Slinging.org Forum - Hunting/Combat Sling Length

fletch_man

Descens

When the Guns are
Gone

Posts: 364
Gender: male

Hunting/Combat Sling Length
Apr 11^th, 2012, 12:11pm

What's your favorite length for a hunting/combat sling. I'm thinking a quick, accurate little sling with lots of power that can be reloaded quickly and that you can move around with after its loaded. I've been making these little 24 inchers out of mason line, duck line, imitation sinew and this stuff called "handy hundred". Similar to 550 cord except its thinner. The cords of the sling are very thin but very strong. Done in 4 plait with herringbone loops and release tabs. They have no drag and the pouches are heavier latigo leather that have a natural cup in them so the ammo is more stable. If this thread takes off I'll post some pics and we can have a collection of hunting/combat sling pics and descriptions. Let me know what you think............................

Fletch Out

Back to top

I am not The Word
I am the parchment on which
The Word is written

IP Logged

Bill Skinner

Slinging.org Moderator
Forum Moderator

Slinging Rocks!

Posts: 1363

Re: Hunting/Combat Sling Length
Reply #1 - Apr 11^th, 2012, 12:22pm

I have two, made from some sort of poly yarn, that I used last squirrel season. One is 24 inches, (60cm) and the other is 27 inches (70cm). I used golfball sized clay balls, I have no clue if it is powerful enough, as I never connected. Squirrels on the ground are super wary and always spotted the movement of the throw and the ones in the tree are real little, I missed by an inch (2.5cm) a whole bunch of times.

Back to top

IP Logged

timann Interfector Viris Spurii Slinging Rocks! Posts: 2208 Gender:	Re: Hunting/Combat Sling Length Reply #2 - Apr 11^th, 2012, 1:29pm My favorite lenght for everything but distance slinging is 27/28". I do net really need to measure it, though, as the point is (Apache sling article) to let the arm and loaded sling hang down, then the sling should stay just (perhaps 1 - 3") above the ground.
Back to top	IP Logged

Jauke Funditor Posts: 514 Gender:	Re: Hunting/Combat Sling Length Reply #3 - Apr 11^th, 2012, 1:41pm My favourite sling length is about 60/70 cm, I find this the most comfortable. Not that I hunt though, maybe in the future.
Back to top	I wish life had an undo button... IP Logged

Thunder Chief Funditor Don't Panic! Posts: 811	Re: Hunting/Combat Sling Length Reply #4 - Apr 11^th, 2012, 3:53pm My EDC sling (the one I would use if I ran across a marauding giant) is 30", paracord with a soft leather pouch. There are some massive jack rabbits (or hares, I don't know the difference) up here that I'd love to take a shot at. They'd make good eating.
Back to top	We Few, We Happy Few, We Band of Slingers! Longbowmen draw to the ear! IP Logged

David Morningstar Slinging.org Moderator Forum Moderator Slinging Rocks! Posts: 2887	Re: Hunting/Combat Sling Length Reply #5 - Apr 11^th, 2012, 4:49pm The slings being used in Mallorca were mostly a little shorter than the arm and used with seriously large stones, hens egg would be the minimum size used.
Back to top	IP Logged

Atlatlista

Ex Member

Re: Hunting/Combat Sling Length
Reply #6 - Apr 11^th, 2012, 4:56pm

Quote from David Morningstar on Apr 11^th, 2012, 4:49pm:

The slings being used in Mallorca were mostly a little shorter than the arm and used with seriously large stones, hens egg would be the minimum size used.

That's really interesting to know. I'm starting to find that the bigger the stone I use, the more accurate I am (to a point). I haven't found that shorter slings are more accurate, though I probably need to play around with length a little more to be certain.

Back to top

IP Logged

Morphy

Interfector Viris Spurii

Checkmate

Posts: 2432

Re: Hunting/Combat Sling Length
Reply #7 - Apr 11^th, 2012, 5:51pm

Quote from Atlatlista on Apr 11^th, 2012, 4:56pm:

Quote from David Morningstar on Apr 11^th, 2012, 4:49pm:

The slings being used in Mallorca were mostly a little shorter than the arm and used with seriously large stones, hens egg would be the minimum size used.

That's really interesting to know. I'm starting to find that the bigger the stone I use, the more accurate I am (to a point). I haven't found that shorter slings are more accurate, though I probably need to play around with length a little more to be certain.

