How to make a slingshot from improvised materials? Making a slingshot: step by step instructions. Slingshot for hunting: an effective weapon How to make a slingshot with your own hands from wood

The use of a slingshot as a hunting weapon is more exotic than the norm. In fact, this, at first glance, a primitive weapon “comes from childhood”, evoking associations with the ringing of broken window glass and the word “hooligan”, now occupies a well-defined niche in a wide range of hunting arsenal, being next to crossbows, bows and others " ancient” (but by no means primitive) inventions of mankind.

Device and principle of operation

In its traditional, classic form, it is a very compact (a little more than a palm in size) Y-shaped piece of wood (resembling the horns of some representative of ruminants and ungulates), to which flat strips or round rubber bands are attached, with a leather, wider strip between them. A projectile is inserted into this part, then rubber bands are stretched and, aiming, releasing a leather jacket with a projectile clamped in it, a “shot” is fired.

Sharply shrinking, rubber bands transfer kinetic energy to the projectile, which is quite sufficient for them to gain speed from 45 to 80 m / s and a flight range of 50 to 200 meters. A very wide "scatter" of these indicators is explained by numerous options for both designs and materials for the manufacture of slingshots, and a wide choice of "ammunition" for them.

So, a simple weapon in terms of its technological device, a slingshot consists of several main characteristic parts:

● slingshot, or slingshot - serves to attach a rubber band, hold the slingshot when aiming and shooting;

● cords, throwing harnesses, string - rubber (latex) strips that serve to accumulate potential energy during stretching (pulling) and quickly transfer this energy to the projectile at the moment of compression;

● leather jacket (leather, saddle) - "charging" part, made, as a rule, of leather and used to capture and hold the projectile before firing.

Manufacturers of homemade traditional slingshots prefer natural wood for their manufacture. The choice of breed is quite serious. Just like in a rifle butt, a combination of such qualities of wood as elasticity, hardness, and resistance to splitting is required.

The best species are traditionally considered deciduous - mountain ash, walnut, maple, apple tree, acacia. Usually, a young branch of a tree is chosen and tied with a rope, drawing future “horns” to each other. Such a branch is left “for growth”, but most often it is cut down immediately if its dimensions already meet the requirements and tastes of the shooter.

An important criterion for the choice of the workpiece is the symmetrical arrangement and the same thickness of the two, working in the future, processes, to which the rubber bands will be attached. After cutting, such a workpiece is cleaned of bark and dried for two to three weeks in a dry room.

The resulting "semi-finished product" is processed - polished and brought to the size and proportions, depending on the individual taste and engineering preferences of the master and the future owner. Of course, there are general logical criteria: sufficient thickness and length of the handle, equal height of the tops of the horns, the distance between them. Recesses are also made for the seats of the rubber band.

The fantasies of craftsmen are limitless - there are slingshots made of steel rod, carved from deer antler, sawn from plastic or from thick multi-layer plywood, with a notch on the handle, decorated with the initials of the owner, with inserted rhinestones and artistic carvings.

There are lovers of various technical options and improvements: all kinds of sights, "amplifiers" of tension, unusual forms of leather jackets. Sometimes, in terms of ornate forms, this brings them closer to modern compound bows or crossbows, but more often, it unnecessarily complicates the design and hardly really improves the “combat” characteristics - after all, the very essence of a slingshot is compactness and intuitive shooting.

It is much more important to choose the “right” material for the manufacture of strands, which must have sufficient ability to restore its original dimensions as quickly as possible. For many years, the most affordable and popular material for this was a rubber medical bandage.

Now "professionals" consider such material natural latex. Rods made of this material last quite a long time and have the highest rate of contraction. Modern king of sling rubber - surgical latex, which enthusiasts get in pharmacies or Medtekhnika. A Russian achievement is the Pezzer catheter, which is produced in several standard sizes. Highly advanced shooters use only Trumark branded (USA) rubber, red, priced at $4.95 per set.

