“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 indulgence in the hands of children. The first step, having mastered the basics, is to make a slingshot - a real one, accurate and very durable. Today's master class on making a slingshot with your own hands 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 was something I could be proud of, it was fun and useful too - for example, you could get a mango that was hanging out of reach far away on a thin branch.
This job, of course, was for two. One stood under a huge, beautiful, ripe mango, and the second stood to the side, armed with a good slingshot with charges of hard, unripe guava or nuts. Naturally, the goal was not the mango itself. Hitting the fetus would mercilessly damage it. The target was the long stem above the mango. If the “bullet” cut it off, then the mango fell straight into the hands of (hopefully) the waiting catcher.
So, here are the components of a Brazilian slingshot, Mato Grosso brand, model of the 1950s (2005 modernization, author Lübkemann): a fairly symmetrical slingshot made of deciduous wood; a high-quality rubber medical tube (the thickness depends on the tension force you need), a piece of strong leather for the skin and dental floss (yes, yes, dental floss! - you can have menthol, you can have no scent, but I usually use waxed).
Here I must confess that as a boy in the jungle I used the good old rubber of car tire tubes, old boot tongues 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 dental floss, I don't remember how I started using it, but it works great! It's very durable and doesn't slip off when you tie it on.
You will need:
- Symmetrically (within reasonable limits) branching branch of a deciduous tree
- Sandpaper for sanding - a couple of types from fine to very fine (150 and 220).
- Rubber medical tube good quality
- Leather for leather (saddles, heels)
- Dental floss
- Cut the handle to a length that suits you. Round off the tops of the branches.
- On this particular slingshot, we'll remove all the bark. On some of my slingshots I left part of the bark, depending on the look I wanted.
- Cut a shallow “neck” at the top ends of the slingshot.
- Cut the tubes to the required length, making allowance so that their ends will both wrap around the ends of the slingshot and fold through the holes in the skin you carefully cut.
When cutting these holes, be very careful to make sure the edges of the hole are smooth and free of burrs and cuts that could cause the skin to rip.
- 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 branch), and the second, pulling the thread, tightly winds the thread around the elastic and ties it.
Don't skimp on thread! Fold it in half and use a long thread. And tie several knots as you wind.
- As an additional reinforcement, I cross the thread several times on the front side of the female part of the elastic and around the neck of the slingshot.
- Tie the elastic bands securely (also by stretching them) to both holes of the leather cover.
- Ready! Slingshots can be a lot of fun and useful 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 strong wood, was 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 frying something tasty over a fire.
Discussion
The main thing is to be careful with such toys)) kids are smart now, you never know..(
Dear fathers and mothers... there is no need to give your children slingshots... since childhood I have had a scar just below my navel because of a slingshot... the boys from the neighboring yard were playing pranks...
Even though I’m a girl, when I was a child I loved to shoot cats and dogs with a slingshot)) when I remember... I shudder. Poor animals! What did they not tolerate from me (
Comment on the article "Do-it-yourself slingshot: crafts for boys. Master class with photos"
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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”, evoking associations with the sound of a broken window glass and the word “hooligan”, now occupies a very specific niche in the wide range of hunting arsenal, being located next to crossbows, bows and other “ancient” (but by no means primitive) inventions of mankind.
Design and principle of operation
In its traditional, classic form, it is a very compact piece of wood (slightly larger than a palm) Y-shape(resembling the horns of some representative of ruminants and ungulates), to which flat strips or round bands of rubber are attached, with a wider leather strip between them. A projectile is inserted into this part, then the rubber bands are stretched and, taking aim, releasing the leather jacket with the projectile clamped in it, a “shot” is fired.
By sharply contracting, the rubber bands transfer kinetic energy to the projectile, quite sufficient for it to gain a speed of 45 to 80 m/sec and a flight range of 50 to 200 meters. The very wide “scatter” of these indicators is explained by numerous options for both designs and materials for making slingshots, and a wide selection of “ammunition” for them.
