How to make a powerful DIY hunting slingshot? How to make a slingshot from scrap materials? Making a slingshot: step by step instructions

No matter how trivial it may sound, our childhood was much more interesting than that of today's younger generations. After class, the girls hurried into the yard with rubber bands and jump ropes, and the boys, having thrown their bags after school, did not let go of their slingshots at all. And no one then bought them in the store, and everyone made their own. Today children have become couch potatoes, they spend more time at the computer or with a tablet. Perhaps, having come across this article, some boy will find it interesting and use the advice given in it. And we will talk about how to make a slingshot with your own hands.

You can make a slingshot from the simplest available tools. The most common and simplest option is wood.

How to make a wooden slingshot

Required materials and tools: Y-shaped stick, rubber band, piece of leather (rubber), knife.

You ask how to make a slingshot quickly so that you can use it right now? From a branch, of course.

To do this, you just need to find a suitable stick on the street, the correct shape and strong enough so that it can withstand the load and does not break. The stick will be the basis for the future slingshot.
Excess twigs and twigs will need to be cut with a knife.
Next, you may need to dry the workpiece if the branch is fresh. To do this, you can use a conventional oven.
The next step is to prepare the rods. You need to take any elastic band, measure the required length and make two pulls.
On the edges of the horns of the branches, in the places where the rods are attached, it is necessary to make indentations so that the elastic does not slip.
Next, you need to make a platform for the projectile. It could be a piece of leather or rubber. You need to give it rectangular shape and make holes for the elastic around the edges. It is convenient to use a hole punch, but if there is none, you can make cuts with a knife or scissors.
This is followed by very elementary actions - the connection of all parts into a single structure.

Homemade slingshot made of board or plywood

You can also go along a more complicated path - cut the base for the slingshot from a board or plywood with a jigsaw.

Sharp corners will have to be rounded off with emery or sandpaper, or wrap the handle with something. Chances are, every home has duct tape. A great slingshot will come out, given that the tape comes in a variety of colors. You can also use soft leather or other material that needs to be easily secured, it will not slip on the handle. Great idea will make a personal inscription or some kind of symbol on the handle or horns. It used to be fashionable to burn various patterns on wooden products using a soldering iron for wood. In the case of a slingshot, it can also come in handy.

Wire slingshot

Since making a slingshot from wire is also very easy and quick, any boy can use this method as well.

Necessary materials and tools: wire with a diameter of 2 mm and a length of 30-40 cm, elastic band (money or fishing), pliers and a knife.

As you may have guessed, the wire will serve as the base of the slingshot.

The wire must be folded in half.
Approximately in the middle, turn both ends of the wire into different sides and bend up. Next, you need to use pliers to make the horns even. The lower part of the workpiece - the wire folded in half - will be the handle.
At the ends of the horns, about a centimeter or more from the edge, using a clerical knife or an ordinary knife, it is necessary to carefully cut off the insulation so that it can be removed and then put back on.
It is necessary to thread the ends of the elastic into the obtained cylinders from the insulation and return the cylinders to their original place. Now they fit snugly enough to prevent the elastic from slipping out.

Here's how to make a DIY slingshot using wire.

How to make a slingshot from a bottle

An unusual option, but also a very simple design.

Required materials and tools: regular plastic bottle, ball and knife.

To make such a slingshot, you need:

Cut the neck out of the bottle
Attach a ball to it.

Everything! Faster to do than tell you how to make a slingshot.

What can you shoot

All of these slingshots are used for entertainment purposes. Any round berries, such as elderberry or mountain ash, can serve as shells for them. You can also make homemade bullets from thin aluminum wire... To do this, you need to cut the wire 2-3 cm each and bend it with the letter V.

You may also be interested in how to make a powerful slingshot.

Powerful slingshot

This design is no longer so simple, but everyone can also do it.

Required materials and tools: metal wire with a cross section of 5 mm in diameter and about 70 cm long, 2 medical catheters No. 22, a piece of leather, a stick, electrical tape, pliers and tweezers.

