Lost ammo

3362 Views 56 Replies 14 Participants Last post by hoggy, Apr 19, 2020

Johnny Sokko

Discussion Starter · Mar 7, 2020

Hello. Just got back into slingshots after I retired. Have a few different set ups, catchbox etc., but found I prefer to plink stuff around the yard and in field while camping over always shooting into the box. I have found that this burns through ammo rather quickly. Am I missing something or is this the cost of my new hobby. Asking for a friend...

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THWACK!

· #41 · Apr 6, 2020

dogcatchersito said:
THWACK! said:

dogcatchersito said:

THWACK! said:

StringSlap said:

Kinda the cost to play. At least steel will eventually rust and return to nature. A good alternative to steel for use in the yard and out and about is to use clay ammo. Readily available from eBay and Amazon. I pay about $20 for 4000! Works out to basically shooting for free!

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Curious as to how much the clay weighs, and it's diameter. Also, are they consistent in all shooting respects?

Thanks,
THWACK!

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Clays weigh less than steel if you are comparing same diameter to weight. So in order to get a better feel you have to get bigger diameter clay to kinda equal out. The 1/2 inch clay should get you where you want to be weight wise.

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Are the clay balls consistent in size and weight ?

Many thanks!
THWACK!

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I would say not 100% consistent. Sometimes you may get the some off smaller one. They do try to get you the same size and weight though. I have not had many problems with the clays that are 1/2" in size. The 3/8 ones were too inaccurate for me to keep shooting. And were just too darn small.

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Aha, good to know. And did you know that GEICO can save you 15% off your insurance premium?.

Sorry, I just HAD to do it!!!!!!!

Regards,

THWACK!

Reactions: 1

samsat

· #42 · Apr 6, 2020

I just took delivery of these clay balls

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07X7MVH89/

arrived in 24 hours!!

The handful I measured all showed 10.2mm plus.

dogcatchersito

· #43 · Apr 7, 2020

samsat said:
I just took delivery of these clay balls

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07X7MVH89/

arrived in 24 hours!!
The handful I measured all showed 10.2mm plus.

That is the one I no longer order. I use these now much bigger and fly true. They are about 12.7mm in diameter.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KT4SZXV?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

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tangolima

· #44 · Apr 7, 2020

I have shot both. The 3/8" is lighter and tends to have more variation in shape. It is expected as it is much cheaper per ball. They tends to be more sensitive to cross wind, so shooting indoor gets better results. I don't get to shoot indoor so I need to more conscious of the wind, which is a training in itself.

The 1/2" is more consistent in shape for more than double the price per ball. It is better ballistically, so it is doing better outdoor. I believe it also has higher "muzzle energy". The ball is bigger. It may feel funny with a small pouch.

I like the 1/2", but I will still buy 3/8" for it's low price. I will try out the 3/8" steel balls. If it works out, I actually may stop buying the 1/2" clay, and stay with 3/8" clay and steel.

-TL

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dogcatchersito

· #45 · Apr 7, 2020

tangolima said:
I have shot both. The 3/8" is lighter and tends to have more variation in shape. It is expected as it is much cheaper per ball. They tends to be more sensitive to cross wind, so shooting indoor gets better results. I don't get to shoot indoor so I need to more conscious of the wind, which is a training in itself.

The 1/2" is more consistent in shape for more than double the price per ball. It is better ballistically, so it is doing better outdoor. I believe it also has higher "muzzle energy". The ball is bigger. It may feel funny with a small pouch.

I like the 1/2", but I will still buy 3/8" for it's low price. I will try out the 3/8" steel balls. If it works out, I actually may stop buying the 1/2" clay, and stay with 3/8" clay and steel.

-TL

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I feel you there, shoot what is best for your pocket.

samsat

· #46 · Apr 7, 2020

Great input. I am total beginner and this is the first time I am buying any ammo.

I used gold theraband to make my first natural which is too much for these light weight clay balls.

I am waiting for some office bands to arrive and I'll make up my smaller naturals which will hopefully work better with these.

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dogcatchersito

· #47 · Apr 7, 2020 (Edited by Moderator)

Yeah I use simple shot blacks, with the 12mm clays. Gotta match up your bands to ammo. Never got into shooting office bands. If you get good results with those keep us posted.

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samsat

· #48 · Apr 7, 2020

I'm not skilled enough to know good from bad results. However I just fitted #64 bands to the smaller fork as below and it worked very well with the 10mm clay balls.

