Aussie
Past Moderator
Offline
Joined Nov. 1, 2006 Luke 14:14
Posts: 3265
Melbourne, Australia
Gender:
|
Hi Lee,
If you are intending to study the charcteristics of clay projectiles as an end in itself it may be more practical for you to build a small elastic cord powered trebuchet to simulate throwing with a sling. This would give a great deal of consistency and save you the time that it would take to learn slinging. However by all means take up the sport if you want to. It really is great fun.
On the sling versus bow debate just two points. A sling is a lot simpler and cheaper to make than a good bow; even more so for the clay glandes compared with arrows. The training required to be effective is probably the same. And, I don't know if this is relevant, an arrow kills by causing severe blood loss whereas a sling is largely percussive.
Aussieslinger
PS Been having a think about the possible causes for demise of the bow v rise of the sling. Stone arrowheads are not effective against armour because they shatter on impact, whereas armour offers far less protection against heavy sling stones. I realize the period you are considering is well before Russell Crowe "Gladiator" style breastplates but perhaps it is an avenue worth exploring. Again much more recent history, but the English archers of the middle ages had such great success largely because their arrows were tipped with bodkin points.
|