Using pliers, it is necessary to give the correct shape to the wire. Bend it in half and form a stop, handle and horns.
Then, if there is a soft rubber or dense foam rubber cylinder, make a through hole in it in the center, thread it over the wire and pull it into place of the stop. This is necessary so that the wire does not crush the hand. You can also just wrap well with iso or any other tape.
Next, you need to cut the stick of the required length, trying it on own hand... Make grooves for the wire on the sides of the stick.
Insert the future handle into the workpiece and wrap it with electrical tape or fix it with another material.
The ends of the horns also need to be insulated.
Now you need to prepare the site for the shells. Make two holes in the leather rectangle.
Next, you need to cut off the tips of the catheters and make small holes in them along the edges, insert the catheter into a leather jacket. Through the hole made, using tweezers, push the other end of the catheter into the hole and tighten. Do the same with the other traction.
The free ends of the catheter must be put on the slingshot, having previously moistened them with any alcohol.

The article contains the best options for how to make a slingshot at home. Use one of them, but do not forget that you cannot shoot at people and animals! Better to make your own small shooting range, where the targets will be cans. Invite more friends and have fun together. At the same time it will be possible to show off "personal weapons".

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

It is erroneous to believe that a slingshot is just a small mini-weapon for boys-hooligans. 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. Supplemented with a laser pointer or reflex sight, it was often used as a means of restoring order in riots. Another combat slingshot is used as the first "assistant" when firearms were not used expediently. The purpose of the slingshot is not spelled out, everyone uses it for different purposes. Later we will describe the ways, without which you can do without a slingshot, but with its help to facilitate the work. 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 potential energy stored in a stretched elastic band.

The origins of the slingshot

The meaning of the word "slingshot" according to some unreliable sources comes from the word "horn". Indeed, it is true that they have certain similarities. It is often compared to 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 rubber-free slingshot, and instead of it, special rollers were placed on the axles. There were springs with chain hoists inside. 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 the slingshot consists of

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

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

The slingshot, similar to the standard model, is mainly made of wood (walnut, cherry, elderberry). For perfect shape in the shape of the letter Y, young branches are taken as a basis, young "horns" are tied together and in this form they are left for about two months. After that, the shape of a regular slingshot is formed.

A serious approach to making the slingshot requires precision in the symmetrical placement of the horns in relation to the base handle.

After two months, the slingshot is cut. In order for the device to acquire a robust appearance, it should be cleaned of the top layer of bark and dried by wrapping it in material for about two weeks. Then the slingshot is fired in an open flame. From this point on, the ideal thickness and surface is achieved using sandpaper.

Correct selection of material

Slingshot body. Having become a lover of young men, the slingshot today is found in metal, plastic, wire, wood, cardboard. Naturally, the durable material from the listed ones is metal, and then wood. It's just that a wooden slingshot is more common due to the fact that the complexity of metal work cannot always be used at home. Plastic is no less durable, even mechanical influences are not afraid of it. Cardboard is only suitable for playing with children, but do not underestimate its power of throwing bullets.
Choosing a rubber band. According to numerous reviews, the most suitable option is the rubber sheaths of the cables. A medical tourniquet is considered the easiest option, but only because it can be bought at the pharmacy. Many people advise a bandage of martens, a gas mask GP 5. The surgical drainage tube made of latex is considered very strong and viscous, but it is very difficult to get it. Simpler options are used by those who only need a slingshot for playing, for example, rubber from a ball or a bicycle tire is used by young men. It is available, and the propelling properties absolutely meet their needs.
Skin. It almost always has a rectangular shape. The material from which it will be made must be strong and provide reliable wear resistance. Usually it is leather, less often suede, dermantin.

How to choose a shell

The finished slingshot is so good that the shells for it can be picked up even on the street, these can be ordinary stones. The size and shape are chosen by the owner himself for personal reasons. If you want to increase destructive power, speed, as well as impact when throwing, then opt for special metal bullets bought in stores. These can be steel balls, lead shot, chopped lead, and lots.

A simple option to make a slingshot with your own hands

A strong slingshot will be no worse than one bought in a store if you approach the homemade product responsibly. Find a branch that looks like the letter Y. It is advisable to use sizes that are 15 to 20 cm long.