The leading manufacturers of slingshot rubber for sports and hunting models make their bands wedge-shaped or conical, tapering to a leather jacket, which, in turn, must be made of a material of medium hardness:

Too soft is convenient to hold with your fingers, but it can slip out unevenly when fired, which will definitely affect the accuracy of the shot.
In too hard - it is difficult to hold the projectile without feeling it. According to the masters, good leather jackets are obtained from old belts and shoes, which speaks not only of creativity, but also of a very economical way of making weapons of this kind.

Designs and models

Moving from the basics and products of craftsmen to the industrial production of this type of throwing weapon, we will see an even greater variety of engineering and technical thought. There is a very wide range of slingshot companies on the market these days, for example, well-known companies such as Marksman or Combow(USA), which produce their products not only in sports and hunting versions, but also carry out orders for the armament of special forces - in the form of a real combat system.

Italian company “Advance” makes "ordinary" (to use the term for hunting weapons) slingshots - with the widest choice of models and prices.

Of course, Chinese manufacturers did not stand aside and filled the Russian market with countless "different-sized" and different-quality products. It is impossible to ignore such model names: “BlackWidow”, “ProDiablo”, “Wrist-RocketPro” or “Dragon”…

slingshots Marksman have a completely traditional look, but are produced using modern technologies and materials. For example, the handles are made of impact-resistant plastic of various colors, the flyers are pressed into the handle, the rubber bands are made in the form of cylindrical hollow cords with special tips for fastening, the leatherette (heel) is made of synthetics.

As a rule, the surface of the handle has grooves for fingers or corrugation. In more advanced models, the design includes a special screw for attaching flyers to the upper end of the handle, and, in turn, is attached to it. ball magazine (capacity 25 pcs.), made in such a way that it is also an emphasis and protection for the shooter's hand.

For aesthete hunters and sophisticated connoisseurs, slingshots are produced even in an elite version. In this case, the handle is made of precious wood, the flyers are made of high-strength steel with an anti-corrosion coating, the rubber bands are two-tone, and the heel is made of calfskin. For shooting, the manufacturer recommends and produces steel balls with a diameter 6.5mm, 8mm and 10.5mm.

In some models of the company's slingshots Combow, in addition to using standard balls, it is also possible to shoot special arrows, which makes them somewhat similar to a small crossbow. The kit also includes spare rubber cylindrical bands, a support for the elbow part of the arm, a holster, a quiver and a set of special hunting (short) arrows.

The body of the slingshot is made of aluminum alloy and has a noble matte finish, and the vinyl handle is adjustable in length. An interesting feature of the design of this sample was a kind of “Hi-Tech innovation”, which increases the effect of tensile cords on the projectile (as it is positioned in the instructions).

In an ordinary, average slingshot (without such a device), the rubber band is stretched for 460mm, and in the “Combow” slingshot by 740mm, which makes it possible to disperse a steel ball with a diameter of 12.7mm to a speed of 70 m/s, and a hunting arrow weighing 160 g - up to more than 60 m/s and an impressive flight range - 137-183 m! The holster and quiver for arrows are attached to the leg or to the waist belt. The price of such a “combat kit” is more than 150 US dollars.

Some foreign models can also be equipped with a kind of underbarrel flashlight, a laser sight and other similar options for deep connoisseurs and virtuosos who appreciate modern technological progress.

It is impossible not to mention also special hunting models that allow using not only a single ball as a projectile (as a prototype of a bullet), but also, thanks to the shape and material of the leather jacket, load the slingshot with shot, which allows it to be used already for purely hunting purposes - for shooting on small and, most importantly, moving targets.