So, a weapon that is simple in its technological design, the slingshot consists of several main characteristic parts:
● slingshot, or slingshot – used to attach a rubber band, holding the slingshot when aiming and firing;
● cords, throwing ropes, bowstrings - rubber (latex) strips that serve to accumulate potential energy during stretching (pulling) and quickly release this energy to the projectile at the moment of compression;
● leather jacket (leather jacket, saddle) – the “charging” part, usually made of leather and used to capture and hold the projectile before firing.
Manufacturers of homemade traditional slingshots prefer to use natural wood. The choice of breed is quite serious. Just as in a rifle stock, a combination of such qualities of wood as elasticity, hardness, and resistance to splitting is required.
The best species are traditionally considered deciduous - rowan, walnut, maple, apple, acacia. Usually a young tree branch is selected and tied with a rope, pulling the future “horns” towards each other. Such a branch is left to “grow”, but most often it is cut down immediately if its dimensions already meet the requirements and tastes of the shooter.
An important criterion for choosing a workpiece is the symmetrical arrangement and equal thickness of the two, future working, extensions to which the rubber bands will be attached. After cutting, such a workpiece is cleared of bark and dried for two to three weeks in a dry room.
The resulting “semi-finished product” is processed - polished and reduced to size and proportions, depending on the individual taste and engineering preferences of the master and 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 seats 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 owner’s initials, with inserted rhinestones and artistic carvings.
There are fans of various technical options and improvements: all kinds of sights, tension “amplifiers”, unusual shapes leather jacket Sometimes, in terms of their ornate shapes, this brings them closer to modern compound bows or crossbows, but more often, it unnecessarily complicates the design and is unlikely to actually improve 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 making cords, which should have sufficient ability to quickly restore its original dimensions. For many years, the most accessible and popular material for this was a rubber medical bandage.
Now “professionals” consider such material natural latex. Rods made from this material last quite a long time and have the highest rates of contraction. Modern king of sling rubber – surgical latex, which enthusiasts obtain in pharmacies or Medtekhnika. A Russian achievement is the Pezzer catheter, produced in several sizes. Particularly advanced shooters use only branded Trumark rubber (USA), red, at a price of $4.95 per set.
Leading manufacturers of slingshot rubber for sports and hunting models make their cords wedge-shaped or conical, tapering towards the skin, which, in turn, should be made of a medium-hard material:
- If it is too soft, it is convenient to hold it with your fingers, but it can slip out unevenly when firing, which will certainly affect the accuracy of the shot.
- If it is too hard, it is difficult to hold the projectile without feeling it. According to reviews from craftsmen, good leather jackets are made from old belts and shoes, which speaks not only of creativity, but also of very in an economical way manufacturing weapons of this kind.
Designs and models
Moving from the basics and products of folk craftsmen to industrial production this type of throwing weapon, we will see an even greater variety of engineering and technical thought. These days there is a very wide range of companies producing slingshots 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 “ordinary” (using the term for hunting weapons) slingshots - with the widest choice models and prices.
Of course, Chinese manufacturers did not stand aside and filled out Russian market countless “different caliber” and different quality products. It is impossible to ignore such model names: “BlackWidow”, “ProDiablo”, “Wrist-RocketPro” or “Dragon”...
Slingshots "Marksman" have quite traditional look, but are produced using modern technologies and materials. For example, the handles are made of impact-resistant plastic of various colors, flyers are pressed into the handle, rubber bands are made in the form of cylindrical hollow cords with special tips for fastening, the leather sheath (heel) is made of synthetics.
As a rule, the surface of the handle has grooves for fingers or grooves. In more advanced models, the design includes a special screw for fastening the flyers on 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 also serves as a support and protection for the shooter’s hand.
For aesthete hunters and sophisticated connoisseurs, slingshots are even available in elite versions. In this case, the handle is made of valuable wood, the flyers are made of high-strength steel with an anti-corrosion coating, the rubber bands are two-color, 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 rest for the elbow part of the arm, 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. Interesting feature The design of this sample was a kind of “Hi-Tech innovation”, increasing the effect of the tensile cords on the projectile (as it is positioned in the instructions).