To keep the branch strong and secure, make sure there are no cracks or chips on the branch before breaking it off the tree. 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 structure will lose its reliability. How to dry it. The easiest way is to wrap in material and dry in microwave oven... Use the correct step-by-step instructions:

Roll up the future slingshot in a small towel. Place in the microwave and leave for a few seconds at the highest temperature.
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 you put a stick on long time no towel. It can turn black, or even catch fire. So be careful, watch what you do.

Let's move on to creating notches. To do this, you need a construction knife. On each of the branches, make cuts on top, as shown in the photo.

Moving on to the choice of rubber. V this example a medical tube will be used, you can in turn use a different rubber band, such as a tourniquet, rubber from an old ball or bicycle tube. Diameter 80 mm, and about the length you decide what it should be. The traction force depends on this. The shorter the elastic, the stronger the throw. Do not forget that it still needs to be stretched, so you shouldn't 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 pull the traction tube.

It's simple now. Pass each end of the rubber tube through the holes. Make a knot for each. Dental floss manipulation can be used in this case, the design will become much stronger.
The slingshot is ready. Practice using your new slingshot to knock down some inanimate object, train your eyesight and accuracy.

This example is more suitable for the amateur way of throwing stones or other small equipment.

Original slingshot for homemade products with children

It's no secret that most kids who love slingshots are boys. Therefore, you can use this master class as a developmental game for your son or grandson. In order to start the process, you will need the tools at hand:

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

Take the cylindrical shape from the toilet paper and cut it vertically to make it easier to fold. Twist into a stick and wrap with duct tape.
At the end of the cardboard stick, make a hole the size of a pencil. Slide it in round and round.
Let's move on to the leather jacket. To make it, you will need durable cardboard. Use scissors to cut out a rectangular shape, and punch holes around the edges for the rubber band.
The length of the elastic is determined by yourself, if you do not stretch only on one side, it is approximately equal to the length of the pencil. Slip it through the holes in the jacket, tying each end into a knot. And wrap the other end over the end of the pencil and tie tightly. So you get a slingshot that you can play at home, and you can think of anything in the form of bullets. For example, soggy paper from which bullets are formed with your fingers.

Slingshots made of cardboard will be stronger when the handle, which has 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 be used everywhere, this does not open up your boundaries for 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 it, even a small bullet can lead to sad consequences.

How to make a hunting slingshot with your own hands

The perfect slingshot makes correct design and no matter what material it will consist of. The elastic band, in turn, ensures fast and accurate flight. You will have to work hard to find the necessary forked branch, but you can use a jigsaw. In order to make a slingshot for hunting, we need:

Jigsaw and wood or ready-made slingshot branch;
Sandpaper for sanding;
Elastic;
Construction knife;
Drill;
A small piece of leather.

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

Cut a flat flexible plate out of leather. We make holes on the sides for the elastic and thread it by 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 encouraged. The main thing is that the knot is strong.

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

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

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

Cut off the top plastic bottle... We don't need a lid. We put the 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 stretch for a slingshot is 80% of the resting length. A good option latex is used for the throwing tourniquet.

Pocket weapons: where to use the slingshot

The first thing that comes to mind to a person who is not fond of this type of weapon is the play of the 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.

Whoever has a vegetable garden or garden knows that very often he is attacked by such petty thieves as crows and other types of birds. You can save yourself with a stuffed animal, 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 if you miss.
"Hanging pear - you can't eat" - this is how the well-known riddle begins, but today is not about her. The slingshot can be used to target the 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 hazardous areas... In this case, the slingshot can be helpful in scaring away wild animals and in self-defense from dogs. If you decide to stay overnight in the forest for a few more days, then it's just right to try your weapon on small animals. Such hunting does not require licenses or special permits.
Often a slingshot is used by anglers to throw top dressing into the distance of the reservoir.
With the help of a slingshot, they develop accuracy. Using it for such purposes in a very short period, you will shoot down targets from a very long distance.