Ammunition and shooting

As in firearms, the accuracy of a hit depends on the entire weapon-ammunition-shooter complex. And the flight of a projectile fired from any weapon obeys the same laws of ballistics. Therefore, the lower the resistance of the oncoming air flow, the more uniform and longer the “acceleration”, the more accurate and farther the projectile will fly:

● crushed stone, gravel and other improvised items are not suitable for the title of ideal ammunition: the difference in size, weight and shape will not allow you to achieve stable shooting results;

● glass beads are much better: they are symmetrical and rather heavy. One of the advantages is that the refraction of light makes the trajectory of their flight clearly visible, which is indispensable for practicing intuitive (without the use of aiming devices) shooting skills. Their disadvantages are still insufficient mass and sharp fragments in case they hit a solid obstacle;

● hunting lead buckshot is almost perfect. The heaviness of this metal allows the use of balls of a smaller diameter while maintaining quite a solid weight, so they experience less air resistance and fly faster and farther. Buckshot is available - sold in all hunting shops. There is only one drawback - lead oxide is poisonous (for those who care about their own health and the environment);

● steel balls are close to perfection. The almost perfect polished surface improves streamlining and reduces air resistance. Environmental friendliness of application. The only “but” is that it is lighter than lead ones, therefore, compared to them (of the same diameter), their flight distance will be less.

A confident shooting distance from a slingshot is the same as for pneumatic long-barreled weapons: 10-25 meters(although some trained shooters achieve good results at longer distances (30-35 m). As in archery, uniformity of tension and repeatability (uniformity from shot to shot) of movements are important.

The technique is individual: some shooters hold the slingshot vertically, others almost horizontally, and still others at a certain angle. The main thing here is to be convenient and efficient. Therefore, here arises the term "intuitive shooting", which means an instinctive correction (acquired by practice) for distance, trajectory, target movement, wind strength and direction, and other factors.

It is difficult to give advice here due to the unpredictability of various situations on the hunt, but the "father of the horn thought", the mighty old man Jack Koechler tried to collect them in the immortal work "Slingshot Shooting", after reading which, it becomes clear that with hard training it is possible to achieve a confident hit in the left compound eye of a flying tse-tse fly.

Slingshot and hunting

Based on the technical characteristics, it can be understood that the use of a slingshot for hunting is quite reasonable and justified. Many hunters use a slingshot to frighten a squirrel or marten out of the nest, in order to then fire a productive shot from a gun. To get a wounded animal (for example, a duck on the water) so as not to waste extra cartridges - in these cases, the help of a slingshot is in great demand.

As for the direct, hunting use, then, first of all, it is shooting at medium-sized game, located at a close distance from the hunter. It can be a hazel grouse that flew up to the whistle of a decoy and sat down on the nearest branch, partridges that took off from under your feet (yours or dogs), a woodcock on spring draft in a low forest (in these cases, when shooting at flying game, of course it is better to use in shot as a projectile), small animals (squirrel, marten, muskrat, ferret, hare) - balls of various diameters are quite suitable here.

The slingshot forces the hunter to get as close as possible to the prey, which makes such a hunt into a wonderful and reckless training in concealment and disguise. The noiselessness of the shot is also important - often the game does not disappear after the first miss and allows you to make a second shot.

In lands rich in game, it is quite possible to shoot various waders and even black grouse (especially at the beginning of the season, in broods) and ducks. Although you need to be aware that it will never be as effective as with a gun.

So, the pros and cons of this simple but unique invention in relation to hunting:

● compactness and low weight;

● "omnivorous" in relation to ammunition, up to the use of random, turned out to be at hand;

● silent shot (often this is important);

● "issue price" - the cost ranges from 130 rubles. up to 13000 rub. Goods of domestic production - an order of magnitude cheaper, not to mention the author's home-made copies;

● easy repair or replacement of any failed part;

● in Russia it is not considered a weapon and does not require registration, license or any other legalization (although do not forget the articles of the Criminal Code on hooliganism, poaching and causing bodily harm of varying severity);

● an excellent product for training the eye, understanding the basics of ballistics, stealing skills, studying the habits of game, "silent hunting", which almost does not violate the ecology and the tranquility of wildlife;

● The effectiveness (productiveness) of hunting with a slingshot leaves much to be desired, but in terms of passion and physical activity it is quite comparable to rifle hunting.

