I should have done this sooner -- going to try and repost your OP video, and then look at it.
Okay. No, I haven't seen these before. looks like a decent system, except perhaps the plastic hinge -- that seems like it might be prone to a failure after a time. Perhaps it's made of polycarbonate or with a steel pin and therefore stronger than it looks. Edit to add: I really like how this slingshot seems to maximize a person's pull and it looks comfortable to hold a position. I would try one of these out if they were available here.
I'm a believer in the KISS principle, and this doesn't seem like keeping it simple. There's nothing that says you have to limit yourself to a single slingshot -- you could have a collapsible slingshot for your BOB, another more elaborate slingshot/bow for your small game hunting, yet another more "experimental" model for tweaking.
Another couple of points that I wanted to add:
1) a slingshot that is constructed such that it allows me to draw it back fully and lock my arms makes for a condition where I can hold the shot and release when I think I'm zeroed on the target.
2) tapering the bands such that they are narrower at the pocket tends to produce more acceleration through the shot
3) Pocket sizing. The pocket should be sized such that the ammo naturally centers in the pocket. If you don't know what ammo you might be using, it's sometimes beneficial to create a large pocket.
4) Tubing instead of bands. I personally don't care for flexible tubing, as (in my experience) tends to wrap or twist around the uprights of the slingshot, making for a slower recovery time for the second shot. I much prefer bands of some form or another, because they tend to untwist themselves.
5) Don't do like I did department: Always verify that your slingshot pocket (particularly if it's a homemade one) has not turned itself inside out. Once while shooting at a rabbit, the pocket of my homemade slingshot got turned inside out, and when I shot, the projectile (a round lead sinker) came back and I shot myself in the side. It didn't have enough energy on the return to penetrate my skin, but left a nasty bruise and could've just as easily hit me in the face or even my eyes. Which brings me to the final point.......(for now)
6) I always wear polycarbonate glasses when I use a slingshot. For me, that's my standard amber sunglasses. Some people choose to wear goggles, others shooting glasses. It just takes one "oops" to cause yourself serious damage, and that can be as ordinary as a band or tubing breaking on the draw. If it breaks near the slingshot, the band will come back at you. Nothing to do with slingshot shooting, but I like amber polarized lenses, because when you look at water, it helps with the clarity. I suppose that could be useful if using a slingbow for nailing fish.
edit on
27/11/11 by argentus because: (no reason given)