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

How to make a fishing slingshot

Perhaps it will be a discovery for many that slingshots are used to feed fish at a distance of 30-40 meters from the coast, but not for the fishermen themselves. This simple device is popular nowadays. Characteristic feature for the 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 loose mixtures of complementary foods and complementary foods in lumps. Consider a master class with a slingshot, which in fact turns out to be no worse than the factory version.

We 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 use sandpaper.
We get rid of the existing moisture using a microwave, after wrapping it with a cloth or dry it for about a month, if there is time for this.
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.
We cut out leather jackets of the required shape.
Make holes on the sides and attach the ends of the catheter to them. We fasten it tightly with a thread.

To keep the force of the flight as strong as possible, it is recommended to keep the slingshot upright. Make the balls the same, of the same weight, so that you know the approximate distance from the shore. The elastic should be tightened with maximum effort.

They say even a stick fires once a year, so take your slingshot seriously. Use it for its intended purpose, namely: to hit objects for the development of accuracy, for game, feeding and to help with the household.

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

A slingshot for hunting - what is it?

A hunting slingshot can be very similar in appearance to a regular 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 a shot;
simplicity and ease of construction;
high speed of a shot;
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 come in a wide variety of shapes, especially wooden slingshots.

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

Making a slingshot for hunting with your own hands

Regardless of the manufacturing method and material, the width between the horns should be within the range of 4 to 7 centimeters. The length of the horns and handles are individually selected. These values do not in any way affect the success of the shooting, but the convenience for the shooter depends on them. Keep in mind that a hunting slingshot should not be too thin, as it will have to withstand shooting with fairly heavy balls. The horns should be of the same thickness and 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 from 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 in your hand. If you find good branch, it must be cleaned of the bark. Be sure to grind the workpiece with sandpaper.

There are several ways to attach an elastic band.

At a distance of 1.5 millimeters from the ends of the horns, small cuts are made to the width of the elastic. An elastic band is wrapped around the horns and tied in a knot.
We make the same cuts as described above, but apply 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. It is necessary to tie the elastic band tightly so that it does not jump out.

Epoxy slingshot

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

After the glue has hardened, we proceed to pasting the slingshot with 5 layers of paper. It is best to alternate between newspaper and plain paper - this way you will see if the entire surface is 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 the elastic. On one side, you can slightly widen the hole, so the knot will hide in the recess and will not stick out from the outside.

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

Slingshot rubber bands - making the right choice

The destructive power of the slingshot depends on the correctly selected gum. The fastest contracting and most powerful is flat latex. The horned ones love the Thera band manufacturer the most. You can buy this latex at any sports store - athletes use it in their workouts. A strip 1.5 centimeters thick is cut from the purchased latex.

Than shoot 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 with it far enough.

Slingshot for hunting - who to hunt

A bird and small animals are beaten from such a slingshot. The slingshot proved to be excellent when hunting for 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 going hunting with a slingshot, it will not be superfluous to practice well, adjust the length of the rubber band and find a comfortable shooting position. If you have never fired from a slingshot, then at first you are unlikely to hit the target. But with practice, you can safely use the slingshot for hunting.

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

Device and principle of operation

In its traditional, classic form, it is a very compact (slightly larger than the palm of your hand) Y-shaped piece of wood (reminiscent of the horns of some representative of ruminants and ungulates), to which are attached flat strips or round rubber bands, with a wider leather strip between them. The shell is put into this part, then the rubber bands are stretched and, aiming, releasing the leather jacket with the shell clamped in it, a "shot" is made.

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

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

● slingshot, or stag - serves to attach a rubber band, hold the slingshot while aiming and firing;

● ropes, throwing ropes, bowstrings - rubber (latex) strips used to accumulate potential energy during stretching (pulling) and the rapid release of this energy to the projectile at the moment of compression;

● leather jacket (leather jacket, saddle) - “charging” part, made, as a rule, of leather and serving to grip and hold the projectile before firing.

Homemade traditional slingshot makers prefer natural wood... The choice of the breed is quite serious. Just as 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 deciduous - mountain ash, walnut, maple, apple, acacia. Usually they choose a young branch of a tree and tie it with a rope, pulling the future "horns" to each other. Such a branch is left "to grow", but most often it is cut immediately if its size already meets 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. Depressions are also made for the seats of the rubber band.