In a regular, average slingshot (without such a device), the rubber band stretches by 460mm, and in the “Combow” slingshot by 740 mm, which makes it possible to accelerate a steel ball with a diameter of 12.7 mm to a speed of 70 m/s, and a hunting arrow weighing 160 g - 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.
Some foreign models can also be equipped with some kind of under-barrel flashlight, a laser sight and other similar options for deep experts and virtuosos who value modern achievements of technical progress.
It is also impossible not to mention special hunting models that allow you to use not only a single ball as a projectile (as a prototype bullet), but also, thanks to the shape and material of the leather case, to load the slingshot with shot, which allows you to use it for purely hunting purposes - for shooting against small and, most importantly, moving targets.
Ammunition and shooting
As with firearms, hit 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 lower the resistance of the oncoming air flow, the more uniform and longer the “acceleration”, the more accurate and further the projectile will fly:
● crushed stone, gravel and other improvised objects do not qualify well as ideal ammunition: differences 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 their flight trajectory clearly visible, which is indispensable for practicing intuitive shooting skills (without the use of sighting devices). Their disadvantages are still insufficient mass and sharp fragments if 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 respectable weight, so they experience less air resistance and fly faster and further. 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 perfection. The almost perfect polished surface improves streamlining and reduces air resistance. Environmentally friendly use. The only “but” is that they are lighter than lead ones, therefore, compared to them (of the same diameter), their flight distance will be shorter.
A reliable shooting distance from a slingshot coincides with that of a long-barreled pneumatic weapon: 10-25 meters(although some trained shooters achieve good results at longer (30-35 m) distances. 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 others at a certain angle. The main thing here is to make it convenient and effective. That's why it arises here term "intuitive shooting", which means an instinctive correction (developed with 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 hunting situations, but the “father of slingshot thought,” the mighty old Jack Koechler, 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 to the left compound eye of a flying tsetse fly.
Slingshot and hunting
Based technical characteristics one can understand that using a slingshot for 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 an effective shot from a gun. To catch a wounded animal (for example, a duck on the water) so as not to waste extra ammunition - in these cases, the help of a slingshot is very much in demand.
As for direct, hunting use, then, first of all, it is shooting at small game that is at a close distance from the hunter. This could 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 feet (yours or your dog’s), a woodcock on the spring draft in a low forest (in these cases, when shooting at flying game, it is, of course, better to use shot as a projectile), small animals (squirrel, marten, muskrat, ferret, hare) - here balls of various diameters are quite suitable.
The slingshot forces the hunter to get as close as possible to the prey, which turns such a hunt into an excellent and exciting training in concealment and camouflage. 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 areas 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;
● “omnivorousness” in relation to ammunition, up to the use of random ammunition that is at hand;
● noiselessness of the shot (often this is important);
● “issue price” - the cost ranges from 130 rubles. up to 13,000 rub. Domestic goods are an order of magnitude cheaper, not to mention the author’s homemade copies;
● easy repair or replacement of any failed part;
● in Russia it is not considered a weapon and does not require registration, a 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, concealment skills, studying the habits of game, “silent hunting”, which hardly disturbs the ecology and tranquility of wild nature;
● the effectiveness (prey) of hunting with a slingshot leaves much to be desired, but in terms of excitement and physical activity it is quite comparable to rifle hunting.
Hello, friends.
I missed this original throwing weapon like a slingshot. Despite its apparent simplicity, this weapon deserves close attention. IN in capable hands this mini catapult can become a very formidable weapon. I don’t know a person who, as a child, didn’t make slingshots and shoot at sparrows (yay!), bottles and lanterns. However, no matter how simple it is, slingshot manufacturing technology may be different. Depending on the power of the rubber used, it can be made with or without a hand rest. Some fans of originality adapt sights and stabilizers to it. Below we will look at how to make a slingshot correctly using various material. It is usually made from wood, but metal, animal horns (rarely) and other available materials can be used. The pictures below show examples of slingshots made from tree branches and glued boards.
Straps can be made from various rubber: bicycle inner tubes, elastic medical tourniquet, twisted rubber bands, etc., 10-12 mm wide and 25-30 cm long.
