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I have been shooting 1/4" steel a whole bunch and I have have been putting it out at around 300fps+ speeds. The tubes I have been using can send 5/16" steel out in the 270fps ish area and that makes for a very flat shooting yet more powerful hunting ammo set up for Pigeon/Starling size pest birds.
A few days ago I wrote about my testing of single 3050 tubes with 1/4" steel, I did not mention my hunting success with that set up. I will just say that going after Pigeon/Starling size pest birds is very doable and ranges that are longer then you might think ;- ) I'm very surprised what a 1/4" steel will do when it is coming out of the chute fast.(290++)fps
The "Small Ball" ammo for field shooting is great, The issue is for me is buying it cheap ... I'm defiantly not paying over 1c a piece. The steel ammo is costing me less then marbles that I used to love to shoot, and I still do shoot them but the prices are going up on those to around 2.5c plus shipping and tax..
Shooting 1/4" and 5/16" have a very close flight path when the 5/16" is moving in the 270fps range. The 5/16" also has more smack. Keep in mind that I have no intent on going after rabbits, squirrels, or the like, If I was going out for them my ammo selection would change. I'm just talking about pest birds no larger than a Pigeon for sure and mostly the size of a Starling or the like.
And what about 3/8" steel ? a good size for when I want more poop in my pop. This is a very good size for my use, yes I have much heavier stuff but in general for what I do this time in my life, the 3/8" ball is more than OK. Looped 2040 will send them out very well, looped 1636 is not to bad either. Single 3050 shoots it very nicely and it has enough snot to wet your nose. Looped 1842 are overkill but really send them,. Pseudo 3050, 1842 tube sets shine very well with 3/8" size steel.
Where I live the vast majority of shots are in the 25+ to 35+ yard range. so I want the ball to fly pretty flat.. I know my sling is not a gun, but I don't want softball trajectories as accuracy really suffers at these ranges and I do need the smack to knock my targets down (with "Small Ball" velocity is very important).
I have been watching a LOT of Vietnam Slingshot Hunting videos, and these guys never cease to amaze me.
On another note, one of the great things about "Small Ball" is the amount of ammo that you can carry when you are out and about field shooting. I can take a couple hundred 1/4" rounds out in the field without having to schlep heavy ammo all over the place. I often go out to my spot with a handful of 1/4" and shoot and shoot and have a blast. The real "Small Ball" is .177 cal BB's and with the right elastic you can send those BB's a warp speed and last I checked, I think 175 shots cost me about .15c ... how in the heck do you beet that !! Shooting 177 BB's is a blast and they are great for your form because your elastic is lighter and the pouch is smaller so your release must be picture perfect. I have not shot BB's in a little while and I need to get back shooting them .... they are really great fun and again you will be amazed at the speed of those little suckers.
More to come !
wll
A few days ago I wrote about my testing of single 3050 tubes with 1/4" steel, I did not mention my hunting success with that set up. I will just say that going after Pigeon/Starling size pest birds is very doable and ranges that are longer then you might think ;- ) I'm very surprised what a 1/4" steel will do when it is coming out of the chute fast.(290++)fps
The "Small Ball" ammo for field shooting is great, The issue is for me is buying it cheap ... I'm defiantly not paying over 1c a piece. The steel ammo is costing me less then marbles that I used to love to shoot, and I still do shoot them but the prices are going up on those to around 2.5c plus shipping and tax..
Shooting 1/4" and 5/16" have a very close flight path when the 5/16" is moving in the 270fps range. The 5/16" also has more smack. Keep in mind that I have no intent on going after rabbits, squirrels, or the like, If I was going out for them my ammo selection would change. I'm just talking about pest birds no larger than a Pigeon for sure and mostly the size of a Starling or the like.
And what about 3/8" steel ? a good size for when I want more poop in my pop. This is a very good size for my use, yes I have much heavier stuff but in general for what I do this time in my life, the 3/8" ball is more than OK. Looped 2040 will send them out very well, looped 1636 is not to bad either. Single 3050 shoots it very nicely and it has enough snot to wet your nose. Looped 1842 are overkill but really send them,. Pseudo 3050, 1842 tube sets shine very well with 3/8" size steel.
Where I live the vast majority of shots are in the 25+ to 35+ yard range. so I want the ball to fly pretty flat.. I know my sling is not a gun, but I don't want softball trajectories as accuracy really suffers at these ranges and I do need the smack to knock my targets down (with "Small Ball" velocity is very important).
I have been watching a LOT of Vietnam Slingshot Hunting videos, and these guys never cease to amaze me.
On another note, one of the great things about "Small Ball" is the amount of ammo that you can carry when you are out and about field shooting. I can take a couple hundred 1/4" rounds out in the field without having to schlep heavy ammo all over the place. I often go out to my spot with a handful of 1/4" and shoot and shoot and have a blast. The real "Small Ball" is .177 cal BB's and with the right elastic you can send those BB's a warp speed and last I checked, I think 175 shots cost me about .15c ... how in the heck do you beet that !! Shooting 177 BB's is a blast and they are great for your form because your elastic is lighter and the pouch is smaller so your release must be picture perfect. I have not shot BB's in a little while and I need to get back shooting them .... they are really great fun and again you will be amazed at the speed of those little suckers.
More to come !
wll