Using a slingshot for hunting may seem like a curiosity and is not taken seriously. But having enough practice, hunting will become interesting and successful. Of course, no one uses a slingshot to hunt a large animal, but birds and small animals can be shot quite successfully.

Slingshot for hunting - what is it?

A hunting slingshot can be very similar in appearance to a conventional slingshot, or it can have a modern ergonomic design and be equipped with additional options, such as an adjustable handle and a comfortable hand rest.

Differences between a hunting slingshot and a regular one:

noiselessness of the shot;
simplicity and convenience of design;
high shot speed;
the use of special metal balls or arrows, instead of pebbles.

Homemade slingshot for hunting

For the manufacture of such a slingshot, metal, plastic and wood can be used. Hunting slingshots are distinguished by a wide variety of shapes, this is especially true for wooden slingshots.

To make a slingshot, it is enough to pick up an ordinary branched branch. In the simplest embodiment, the bark may not be removed.

Making a slingshot for hunting with your own hands

Regardless of the method of manufacture and material, the width between the horns should be in the range of 4 to 7 centimeters. The length of the horns and handles are selected individually. These values do not affect the success of shooting, but the convenience for the shooter depends on them. Keep in mind that a hunting slingshot should not be too thin, because it will have to withstand firing with fairly heavy balls. The horns should be of the same thickness and placed at the same angle to the handle.

Wooden slingshot

The following trees are suitable for making a slingshot:

ash;
maple;
nut.

You will need a forked branch or a piece of board if you want to carve a slingshot out of wood with your own hands. Using a jigsaw, a slingshot of the required shape is cut out. Please note that the slingshot should not be flat - it will be uncomfortable to lie in your hand. If you find a good branch, it must be debarked. Be sure to grind the workpiece with sandpaper.

There are several ways to attach a rubber band.

At a distance of 1.5 millimeters from the ends of the horns, small cuts are made to the width of the elastic band. The elastic is wrapped around the horns and tied into a knot.
We make the same cuts as described above, but we put the elastic bands so that they become a continuation of the horns.
At a distance of 1.5 millimeters from the ends of the horns, small holes are drilled into which elastic bands are threaded. Tie the elastic tightly so that it does not pop out.

Epoxy glue slingshot

You need to buy any two-component epoxy glue and mold it into a slingshot of the desired shape and size. When sculpting a handle, take the workpiece in the palm of your hand and squeeze it lightly. If you squeeze the slingshot too tightly, then when shooting it will be uncomfortable for you to hold it.

After the glue has hardened, we proceed to pasting the slingshot with 5 layers of paper. It is best to alternate newspaper and plain paper - this way you will see if the entire surface has been glued with a new layer. After all layers have dried, holes should be drilled at a distance of 1.5 millimeters from the upper edges of the horns for elastic. On the one hand, you can widen the hole a little, so the knot will hide in the recess and will not stick out from the outside.

The product is polished with sandpaper and primed with a mixture of chalk and PVA. Then it is again polished with fine-grained sandpaper and painted. Such a slingshot looks very attractive and is in no way inferior in quality to wood.

Rubber bands for a slingshot - making the right choice

The lethal force of the slingshot depends on the right rubber band. The fastest contracting and most powerful is flat latex. Slingers love the manufacturer Thera band the most. You can buy this latex in any sports shop - athletes use it in their training. A strip 1.5 centimeters thick is cut out of the purchased latex.

What is shot from a hunting slingshot

It is customary to use 8.5 mm buckshot as shells. It is always on sale, it is quite cheap, and you can shoot far enough with it.

Slingshot for hunting - who to hunt

Birds and small animals are beaten from such a slingshot. The slingshot proved to be excellent when hunting game, which rises almost from the legs, namely:

pheasant;
grouse;
partridge;
woodcock;
great snipe.

With increasing distance, the effectiveness of the slingshot decreases sharply, so it is possible to shoot a duck, but it will be difficult.

Before you go hunting with a slingshot, it will not be out of place to practice well, adjust the length of the elastic band and find a comfortable shooting position. If you have never shot with a slingshot, then at first you are unlikely to hit the target. But having trained, you can safely use a slingshot for hunting.

