The so-called combat slingshot. Demountable model in anodized aluminium. There is a large spread when shooting, since the aiming part is too wide.
The base is made of aircraft-grade aluminum, which makes it lightweight. Due to the thin rubber, the accuracy of hitting the target is increased.

The list is far from complete, but the listed models are enough to understand that it will not be difficult to find a slingshot in your hand.

Safety

Shooting, no matter where and from what it is made, is a rather dangerous business. Especially when the review is closed tightly standing trees, a low shrub or a sunbeam peeking out from behind a cloud. Therefore, hunting safety precautions must be observed.

The first danger is ricochet. A projectile from a slingshot flies very fast and can change its trajectory by hitting a stone, a tree trunk, or just a thick branch.
Protective goggles must be worn when shooting from a slingshot.
Carefully monitor what is on the trajectory of the projectile and especially in the immediate vicinity of the target.
And never aim at an animal unless it's going to shoot.

This is where we can finish the review of this familiar and at the same time such an unusual weapon for hunting. Good luck on the fishery.

"Carving with a knife. crafts from branches” is a book that will definitely come in handy this summer for boys and those adults who do not consider a folding knife a dangerous prank in the hands of children. First of all, having mastered the basic ones, it is worth making a slingshot - a real, well-aimed and very durable one. Today's master class on making a slingshot with your own hands will show you how to do it.

I became interested in slingshots as a child, quite naturally, as well as bows and arrows, various traps, tree houses and blowguns (we used small clay balls to shoot through our wonderful bamboo pipes). Although not everything I did with my many slingshots, I can be proud of, it was exciting, and useful too - for example, you could get a mango that hung far out of reach on a thin branch.

This work, of course, was for two. One stood under a huge, beautiful, ripe mango, and the other stood aside, armed with a good slingshot with charges of hard unripe guava or nuts. Naturally, the target was not the mango itself. Hitting the fruit would mercilessly damage it. The target was a long stem over a mango. If the “bullet” cut it off, then the mango fell directly into the hands (hopefully) of the waiting catcher.

So, here are the components of a Brazilian slingshot, brand "Mato Grosso", model of the 1950s (modernization of 2005, author Lübkemann): a fairly symmetrical slingshot made of deciduous wood; high-quality rubber medical tube (thickness depends on the tension you need), a piece of durable leather for leatherette and dental floss (yes, yes, dental floss! - you can use menthol, you can use it without smell, but I usually use waxed).

Here I must confess that as a boy in the jungle I used the good old rubber of car inner tubes, the tongues of old boots and laces! But I suspect that today it is difficult to find a car inner tube made of real rubber and it is not at all easy to find a leather boot tongue. As for flossing, I don't remember how I started using it, but it works great! It is very strong and does not slip when you tie it.

You will need:

Symmetrically (within reasonable limits) branching branch of a deciduous tree
Grinding sandpaper - a couple of types from fine to very fine (150 and 220).
rubber medical tube good quality
Leather for leatherette (saddle, heels)
Dental floss

Cut the handle to your preferred length. Round off the tops of the ramifications.

In this particular slingshot, we will remove the entire bark. On some of my slingshots, I left part of the bark - depending on the look I wanted.

Cut out a shallow "neck" at the top ends of the slingshot.

Cut the tubes to the required length, making an allowance for the fact that their ends will both wrap around the ends of the slingshot and fold through the holes you carefully cut in the skin.

When cutting these holes, proceed very carefully, making sure that the edges of the hole are smooth, without burrs and cuts that could lead to tearing of the leather.

It is necessary to tie the elastic bands to the slingshot together! One holds the slingshot and pulls the elastic (its “tongue” should be outside the fork), and the second, pulling the thread, tightly winds the thread around the elastic and ties it.

Don't skimp on the thread! Fold it in half and use a long thread. And tie several knots in the process of winding.

As an additional fastening, I cross the thread several times on the front side of the female part of the gum and around the neck of the slingshot.

Securely tie the elastic bands (also pulling them) to both holes in the leather.

Ready! Slingshots can be a lot of fun and rewarding if used correctly. In some places (eg. summer cottages) there are special restrictions on slingshots as throwing weapons. Be sure to check before use. That says it all!

The branch that we used for this slingshot, although of strong wood, is still probably a little thinner than I usually took for the rubber we used. A thicker branch would be more suitable - the one in the photo below.

Next time we will make a wooden fork for frying something tasty on a fire.

Discussion

The main thing is to be careful with such toys)) the kids are smart now, you never know what .. (

Dear dads and moms ... you don’t need to give your children slingshots ... since childhood I have had a scar just below the navel because of the slingshot ... the boys from the neighboring yard were naughty ...

Although I am a girl, but as a child, I loved to shoot cats and dogs from a slingshot)) as I remember ... I will shudder. Poor animals! What did they just not tolerate from me (

Comment on the article "Do-it-yourself slingshot: crafts for boys. Master class with a photo"

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Today, many experienced hunters are conflicting about the use of a slingshot for hunting, it is more considered exotic than common. There are reasons for such a statement, since without having studied this type of weapon, it is difficult to imagine its advantages over a gun and a carbine. For example, with the help of a slingshot, you can successfully hunt hares, squirrels, otters and muskrats, there were also cases when a small boar was even shot from this weapon. Therefore, in the arsenal of many hunters, a powerful hunting slingshot occupies a worthy place, being located on a par with crossbows and bows.

