Don't know about the lighter objects or more velocity but your local emergency room physician is going to love you. High velocity piece of metal near your face, doesn't sound like a good idea to me.

Marc Adkins

kelthen wrote on Mar 23^rd, 2007 at 6:45pm:

If you're going to throw something light you need ideally a very light sling to go with it . But also streamlined.

I believe the main problem with slinging light projectiles is that the air resistance on the sling during the throw messes up the timing by retarding the sling. In that way, a weighted sling (being less subject to air resistance) will keep the timing and thus allow you to keep the same form as for the normal heavier projectile that you might use. In that sense it allows you to throw the light projectile faster.

I don't know how you throw, but I'd follow winkleried's advice and make sure your medical insurance is up to date .

Actually the weighted pouch is necessary to STOP you injuring yourself.
You need the resistance of a decent weight in the sling to get the whole throw working properly. Try slinging with an empty sling it's a lot more damaging to your muscles. It's like throwing a hard punch and missing. Does more damage to the muscles involved than connecting.

Same effect can be felt when slinging with light ammo.
A heavily weighted pouch would allow you to throw lighter projectiles simply becaue your muscles would be working far more efficiently in the throw and you could put a lot more effort into it efficiently.

Quite how you would hurt yourself I have no idea, when I've slung. the sling and pouch is either out in front at waist or shoulder height or pointing at the ground. AT no point does it go anywhere near my head.

So yes from a practical (ie what actually matters) point of view a weighted pouch will help you sling light weight projectiles (like paintballs) with greater velocity - ignore the physics it's the physiology that takes precedent in this matter.

I just haven't come up with a decent design for a flexible weighted pouch yet :-)

and if you made a chain mail sling pouch, you could possibly light something on fire and throw it. the sling would not burn up. (thats me, always the practical one )

Of course the upshot is that if nothing else, you can use the sling as a weapon

That's different. The compound sling has two connected masses and the energy is transmitted from one mass to the other. The booster mass of the compund sling should ideally stop completly at the point of release.

A pouch however has the same speed as the projectile at the release so if you make it heavier more energy stays in the sling and less energy goes into the projectile.

Ask badger what my slings are made of he made em for me

But the problem i have... you wont be exposing cords to flame for just a second... how many times will you launch something before the sling becomes a hazard (may break and send the flaming item flying into friendlies)?

You need something that is non flamable to extend the first couple inches from the pouch... small cable maybe? The only thing I'm unsure about is its ability to hold/release... im not sure if the cord will move around too much or too little...

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Attached that way... im worried about it perhaps not having a stable enough connection between the small cable and the pouch, and it might just move around too much... if someone has a better idea feel free to share