The slingshot has long been perceived only as an attribute of defense and attack by all the boys in the yard. For the easy way of her model, which can be done by hand, she has become a favorite toy and even a weapon for adult men for small game. At present, the slingshot is still very popular and has unconditional reverence among boys of all ages. Despite its external simplicity, its manufacture can be different from each other, as well as the material used.

It is an erroneous opinion that a slingshot is just a small mini-weapon for hooligan boys. A professional slingshot in the hands of a fighter can become a real weapon with which it is not scary to go to the enemy. To obtain such a weapon block, experts use the highest quality material: titanium, carbon fiber. Complemented by a laser pointer or red dot sight, it was often used as a tidying up during riots. Another combat slingshot is used as the first "assistant" when firearms were not used appropriately. The purpose of the slingshot is not spelled out, everyone uses it for different purposes. Later we will describe ways that you can do without a slingshot, but with its help make the job easier. Let's look at what a slingshot is for, how to make it ourselves and figure out which material is preferable in everyday life.

A slingshot is a throwing weapon in which the projectile acquires the kinetic energy of the potential energy stored in the stretched elastic band.

The origins of the slingshot

The meaning of the word "slingshot" itself, according to some unreliable sources, came from the word "horns". Indeed, they have certain similarities. Often it is compared with a catapult, only in this case it is a miniature device. Like many inventions that have survived to our time, the slingshot was created by Leonardo da Vinci. The original device was a slingshot that did not have rubber, and instead special rollers were placed on the axles. Inside were springs with chain hoists. A cord is attached to them, when stretched, the springs stretch and form the conditions for an accurate and long-range shot. Over time, such a mechanism was replaced by a simpler one replaced by rubber.

What is a slingshot made of

In appearance, the slingshot does not have a complex mechanism, however, it is divided into several important nodes:

The body of the slingshot, consisting of wood, less often of metal;
Harness for throwing, with the help of which energy is accumulated;
Kozhetka, heel or saddle. Serves to hold the projectile. It may be absent if the projectile protrudes in the form of metal staples.

A slingshot, similar to the standard model, is mainly made of wood (walnut, cherry, elderberry). For an ideal shape in the form of the letter Y, young branches are taken as the basis, young “horns” are connected to each other and left in this form for about two months. After that, the shape of the correct slingshot is formed.

A serious approach to the manufacture of a slingshot determines the accuracy in the symmetrical placement of the horns relative to the base handle.

After two months, the slingshot is cut. In order for the device to acquire a strong appearance, it should be cleaned of the upper layer of the bark and dried, wrapped in material, for about two weeks. Then the slingshot is fired on an open flame. From this point on, achieve the ideal thickness and surface with sandpaper.

Proper selection of material

The body of the slingshot. Having become a lover of young men, today the slingshot is found from metal, plastic, wire, wood, cardboard. It is natural that the durable material of the listed is metal, and then wood. It’s just that a slingshot made of wood is more common due to the fact that the complexity of working from metal cannot always be used at home. Plastic is no less durable, even mechanical impacts are not terrible for him. Cardboard is suitable only for playing with children, but do not underestimate its power of throwing bullets.
Choice of gum. According to numerous reviews, the most suitable option is the rubber sheath of cables. The simplest option is a medical tourniquet, but only because it can be bought at a pharmacy. Many advise a martens bandage, a gas mask GP 5. A latex surgical drainage tube is considered very durable and ductile, but it is very difficult to get it. Simpler options are used by those who need a slingshot only for playing, for example, young men use rubber from a ball or a bicycle tire. It is affordable, and the throwing properties absolutely meet their needs.
Kozhetok. Almost always it always has a rectangular shape. The material from which it will be made must be durable and provide reliable wear resistance. Usually it is leather, less often suede, leatherette.

Which projectile to choose

The finished slingshot is good because you can pick up shells for it even on the street, it can be ordinary stones. The owner himself chooses the size and shape for personal reasons. If you want to increase the lethal force, speed, and also the impact when throwing, then opt for special metal bullets bought in stores. It can be steel balls, lead shot, chopped lead, lots.

