catapults

[Alleycat]

Any advice on the best makes please? Ultimately to be used as a hunting device if I had to - and if I could get to be a good enough shot....

[jansman]

Thfe obvious would be the Barnett Range. The Strike 9 is a simple one. I personally make my own. In fact the one iI have in my dog walking jacket I made 30 yrs ago( with just a few changes of elastic).Just do a search for Bells of Hythe-catapult Nirvana!

And when you get one practise,practise,practise,practise. Then more practise.

[nickdutch]

Strike 9 is very simple and doesn't give one the range of grips that other types of catapults have. The black widow is a step forward from the strike 9 as it has the long arm brace giving you greater power. However I think that the bands that the strike 9 and the black widow come with are over powered ( in terms of draw weight) for accuracy, but there are other "tube bands " on the market that are easier to draw and can still kick like a mule on speed.

Milbro make very expensive frames, but they can be useable on all band types, depending on the frame you get.

There seems to be three main band types, loops, flat and tube. It might be a good idea to accumulate or make different types of catapults so that no matter what kind of elastics you get you can still shoot something.

maybe get a simple cheap one and practice every day for maybe 6 months and see how you do and then work out what kind of shooting style you have or can use. Side on (gangsta), straight, Chinese grip (fingers on the forks), through the forks, over the forks etc.

As you build up confidence, then move on to making catapults so that you can make one to your specification.

I am trying to study flat bands at the moment and am learning what my needs are vis a vis flat band power.

Different power levels require different styles of muscular control and shooting styles.

Experiment, learn through doing. i was ghastly when i started last autumn 2011, now I am not as bad (spring 2012), but soon i hope to be "good"

[bulldogeagle]

"Black Widow"!

[jansman]

"Black Widow"!

Arkwright would say,'The B B Black W Widow!'

[Alleycat]

Thanks guys - I now have at least a starting point

[Justin Time]

I used to have a Barnet Diablo when I was young. These things used to bury steel ball bearings into trees. Tubular rubber and wrist brace are a must for power and accuracy.

[nickdutch]

Tubular rubber and wrist brace are a must for power and accuracy.

I do agree in all ways, apart from the use of the word MUST.
We all need to experiment and work out what is right for us.

I find that on different days I feel like shooting with a different tool, rather like a pipe smoker feeling like smoking a different pipe. if I chose a tool and use it, I am often accurate, but if I chose one that I don't feel like, then I can do badly.

If I want to do well with a frame that I don't instinctively feel like, I sometimes have to acclimatize myself to that frame and bandset. One I have got my head around that frame and bandset again I am usually as accurate as normal.

Its kinda like a relationship with a tool.

[Justin Time]

Agree that if you are heavily into slingshots then getting to know your various models will be a necessity. For the average guy/gal in the street who wants a 'one size fits all' type of versatile catty to wipe out a rabbit or even put a man down then a powerful and steady model needs to fit the bill.
I had a look on Ebay after reading this thread and the diablos are only £25. A lot of bang for buck I think.
One thing I did notice is that they are available with or without the weighted stabiliser and sights. Any thoughts on how much these increase accuracy?

[nickdutch]

Agree that if you are heavily into slingshots then getting to know your various models will be a necessity. For the average guy/gal in the street who wants a 'one size fits all' type of versatile catty to wipe out a rabbit or even put a man down then a powerful and steady model needs to fit the bill.
I had a look on Ebay after reading this thread and the diablos are only £25. A lot of bang for buck I think.
One thing I did notice is that they are available with or without the weighted stabiliser and sights. Any thoughts on how much these increase accuracy?

My black widow was only a tenner on ebay brand new