Today I spent 45 min looking at two dozen ancient Greek sling bullets in a museum. (I can't say which, for complicated reasons-- let's say that someone else is working on the material for publication). Some thoughts.
Very well made objects, usually: symmetrical shape, smooth finish-- a lot nicer, even after 2000 years, than the modern efforts I've seen on the web. No offence meant-- simply that these are handmade objects in a pre-industrial society, where people take trouble over things.
Light ? Yes, I suppose (40-70 gr.) But very dense, so the slug fits in your hand but feels surprisingly heavy. I fitted one in the pouch of a small leather sling I happened to have brought with me. In the sling, it feels very light, actually.
Everyone knows how sling bullets are made. Here are two links to actual moulds:
http://cefael.efa.gr/detail.php?site_id=1&actionID=page&prevpos=67&serie_id=BCH&...http://cefael.efa.gr/detail.php?site_id=1&actionID=page&prevpos=40&serie_id=BCH&...The molten lead produces a "tree" with bullets. The "fruit", the bullet, is chipped off-- so one end of the bullet is bllunt. The other end is surprisingly sharp, even after 2000+ years-- not needle sharp, never was, but like a Philipps screwdriver or a crayon or even a knitting needle.
Finally: the lead stains your fingers. Imagine a slinger after a day's fighting: his fingers are dark and shiny from the lead he's been throwing.