My ruminations for beginner's; I have taken most small game, grey squirrels, birds,
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chipmunks, rats, partridges, over the decades etc. with wrist rockets and unbraced metal forks, with Trumark black and yellow tubes, Crosman blue tubes, Barnett tubes, using just smooth rocks when I couldn't get any 3/8" steel or lead. Your hunting set up doesn't need to be fancy or exspensive to be effective, as is shown in this vintage picture. **See the above picture of Charlie Taylor. Basic set up, yet it was deadly on game birds.
Vintage unbraced slingshots with gum rubber and latex with 3/8" steel and hex nuts for grouse, squirrels, rabbits, frogs, porcupine, etc. are favorites of mine. I have even used vintage slingshots with gum rubber and .44 lead balls to shoot destructive pest Raccoons before (head shots).
Now with Theraband Gold widely available, the tubes and gum rubber of yesterday, although still deadly, have taken a backseat in my life. Heavy Theraband gold, 30mm tapered down to 20mm or so, is my preferred band... more power for less pull. And I prefer 1/2" steel for most small game and birds, but .44 lead is better for Raccoons in my opinion. Plus, the larger ammo is easier to hold. 3/8" works too for everything smaller, shoots faster, flatter trajectory.
These slingshots often kill by shock effect / stunning, unless you get a head shot. Be prepared for a 2nd shot or run up and humanely dispatch your prey.
Plenty of small game was taken in the past with just a simple forked stick and powerful gum rubber bands, inner tube tire rubber and steel or lead balls.
My advise is to not overthink it and practice with the best setup (bands and ammo), you can get.
Vintage unbraced slingshots with gum rubber and latex with 3/8" steel and hex nuts for grouse, squirrels, rabbits, frogs, porcupine, etc. are favorites of mine. I have even used vintage slingshots with gum rubber and .44 lead balls to shoot destructive pest Raccoons before (head shots).
Now with Theraband Gold widely available, the tubes and gum rubber of yesterday, although still deadly, have taken a backseat in my life. Heavy Theraband gold, 30mm tapered down to 20mm or so, is my preferred band... more power for less pull. And I prefer 1/2" steel for most small game and birds, but .44 lead is better for Raccoons in my opinion. Plus, the larger ammo is easier to hold. 3/8" works too for everything smaller, shoots faster, flatter trajectory.
These slingshots often kill by shock effect / stunning, unless you get a head shot. Be prepared for a 2nd shot or run up and humanely dispatch your prey.
Plenty of small game was taken in the past with just a simple forked stick and powerful gum rubber bands, inner tube tire rubber and steel or lead balls.
My advise is to not overthink it and practice with the best setup (bands and ammo), you can get.