Toy or dangerous weapon?

Based specifications such products, it can be understood that a hunting slingshot is a completely reasonable and justified means. Hunting with a slingshot has some features and is somewhat different from hunting with other types of weapons. The tactic is to lure the animal out of its hole or get close to it, which turns such a hunt into a reckless training in the ability to disguise and hide. In order to make an effective shot from a gun, many hunters use it to scare a marten or squirrel out of the nest or to get a wounded animal.

In this case, the ammunition is released absolutely silently, and in case of an unsuccessful attempt, there is a chance to make another, more successful shot, since the animal may not hear or notice the first shot. In the lands rich in game, hunting for pheasant (especially at the beginning of the season), duck, various waders and even black grouse is famous. As for its direct use, first of all, it is shooting with shot or balls of various diameters at medium-sized game located at a short distance from the hunter.

Today there is a large selection of such products for every taste, the Russian market is filled with "different-sized" and different-quality factory-made products, among which there are models that are quite difficult to pass by. You can also find a lot of information on how to make a slingshot for hunting yourself.

Slingshot made of wood and powerful rubber band

The slingshot is wooden handle Y-shape (in classic version), to which rubber strips are attached. A “projectile” is placed in its central part, the rubber bands are stretched as much as possible to the limit, released, the “projectile” flies out and a “shot” is carried out. This tool can be easily made independently from any improvised materials. Homemade slingshots for hunting are worthy alternative factory models and meet all the necessary physical characteristics. However, before you make it with your own hands, you should familiarize yourself with its structure.

The simplest weapon in design consists of only a few elements:

horn. It is used to secure harnesses and to hold a slingshot during a shot or aiming;
bowstring (harnesses, strands). Rubber strips that are used to accumulate potential energy when pulled and quickly release it to the “projectile” during the shot;
saddle (leather). This is the central part of the slingshot, most often made of leather and serves to capture and hold the "projectile".

When making a slingshot with your own hands, as a rule, natural wood is used, but you need to be very serious about choosing a breed. The tree must have the following qualities:

hardness;
elasticity;
fracture resistance.

The most suitable for this are considered only deciduous trees- mountain ash, apple tree, walnut, maple, acacia. When choosing a suitable branch for a homemade slingshot, you need to pay attention to the presence of two symmetrically located processes of the same thickness on it. Since rubber bands will be attached to them in the future, they should be almost the same size. After the branch is cut, it must be well cleaned of bark and dried.

The resulting “semi-finished product” of the handle must be sanded, adjusted to the dimensions and proportions, depending on your engineering and taste preferences. One of the advantages of homemade slingshots is that they can be made to fit the hunter's hand.

But at the same time, there are certain logical criteria: the handle should not be too thin and short, and the horns should have the same height.

Also of great importance for homemade weapons is the material for making the bowstring. Formerly for self-manufacturing such devices used rubber medical bandages, but today natural latex is used in the manufacture of gum for a slingshot High Quality, which quickly restores its original dimensions. The strands made from it have the maximum rate of contraction and will last for a long time.

Improvements in shooting practice made minor changes to the design. Over time, it turned out that the gun would shoot better if the cords had different thickness. Well-known manufacturers of slingshot rubber for hunting or sports make their strands conical or wedge-shaped, while they must necessarily taper towards the leather jacket. The leather jacket must also have a certain rigidity:

medium hardness is ideal;
a soft leather jacket is more comfortable to hold, but there is a possibility that it may slip out unevenly and this will affect both the strength and accuracy of the shot;
in a hard leather jacket - it is quite difficult to hold the projectile.

A self-made slingshot is quite versatile, and the types of ammunition for it are quite diverse. It can be:

shot or buckshot made of metal of various sizes;
small and medium stones;
plastic balls of various sizes - usually used to practice shooting skills. Multiple use.

All types of ammunition must be used directly on the hunt.

Benefits of a slingshot

compactness and light weight;
radius of destruction up to ten meters (there are models in which the radius of destruction reaches 70 meters);
noiselessness of the shot (often this is important);
high shot power with minimal noise;
easy repair or replacement of any part;
versatility in relation to ammunition;
noiselessness of the shot (often this is important);
with good preparation of the hunter, a shot can be fired in an instant;
an excellent product for training the eye, skills of stealing, "silent hunting", studying the habits of game, understanding the basics of ballistics;
on the territory of Russia, a slingshot is not considered a weapon, does not require a license, registration or any other legalization;
a hunting slingshot allows you to hit any target, it can be used in any conditions - fishing or walking;
low cost of products.

Safety rules while hunting

So that instead of prey you do not suffer, when shooting from a slingshot, you must follow the safety precautions:

Protective goggles must be worn while hunting.
you always need to see what or who is behind the animal;
if you are not going to shoot at animals, you should not aim at them;
do not shoot into the air over buildings and hills if the target is not clearly visible;
beware of ricochet.

The same rules apply when shooting from a sports slingshot.