A simple option to make a slingshot with your own hands

A strong slingshot will not be worse than bought in a store, if you approach the homemade responsibly. Find a branch that looks like the letter Y. It is advisable to use sizes that are between 15 and 20 cm long.

In order for the branch to be strong and reliable, before breaking it off the tree, make sure that there are no cracks or chips on it. It is not scary if there are small scratches on the branch, they can be easily cut off with a knife;
The bark will become superfluous, so it is often removed. This is done for aesthetic reasons.

The best option would be a fresh branch. But the moisture that it contains is superfluous, otherwise the design will lose reliability. How to dry it. The easiest way is to wrap it in material and dry it in the microwave. Use the correct step by step instructions:

Wrap the future slingshot in a small towel. Put in the microwave and leave for a few seconds at the highest degree.
The stick will create a hiss, when it stops, put it down again for a few seconds and so on several times.

The photo below shows what can happen if a stick is left for a long time without a towel. It may turn black, or even catch fire. So be careful, watch what you do.

We turn to the creation of notches. To do this, you will need a construction knife. On each of the branches, make cuts on top, as shown in the photo.

We turn to the choice of rubber. In this example, a medical tube will be used, in turn, you can use another elastic band, for example, a tourniquet, rubber from an old ball or a bicycle inner tube. The diameter is 80 mm, and as for the length, you decide what it should be. It depends on the traction force. The shorter the rubber band, the stronger the throw. Do not forget that it still needs to be stretched, so you should not make it too short either. When the length is chosen, cut the two tubes in half and tie the end of each to your notch.
Tie a piece of dental floss around the tube. The thread will tighten the tube and make it strong.
Let's move on to creating the skin. It is not difficult to cut it out of any durable fabric, it is better if it is leather. A 10x5 rectangle should have a small hole on each side (0.8 - 1.20 cm). Later, through these holes, we will stretch the tube for traction.

Now everything is simple. Pass each end of the rubber tube through the holes. Make a knot for each. Manipulations with dental floss can also be used in this case, the design will become much stronger.
The slingshot is ready. Practice using your new slingshot to knock down any inanimate object, train your eyesight and accuracy.

This example is more of an amateur way of throwing pebbles or other small equipment.

Original slingshot for homemade with children

It's no secret that most kids who like slingshots are boys. Therefore, you can use this master class as a development tool for your son or grandson. In order to start the process, you will need improvised means:

Toilet paper tube. You will have to prepare in advance, you will not unwind a whole skein;
Insulating tape;
Pencil;
Elastic;
Scissors.

Take a cylindrical shape from toilet paper and cut it vertically, so it will be more convenient to roll it. Twist into a stick and wrap with electrical tape.
At the end of the cardboard stick, make a hole the diameter of a simple pencil. Push it in turning circle after circle.
Let's move on to the jacket. To make it, you need strong cardboard. Using scissors, cut out a rectangular shape, and make holes for the elastic along the edges with a hole punch.
You determine the length of the elastic yourself, if you do not stretch only on one side, it is approximately equal to the length of the pencil. Insert it into the holes in the leather, tying each end into a knot. And wrap the other end around the end of the pencil and tie it tightly. So you get a slingshot that you can play at home, and in the form of bullets you can think of anything you want. For example, soaked paper from which bullets are formed with fingers is suitable.

Cardboard slingshots will be stronger when the handle, which accounts for the main force, is strong. Therefore, it is better to additionally wrap it with adhesive tape.

Slingshot Rules: Caution

Some types of slingshots are considered melee weapons, but even if the slingshot you bought is legal to use it everywhere, this does not open you up to shooting animals and people. Do not hold the slingshot at eye level and do not aim at the eyes of the person standing next to you, even a small bullet can lead to sad consequences.