It has been suggested that I go 2 bands to the fork tapering to 1 at the pouch for even more punch.

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dogcatchersito

· #49 · Apr 7, 2020 (Edited by Moderator)

samsat said:
I'm not skilled enough to know good from bad results. However I just fitted #64 bands to the smaller fork as below and it worked very well with the 10mm clay balls.
It has been suggested that I go 2 bands to the fork tapering to 1 at the pouch for even more punch.

Unrelated loving your Natty on the right there. Looks like a great shooter.

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samsat

· #50 · Apr 7, 2020

dogcatchersito said:
samsat said:

I'm not skilled enough to know good from bad results. However I just fitted #64 bands to the smaller fork as below and it worked very well with the 10mm clay balls.
It has been suggested that I go 2 bands to the fork tapering to 1 at the pouch for even more punch.

Click to expand...

Unrelated loving your Natty on the right there. Looks like a great shooter.

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Thanks it has a lot of power. I don't have heavy enough ammo yet to prevent severe hand slap, ouch!

THWACK!

· #51 · Apr 10, 2020

StringSlap said:
Johnny Sokko said:

Thanks for the info. You know, for my friend. Figured is was something like that but maybe someone was holding the secrets to the universe or something. I have clay ammo as well but really like plinking with bbs and 1/4 inch stuff. Maybe Costco has a big bag on sale....

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Bulk 1/4" is very cheap. Check BCTrade and PGN. Tip... Search for utility grade ball bearings and you will save even more.

BCTrade & PGN - please be more specific - never heard/ seen of either.

Thanks and be safe!

THWACK!

StringSlap

· #52 · Apr 10, 2020

THWACK! said:
StringSlap said:

Johnny Sokko said:

Thanks for the info. You know, for my friend. Figured is was something like that but maybe someone was holding the secrets to the universe or something. I have clay ammo as well but really like plinking with bbs and 1/4 inch stuff. Maybe Costco has a big bag on sale....

Click to expand...

Bulk 1/4" is very cheap. Check BCTrade and PGN. Tip... Search for utility grade ball bearings and you will save even more.

Click to expand...

BCTrade & PGN - please be more specific - never heard/ seen of either.

Thanks and be safe!

THWACK!

Both sell on eBay and most likely Amazon as well. If you search for "slingshot ammo", "3/8 steel balls", "utility grade ball bearings", etc. they will pop up. Or you can just look for their stores on the sites. PGN seems to have a bit better pricing than BC Trade.

THWACK!

· #53 · Apr 10, 2020

StringSlap said:
THWACK! said:

StringSlap said:

Johnny Sokko said:

Thanks for the info. You know, for my friend. Figured is was something like that but maybe someone was holding the secrets to the universe or something. I have clay ammo as well but really like plinking with bbs and 1/4 inch stuff. Maybe Costco has a big bag on sale....

Click to expand...

Bulk 1/4" is very cheap. Check BCTrade and PGN. Tip... Search for utility grade ball bearings and you will save even more.

Click to expand...

BCTrade & PGN - please be more specific - never heard/ seen of either.

Thanks and be safe!

THWACK!

Click to expand...

Both sell on eBay and most likely Amazon as well. If you search for "slingshot ammo", "3/8 steel balls", "utility grade ball bearings", etc. they will pop up. Or you can just look for their stores on the sites. PGN seems to have a bit better pricing than BC Trade.

Many thanks - good to know.

THWACK!

Bedtime...

tangolima

· #54 · Apr 11, 2020

I tried 1/4" clay balls. It is a bit too small for me to maintain proper pouch hold. My thumb and index finger hold on to the extremes of the diameter sort of tangentially. 3/8" is just right.

-TL

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hoggy

· #55 · Apr 11, 2020

Dollartree marbles work for me

tangolima

· #56 · Apr 18, 2020

Rigged up a simple trap with cardboard box and tried out the 3/8". I took 10 balls and aimed at a paper target 10yd out. I shot 10 times, each time in between I tried what my eye balls could do to recover the balls. I got 6 balls after the sequence. I'm glad that my recovery rate is better than 95%. With a magnetic pick up tool I think I can go even higher. So it has been decided, 3/8" steel and clay for me. 1/2" clay will take a break.

How well it shot? Here is the target after well over 50 shots. I think I got better accuracy than a pistol, at 10yd mind you.

-TL

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hoggy

· #57 · Apr 19, 2020

very good shooting.

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