Took my atlatl to an archery range, made a video.  Calculated based on video frames of slow motion that it went about 73 miles per hour.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdaP2xvjMvk

nice, you can really see the spear moving in the air in the slo mo.

what if u skewered the camera though?  :-/

actually, that would be quite awesome.

Conor147 wrote on Oct 10^th, 2010 at 9:27pm:

nice, you can really see the spear moving in the air in the slo mo. what if u skewered the camera though?  :-/ actually, that would be quite awesome.

We'd never know, would we? So, Awesome vid!!

(Perhaps we still would? It wouldn't be like a conventional camera whee the film would get exposed, anything saved to memory should still be there even if the lens had an atlatl dart sticking through it.)

Can't help noticing the smallish target looks like a pin cushion. It'll be quite a while, if ever, before you're getting that sort of accuracy with a sling. Looks like an atlatl would be a deadlier weapon. Is 73 mph a typical speed? Slingstones would generally be quicker even if less accurate.

Aussie wrote on Oct 10^th, 2010 at 11:57pm:

Can't help noticing the smallish target looks like a pin cushion. It'll be quite a while, if ever, before you're getting that sort of accuracy with a sling. Looks like an atlatl would be a deadlier weapon. Is 73 mph a typical speed? Slingstones would generally be quicker even if less accurate.

I just calculated the speed of the second throw, and it was about 83-85 miles per hour.  The third throw was about 73 miles per hour.  So I have some work to do in the consistency department.

My first throw ever (not in the video) was my best.  It's been downhill since then.  But it is fun.  

By the way, the other holes in the target are from the bows/arrows of others.  I think the darts can be thrown faster than I am doing.  As for which is more deadly, atlatl or sling, I don't know, it probably depends on the target, distance, projectile, etc., but I do know I wouldn't want to be hit by either.  

With a field point I did stick one arrow about 1" deep into the treated wood.  I am surprised by how much energy these things have.  Those targets are very well constructed, and I was surprised by how much they were made to move when the target's frames were hit.

As I think about it, the dart oscillates, sustaining transverse waves as it moves forward.  One thing I suspect is that if the target is hit at the wrong point during the dart's oscillations, the dart tip amplitude may be at a maximum on impact, which I guess might reduce penetration with a simple point tip.  On the other hand, such lateral energy may increase the wound channel with a suitable hunting tip situated to be parallel with the transverse waves.

So that's what it's like to be on the receiving end.  Great video!

You're a great shot with that thing. How far back were you standing?

20 or 21 yards or so.  I'm only hitting about 5% or so like that third shot, but I hope to improve on the accuracy.

greta job, man! even with that junkie equipment  ;)

i keep telling you guys! atlatls are easy to use, much more accurate than slings, and far deadlier! that doesn't make slings any less desirable, though. both are fun as all get out and you can't carry an atlatl in your pocket.

Thats a great video, well done! What kit did you use?

Holy,sweet video!

Paleoarts wrote on Oct 15^th, 2010 at 2:28pm:

greta job, man! even with that junkie equipment  ;) i keep telling you guys! atlatls are easy to use, much more accurate than slings, and far deadlier! that doesn't make slings any less desirable, though. both are fun as all get out and you can't carry an atlatl in your pocket.

Never used one but it sure looks that way. I really must try them out. But, as you say, the big plus for slings is their portability and ease of use. When my tennis balls go over the neighbours fence they usually just throw them back. Don't imagine they would be so understanding about atlatl darts. The police definitely wouldn't be.

Nice video! That's pretty accurate, at least compared to me at least... I like how you put the camera, too.  :)

David Morningstar wrote on Oct 16^th, 2010 at 3:37pm:

Thats a great video, well done! What kit did you use?

that's an older model of mine that he got from me about a year ago. i'm stoked that he finally got around to using it and that it seems to be working great for him.  :)

very very cool video !

And a confident man too - buggered if I'd put my camera on top of the targett lol

Yep atlatl's are fun and easy to make - it's the darts that are a pain in the arse both to make and carry around.

but not impossible! my friend Huey visited me last week from back east and he brought his awesome basketmaker atlatl and a single take-down dart in a plastic tube (on the plane, no less!). his gear is 100% primitive and made with all stone and bone tools. the dart was a 6 footer that broke down into three pieces (two 2' 6'' halves of a mainshaft and a 1' hardwood foreshaft) and was joined in the middle with a scarf and tube joint that he fashioned out of a sotol stalk and sinew. looking at it you wouldn't imagine that it even stay together in flight let alone perform well, and yet he kicked my ass in an ISAC competition scoring a truly impressive 86! for those who don't know that is 86 out of a possible 100. not only that, but he was getting just as good if not better penetration than my 7.5' steel tipped darts. :o

I wonder what would come out of adapting a Pilum to be thrown with an altatl.

Does someone here think it would be possible?

unlikely, erllin, as it's the flexibility of the dart that makes the atlatl system work. pilum are far too heavy and rigid to be thrown with an atlatl effectively. they would fly either tail up or down.

Thanks a lot!

Great Viddy, Yo!

A couple of years ago I started a few bamboo plants growing in my back yard intending to harvest the cain for atlatl darts.
I guess I better go do something about it. They look like just the right length and flex.
Getting the thrower right may be a bit harder.
Does anyone know the stick-to-arm ratio?