How to make a hunting slingshot with your own hands

An ideal slingshot is made by the correct design and no matter what material it will consist of. The rubber band, in turn, provides a fast and accurate flight. To find the necessary forked branch, you will have to work hard, but you can use a jigsaw. In order to make a slingshot for hunting, we need:

Jigsaw and wood or finished slingshot branch;
Sandpaper for grinding;
Elastic;
Construction knife;
Drill;
A small piece of leather.

When a branch in the form of a slingshot is in your hands, we begin grinding from the tree bark. If you decide to use a jigsaw, be aware that the handle should not be flat, and the horns must be made the same in both distance and length.

We cut out a flat flexible plate from leather. We make holes on the sides for the elastic band and thread it tying it at the ends.

To attach an elastic band to a slingshot, you can use a drill and make corresponding holes at the ends of the horns, or you can make cuts with a knife. Both methods are welcome. The main thing is that the knot is strong.

The horns should be at the same angle from the handle. And the handle, in turn, should not be too thin, since you will often have to shoot from it, the design must be durable.

You can expand your imagination and create a completely different type of slingshot using a plastic bottle. You will need:

Plastic bottle;
Construction knife;
Rubber band for money;
Fingertip.

Cut off the top of the plastic bottle. We don't need a lid. We put a fingertip on the neck and tighten it with an elastic band. Everything, the slingshot is ready, it remains only to put the projectile inside and aim.

The best degree of stretch for a slingshot is 80% of the rest length. A good option for a throwing harness is latex.

Pocket weapons: where you can use a slingshot

The first thing that comes to mind to a person who is not fond of this type of weapon is the game of boys in the yard. But the slingshot has a much wider outlook and its properties very often become useful at home. Let's see where you can use pocket weapons.

Anyone who has a garden or garden knows that very often such petty thieves as crows and other bird species attack him. You can save yourself with a scarecrow, but if it does not help, you can drive away ill-wishers with a slingshot. Just be extremely careful so that no person is far from you when you miss.
“A pear is hanging - you can’t eat it” - this is how the well-known riddle begins, but today is not about it. The slingshot can be used to target fruit that is at the very top of the fruit tree.
The tourist needs to pay tribute to the slingshot. A foreign country is full of unexpected surprises, unless, of course, you are aware of some of its dangerous zones in advance. In this case, the slingshot can be useful in scaring off wild animals and self-defense from dogs. If you decide to stop for the night in the forest for a few more days, then it’s just the right time to try your weapons on small animals. Such hunting does not require licenses and special permits.
Often a slingshot is used by anglers to cast top dressing into the distance of a reservoir.
With the help of a slingshot, accuracy is developed. Using it for such purposes in a very short period of time you will shoot down targets from a very long distance.

As you can see, a slingshot is a very useful throwing device that is available to every person. You can put it in your pocket and carry it with you as a protective device.

How to make a fishing slingshot

Perhaps for many it will be a discovery that slingshots are used to feed fish at a distance of 30-40 meters from the shore, but not for the fishermen themselves. This simple device is popular at the present time. A characteristic feature for a slingshot used in the fishing industry is rubber. The strength of the flight depends on its rigidity. The softer the rubber, the closer and vice versa. In fishing shops, you can find two types of slingshots: for crumbly mixtures of complementary foods and complementary foods in lumps. Consider a master class of a slingshot, which in fact will turn out to be no worse than the factory version.

We will need:

Pezzer catheter;
Strong thread;
A branch resembling the letter Y;
Scissors, knife;
A small piece of skin.

We clean the finished branch from the bark. You can do this with a knife or take sandpaper.
We get rid of the existing moisture using a microwave, after wrapping it with a cloth or drying it for about a month, if there is time for this.
We cut out small transverse grooves in the upper axis of the branch.
We tie each end of the catheter with a dense thread to two holes.
From the skin we cut out the necessary shape of the leather.
Make holes on the sides and attach the ends of the catheter to them. We fasten tightly with a thread.

To make the flight force as large as possible, it is recommended to hold the slingshot vertically. Make the balls the same, the same weight, in order to know the approximate footage from the shore. The elastic band should be pulled with maximum effort.