We make the skin from any suitable rectangular piece of leather 6-7 cm long and 18 mm wide, however, we choose the size depending on the charge used. Use a drill to drill holes with a diameter of 9 mm
The rods are attached to the ends of the spear in various ways:
1. A groove is cut around the circumference a centimeter from the edge. The ties are thrown over the end in a taut state and screwed with thread or an elastic band, as shown in the figure.
2. Two grooves are made at each end depending on the strands used
The strings must be tied to the leather correctly, preferably with an elastic band, since, unlike a thread, it does not cut through them when the slingshot is pulled.
So, in principle, we have all made the simplest slingshot and now we can shoot at targets for our own pleasure. The targets may vary depending on your inclinations. Some will limit themselves to cans, others will start exterminating garden pests: crows and rodents. But in any case, you must follow safety precautions, as when using . You need to be able to hold the slingshot correctly in your hand when shooting to avoid injury himself. Carefully monitor the surrounding area so that if you miss the target, you do not leave your neighbor without an eye. By the way, it is recommended that you shoot with safety glasses yourself, you never know what might happen, the rubber band breaks there or the slingshot is on the other side. Good luck to all!
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After the invention of rubber. Abroad, they use a slingshot to hunt birds and small animals - hares, rabbits and other raccoons.
Those slingshots that are sold in Russia are very weakened and are designed for throwing bait while fishing, in order to bring the slingshot into combat condition, you need 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 when we were 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, it was taken at a construction site, you don’t need much, and in those days there were countless scraps lying around the construction site.
The wire is bent, the insulation in the upper part is carefully trimmed in a circle, removed, an elastic band pulled from underpants or taken from a rubber motor model is put in, and the insulation is put back.
Slingshot bullets were made from the same aluminum wire using pliers or wire cutters. In the evening it was possible to make a couple of hundred bullets, which were shot in a day.
Homemade slingshot made of wood
The easiest way to make a wooden slingshot is from a Y-shaped fork in a tree. You will need a hacksaw for metal or wood and a knife. The cut part must be cleared of bark and dried. It would be good to dry for about a month, but as children we didn’t bother with this; as soon as the outer part of the slingshot dried out after removing the bark, we put it to use.
What should we do there? Cut the grooves for attaching the elastic and secure the last one, and also put on a leather jacket for shells. Delov for 10 minutes.
You can cut a homemade slingshot from multi-layer plywood; any piece 2-2.5 cm thick will do. You shouldn’t take anything thinner, it may break if the rubber is strong.
Metal slingshot
You can make slingshots from metal, look at the photos of slingshots below - what they are not made from!
The principle of making slingshots is the same - cut out a Y shape, put on an elastic band and the slingshot is ready to shoot. You can braid it with lace, paracord or soaked leather, soak it so that when it dries, the skin tightens and tightly braids the slingshot.
How to shoot with a slingshot
Usually they shoot pebbles from a slingshot; it is advisable to select rounded pellets. Just keep in mind that different weights of pebbles also result in different behavior of the projectile in flight. However, as a child they fired 200-300 rounds every day and from 15 meters they hit a bottle with any stone.
But for accuracy competitions they used balls from bearings. Whoever won the slingshot could go and collect all the balls from the targets, this was the prize, because it was difficult to get balls from the bearings.
We shot with a slingshot and with nuts, they also fly well and predictably to the target, but the balls are still better.
Today you can buy steel balls for shooting from a slingshot and a homemade crossbow in a hunting store. The balls are the same.
Many people complain that it is difficult to shoot from a slingshot and that it is impossible to hit a bottle with 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 children, we used rubber from inner tubes of cars and bicycles - we had to carefully, without burrs, cut the harness to the required thickness. It’s not easy, we cut them with scissors while wetting them in diluted soapy solution(cuts better, less likely to burr).
Today you can buy a ready-made rubber cord. Only in hunting stores it is weak. It is better to use a cord to tighten glider models.
You can buy a harness for a slingshot.
6-fold stretch, designed to tighten the airframe to 5 kg. If you fold the harness in half and place 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 is, of course, 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 installed on it normally (the black one is on the bottom) and what coil (10 meters) was left for use in other entertainments!
Just as interesting.