The fantasies of the craftsmen are endless - there are slingshots from a steel rod, carved from a deer horn, sawn out of plastic or from thick multilayer plywood, with a notch on the handle, decorated with the owner's initials, with inserted rhinestones and artistic carvings.

There are lovers of various technical options and improvements: all kinds of scopes, tension boosters, unusual shapes leather jacket. Sometimes, due to the 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 "correct" material for the manufacture of strands, which should have a sufficient ability to quickly restore its original dimensions. For many years, the most affordable and popular material for this has been the rubber medical bandage.

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

Leading manufacturers of slingshot rubber for sporting and hunting models make their rods wedge-shaped or conical, tapering to the 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 certainly affect the accuracy of the shot.
Too hard - it is difficult to hold the projectile without feeling it. According to the reviews of the masters, good leather jackets are obtained from old belts and shoes, which speaks not only of a creative beginning, but also of a very economical way of making weapons of this kind.

Constructions and models

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

Italian company "Advance" makes "privates" (using the term hunting weapon) slingshots - with the widest choice models and prices.

Of course, Chinese manufacturers did not stand aside and filled Russian market countless number of “different caliber” and different quality products. It is impossible to pass by 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, rubber straps are made in the form of cylindrical hollow cords with special tips for fastening, the leather jacket (heel) is made of synthetics.

Typically, the grip surface has finger recesses or grooves. In more advanced models, the design provides for a special screw for attaching the flyers to the upper end of the handle, and to it, in turn, is attached magazine for balls (capacity 25 pcs.), made in such a way that it is also an emphasis and protection for the shooter's hand.

For hunters-aesthetes and sophisticated connoisseurs, slingshots are even produced in an elite version. In this case, the handle is made of fine wood, the flyer is 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 slingshot "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 straps, an elbow rest, a holster, a quiver and a set of special hunting (short) arrows.

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

In an ordinary, average slingshot (without such a device), the rubber band is stretched by 460mm, and in the "Combow" slingshot by 740mm, which makes it possible to accelerate 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 of 137-183 m! The holster and arrow quiver attach to the leg or waist belt. The price of such a "combat kit" is more than $ 150.

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

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

Ammunition and shooting

As with firearms, hitting accuracy depends on the entire weapon-ammunition-shooter complex. And the flight of a projectile fired from any weapon is subject to the same laws of ballistics. Therefore - the less the resistance of the oncoming air flow, the more uniform and longer the "acceleration" - the more accurately and further the projectile will fly:

● crushed stone, gravel and other improvised items for the title of an ideal ammunition are poorly suited: the difference in size, weight and shape will not allow achieving stable shooting results;

● glass beads are much better: they are symmetrical and quite 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 sighting devices) shooting skills. Their disadvantages are still insufficient mass and sharp fragments in case of hitting a solid obstacle;

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

● steel balls are close to perfect. The near-perfect polished surface improves streamlining and reduces air resistance. Environmental friendliness of use. The only "but" - is lighter than lead, therefore, in comparison with them (of the same diameter) - the distance of their flight will be shorter.

Confident firing distance from a slingshot coincides with that for a pneumatic long-barreled weapon: 10-25 meters(although some trained shooters achieve good results at longer (30-35 m) distances. As in archery, uniformity of pulling 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 make it convenient and efficient. Therefore, this is where the term "intuitive shooting", which means an instinctive correction (gained 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 different situations on the hunt, but the “father of slingshot thought”, the mighty old man Jack Koehler, tried to collect them in the immortal work “Slingshot Shooting”, after reading which, it becomes clear that with persistent training it is possible to achieve a confident hit in the left faceted eye of a flying tsetse fly.

Slingshot and hunting

Based technical characteristics it can be understood that the use of a slingshot while hunting is quite reasonable and justified. Many hunters use a slingshot to scare a squirrel or marten out of a nest, so that they can then fire a shot with 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 landed on the nearest branch, partridges that flew up from under your or a dog's feet, a woodcock on a spring pull in a low forest (in these cases, when shooting at flying game, of course, it is better to use shot as a projectile), small animals (squirrel, marten, muskrat, ferret, hare) - balls of various diameters are already quite suitable.