They say that even a stick shoots once a year, so take the slingshot seriously. Use it for its intended purpose, namely: to hit objects for the development of accuracy, for game, top dressing and to help with the housework.

After the invention of rubber. Abroad, they use a slingshot for hunting birds and small animals - hares, rabbits and other raccoons.

Those slingshots that are sold in Russia are very weakened and are intended for casting bait during fishing, in order to bring the slingshot into a combat state, it is necessary to change the rubber band to a more powerful one.

How to make a slingshot with your own hands

Making a homemade slingshot is a very simple task. We made slingshots as 6 year old boys.

The simplest slingshot is a homemade wire slingshot.

Here they are in the photo above. Such a slingshot is made from ordinary aluminum wire for electrical wiring, they took it at a construction site, you need a little, and in those days there were an unlimited amount of scraps around the construction site.

The wire is bent, the insulation in the upper part is neatly cut in a circle, removed, an elastic band is put in, pulled out of shorts or taken from a rubber-motor model, and the insulation is put back.

Slingshot bullets were made from the same aluminum wire using pliers or wire cutters. During the evening it was possible to make a couple of hundred bullets, which were shot in a day.

Homemade wooden slingshot

The easiest way to make a wooden slingshot is from a Y-shaped tree fork. You will need a hacksaw for metal or wood and a knife. The cut part must be peeled and dried. It would be nice to dry for a month, but in childhood we didn’t bother with this, as the outer part of the slingshot dries up after the bark is removed, we put it into action.

And what is there to do then? Cut the grooves for attaching the elastic band and fasten the latter, well, put a leather jacket for the shells. Delov then for 10 minutes.

You can cut a homemade slingshot from plywood, any piece 2-2.5 cm thick will do. You should not take thinner, it can break if the rubber is powerful.

metal slingshot

You can also make slingshots from metal, look at the photos of slingshots below - what they are not made of!

The principle of making slingshots is the same - they cut out a Y-shape, put on an elastic band and the slingshot is ready to shoot. You can braid it with a cord, paracord or soaked leather, soak it so that when it dries, the skin tightens and tightly braids the slingshot.

How to shoot from a slingshot

Usually they shoot pebbles from a slingshot, it is desirable to pick up rounded pellets. Just keep in mind - different weights of pebbles give different behavior of the projectile in flight. However, in childhood, they shot 200-300 shots every day and from 15 meters they hit a bottle with any stone.

But for accuracy competitions, balls from bearings were used. Whoever won in shooting from a slingshot could go and collect all the balls from the targets, this was the prize, because it was difficult to get balls from bearings.

They shot from a slingshot and nuts, they also fly well and predictably at the target, but the balls are still better.

Today you can buy steel balls for shooting from a slingshot and a homemade crossbow at a hunting store. The balls are the same.

Many complain that it is difficult to shoot from a slingshot and it is impossible to hit a bottle from it at 10 meters. Laugh in their faces! Shoot 100 shots every day and in a month from 10 meters you will be able to shoot down a matchbox from 10 meters 9 times out of 10 shots!

Where to get rubber for a homemade slingshot

As a child, we used rubber from the cameras of cars and bicycles - it was necessary to carefully cut off the tourniquet of the desired thickness without burrs. It's not easy, cut with scissors wetting them in a diluted soapy solution (cuts better, less likely to burr).

Today you can buy a ready-made rubber cord. Only in hunting shops it is weak. It is better to use a cord for tightening model gliders.

You can buy a harness for a slingshot.

Stretching 6 times, designed to tighten the airframe to 5 kg. If you fold the tourniquet in half and put it on each side, then 4 “lines” will give a tension that is enough to launch 20 kg to a height of 50 meters :)

The calculation, of course, is very ironic, but my converted slingshot with this rubber easily breaks champagne bottles at a distance of 15 meters. Look at what kind of rubber cord was on it regularly (black lies on the bottom) and what kind of bay (10 meters) was left for use in other entertainment!

Just as interesting.