Q: What is the best ammo to use for your slingshot?

Steel — 1/4" or 3/8” steel ball bearings are a longtime slingshot ammo standard. Heavy and aerodynamic steel BB’s are effective for precision target shooting. Most, if not all, official slingshot competitions use steel ammo. ABS Plastic — Use hard ABS plastic ammo for indoor target practice. A hanging target is best because plastic rounds sometimes won’t punch through thick target materials. I heavily recommend against using plastic ammo outside — losing a few rounds is inevitable. Glass Marbles — A stylish and eco-friendly choice, glass marbles make a heavy impact and won’t break against most targets. Marbles are non-toxic, so they’re ideal for outdoor use. Copper — Strongly consider copper ammo if you’re planning on taking game with your slingshot. It’s heavy and malleable, like lead, but non-toxic. Using lead ammo is one of the worst things you can do for your local hunting grounds: it’s highly poisonous, and it makes its way into the food chain through fragments. Copper ammo gives you the best chance to make a clean kill in the field. Tungsten Carbide — Research into the topic continues, but tungsten carbide is most likely toxic, so I don’t recommend using it. It’s a high-tech alloy used in saw teeth, drill bits, etc. My question isn’t “what makes it good?” it’s “why do you need it?” Misc. (pebbles, hex nuts) — Shoot ‘em if you got ‘em! Theoretically, you can shoot anything out of a slingshot. Use discretion.

Question 1

How to hold a slingshot?

Accepted Answer

Here’s the best method: put your ammo in the ammo pouch, then grip the pouch with your dominant hand, between the thumb and forefinger (try to hold the pouch where it contacts the ammo). Draw the bands back with the slingshot pointed at the ground, the same way you would hold a gun. This way, you shoot into the ground if you accidentally fire it.

Lift the slingshot toward your target sideways, so it makes a sideways Y. DON’T hold it with your hand directly in front of your face: if you lose your grip, you’ll punch yourself pretty hard in the face (I’ve done it).

Instead, aim with the pouch pulled back to your cheek below your shooting eye. Sight straight down the top band and align the top edge of the fork with the bullseye.

Question 2

What is the difference between butterfly style and flip style?

Accepted Answer

In butterfly-style shooting, the shooter pulls the slingshot’s pouch back so far that their hand passes their elbow (spread “wings,” like a butterfly). It’s a way to gain shooting power. Butterfly-style shooting requires long, stretchy bands — almost always flat bands.

Flip style is another way to add power to a shot and can be used with or without butterfly shooting. To shoot flip style, draw your slingshot as usual, then flick your front wrist forward at the exact moment you release the ammo. You’ll get a more powerful shot because you’re adding a vector to it.

Question 3

Are slingshots legal?

Accepted Answer

This is a complicated question. The simplest answer is: CHECK YOUR STATE LAWS. The community of shooters at slingshotforum.com has tried to gather resources to the best of their ability. Here’s the link to the page. It’s worth pointing out that slingshots are discreet enough to fire inside your home, at safe targets, without anyone being the wiser. However, if you want to hunt game or carry slingshots in a tactical capacity, I highly recommend you familiarize yourself with the laws in your local area.

Question 4

What is the best ammo to use for your slingshot?

Accepted Answer

Steel — 1/4" or 3/8” steel ball bearings are a longtime slingshot ammo standard. Heavy and aerodynamic steel BB’s are effective for precision target shooting. Most, if not all, official slingshot competitions use steel ammo. ABS Plastic — Use hard ABS plastic ammo for indoor target practice. A hanging target is best because plastic rounds sometimes won’t punch through thick target materials. I heavily recommend against using plastic ammo outside — losing a few rounds is inevitable. Glass Marbles — A stylish and eco-friendly choice, glass marbles make a heavy impact and won’t break against most targets. Marbles are non-toxic, so they’re ideal for outdoor use. Copper — Strongly consider copper ammo if you’re planning on taking game with your slingshot. It’s heavy and malleable, like lead, but non-toxic. Using lead ammo is one of the worst things you can do for your local hunting grounds: it’s highly poisonous, and it makes its way into the food chain through fragments. Copper ammo gives you the best chance to make a clean kill in the field. Tungsten Carbide — Research into the topic continues, but tungsten carbide is most likely toxic, so I don’t recommend using it. It’s a high-tech alloy used in saw teeth, drill bits, etc. My question isn’t “what makes it good?” it’s “why do you need it?” Misc. (pebbles, hex nuts) — Shoot ‘em if you got ‘em! Theoretically, you can shoot anything out of a slingshot. Use discretion.

Question 5

How dangerous are slingshots?

Accepted Answer

It turns out slingshots have pretty high potential as weapons! Not everyone’s as effective as a Roman Legionnaire with a slingshot, but every entry in this guide is a real weapon, and any slingshot can be a combat slingshot. That being said, slingshots are suitable for shooters of all ages and ability levels. Use light-duty ammo for shooting inside. Here’s a cool option for kid-safe slingshot ammo. I take slingshot safety as seriously as gun safety — 1) never aim it at any living thing you’re not prepared to harm, 2) familiarize yourself with your weapon before you use it, and 3) keep it away from small children.

Question 6

What animals can you kill with a slingshot?

Accepted Answer

I only recommend hunting small game for food with a slingshot — rabbits, squirrels, fowl, etc. Most experienced slingshot hunters agree it’s not wise to shoot at game from more than 10 to 20 yards, and it’s a good idea to have a hunting dog with you in case you injure an animal. In fact, many slingshot hunters carefully research effective setups and ammo for killing game as cleanly as possible. Keep in mind that the most accurate slingshots often feature flat bands.

Question 7

How fast do slingshots shoot?

Accepted Answer

This is a highly generalized answer, but the average entry-level is about 50 meters per second (164 feet per second). The top end is a heated and unresolved debate. Shooters have claimed speeds of up to 900 fps, but some say slingshot rubber’s scientific limit is more like 280 fps.

Question 8

Are slingshots accurate?

Accepted Answer

As accurate as you can be. I can’t hit dirt at 10 meters, but I started seeing crazy things as soon as I hit the internet. Here’s one:

Question 9

How do I replace a slingshot band?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your slingshot. First of all, make sure you get the right band for your particular slingshot.

Most replacements are pretty self-explanatory but replacing tubular bands that feed over uprights can be tricky. For these, use a sharp knife to cut the old band off, then use rubbing alcohol as a lubricant while you feed the new bands over the uprights. Wait for the alcohol to evaporate, and you’re good to go.

Gear