The slingshot forces the hunter to get as close to the prey as possible, which turns 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 the 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 applied to hunting:

● compactness and low weight;

● "omnivorous" in relation to ammunition, up to the use of an accidental one that is at hand;

● noiselessness of the shot (this is often important);

● "issue price" - the cost ranges from 130 rubles. up to 13,000 rubles. Domestic goods are much cheaper, not to mention the author's self-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 one should not forget the articles of the Criminal Code on hooliganism, poaching and infliction of bodily harm of various severity);

● an excellent product for eye training, understanding the basics of ballistics, concealing skills, studying the habits of game, "quiet hunting", almost without disturbing the environment and peace of mind wildlife;

● the efficiency (yield) of hunting with a slingshot leaves much to be desired, but for the excitement and physical activity quite comparable to gun hunting.

“Carving with a knife. Crafts from the branches ”- a book that will definitely come in handy this summer for boys and those adults who do not consider the folding knife a dangerous pampering in the hands of children. First of all, having mastered the basic ones, it is worth making a slingshot - real, accurate and very durable. Today's DIY slingshot workshop will show you how to do this.

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 tubes). Although not everything I did with my many slingshots, I can be proud, it was exciting, and useful too - for example, you could get a mango that was hanging 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 to one side, armed with a good slingshot with charges of hard unripe guava or nuts. Naturally, the target was not the mango itself. Getting into the fetus would harm it mercilessly. The target was a long stem over a mango. If the "bullet" cut him off, then the mango would fall right into the hands (hopefully) of the waiting catcher.

So, here are the components of a Brazilian slingshot, Mato Grosso brand, 1950s model (2005 modernization, by Lübkemann): a fairly symmetrical slingshot made of deciduous tree; a high-quality rubber medical tube (the thickness depends on the pulling force you need), a piece of strong leather for the skin and dental floss (yes, yes, dental floss! - you can with menthol, you can odorless, but I usually use waxed).

Here I must admit that as a boy in the jungle, I used the good old rubber of car tire tubes, tongues of old boots and laces! But I suspect it’s hard to find a real rubber car camera today, and it’s not easy to find a leather boot tongue. As for the dental floss, I don't remember how I started using it, but it works great! It is very durable and does not slip when you tie it.

You will need:

Symmetrically (reasonably) branching branch of a deciduous tree
Sandpaper for sanding - a couple of types from fine to very fine (150 and 220).
Good quality rubber medical tube
Leather for the jacket (saddles, heels)
Dental floss

Cut the handle to a length that suits you. Round off the tops of the bifurcation.

For this particular slingshot, we will remove all the bark. On some of my slingshots, I left part of the bark, depending on the type I wanted.

Cut a shallow “neck” at the top ends of the slingshot.

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

When cutting these holes, proceed very carefully, making sure to make the edges of the hole smooth, without burrs or cuts that could rupture the jacket.

It is imperative to tie the rubber bands to the slingshot together! One holds the slingshot and pulls the elastic (its "tongue" should be outside the branch), and the second, pulling the thread, tightly winds the thread on the elastic and ties it.

Don't skimp on the thread! Fold it in half and use a long thread. And tie a few knots as you wind.

As an additional reinforcement, I cross the thread several times on the front of the wrap-around elastic and around the neck of the slingshot.

Tie the elastic bands securely (also tightening them) to both holes in the jacket.

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

The branch we used for this slingshot, although made of sturdy wood, is probably a little thinner than I usually used 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 roasting something delicious over the fire.

Discussion

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

Dear dads and mothers ... there is no need to give your child slingshots ... since childhood I had a scar just below the navel because of the slingshot ... the boys from the neighboring yard were naughty ...

Even though I am a girl, as a child I loved to shoot with a slingshot at cats and dogs)) when I remember ... I shudder. Poor animals! What did they not tolerate from me (

Comment on the article "DIY slingshot: crafts for boys. Master class with a photo"

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