I totally agree with both statments. Thank you... It feels good not being the only one who feels that way about short slings not necessarily being more accurate, even if it's just an initial assessment. For me personally, longer slings, not shorter, are much more accurate. Might be something to do with the particular way I do the Fig-8...

As to the original question I generally use a 25 inch sling. That lets me sling heavy(ish) stones with decent power while in grass that comes up to my knees. Which comes with the territory when hunting.

Back to top

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..."

IP Logged

fletch_man

Descens

When the Guns are
Gone

Posts: 364
Gender: male

Re: Hunting/Combat Sling Length
Reply #8 - Apr 11^th, 2012, 6:06pm

Quote from David Morningstar on Apr 11^th, 2012, 4:49pm:

The slings being used in Mallorca were mostly a little shorter than the arm and used with seriously large stones, hens egg would be the minimum size used.

I was watching some of the videos from the most recent event and that Jaegoor guy's sling looked really short. Wicked helicopter. I'm wondering how long that sling was.

Back to top

I am not The Word
I am the parchment on which
The Word is written

IP Logged

Liberty dog Funditor mobile pocket artillery Posts: 560 Gender:	Re: Hunting/Combat Sling Length Reply #9 - Apr 11^th, 2012, 6:45pm from finger to chest..........works well for me
Back to top	illumination through target annihilation moving continents one rock at a time my sling aches with inaction hit.....run....hide......the Highland way. IP Logged

Dan

Interfector Viris Spurii
SlingingGuide Moderator

Slinging Rocks!

Posts: 3403
Gender: male

Re: Hunting/Combat Sling Length
Reply #10 - Apr 11^th, 2012, 10:51pm

Same as Liberty Dog for my normal sling, which I would probably use for combat or hunting if it came down to it is 30" Baeleric war sling. My other EDC sling is a 26in sling with black mason line cords and a black leather pouch. Works great, long lasting, and more than powerful enough to get whatever job necessary needed to be done.

Back to top

1 Samuel 14:7

"Like tying a stone to a sling is the giving of honor to a fool" Proverbs 26:8

SALVATION: By Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone.

IP Logged

xxkid123

Past Moderator

Hallo, ich heiße
kartoffel

Posts: 4798
Gender: male

Re: Hunting/Combat Sling Length
Reply #11 - Apr 11^th, 2012, 11:37pm

I don't believe in war slings, or battle slings, etc. They're all slings, and should work the same as any other. I can see a hunting sling needing a shorter length and a muffled cracker, but otherwise, why have so many different lengths? If I were to go to a battle with a sling, I'd be just as fine with a paracord sling as with a braided rockman; provided both are fully functioning. Just my thoughts.

Back to top

There's no break, there's no end, just a-living on;
Wide awake, with a smile, going on and on.

IP Logged

lunkprab

Tiro

Slinging Rocks!

Posts: 23
Gender: male

Re: Hunting/Combat Sling Length
Reply #12 - Apr 12^th, 2012, 5:48am

Quote from Atlatlista on Apr 11^th, 2012, 4:56pm:

That's really interesting to know. I'm starting to find that the bigger the stone I use, the more accurate I am (to a point). I haven't found that shorter slings are more accurate, though I probably need to play around with length a little more to be certain.

In my experience when i slung tennis ball with Balearic style, the shorter ones give more early release, when my hand is about at 2 o'clock, the longer ones need late release, in my case the longer ones need to release when my hand reach about 1 o'clock direction. For me earlier release (about 2 o'clock) give me good consistency and quite accurate, otherwise late release is quite confusing and hard to give a good consistency, because i need to release it when my hand is in my front, its quite not natural for throwing something.
This is happen because the pouch for the longer one is left behind your hand, while the shorter ones is not left too much behind, its only create a small angle between arm and sling, so its more natural, more like throwing ball barehand with sidearm throw.
Im worried its hard to understand but lets imagine the trebuchet, if sling in trebuchet is very long, the pouch of the sling will be not quick enough and left behind a bit.

The short ones is 50 cm, longer one is 70 cm. But I think my experience will also change if I change the ammo weight and change the throwing style.

Back to top

IP Logged

curious_aardvark

Slinging.org Administrator

Taller than the
average Dwarf

Posts: 9049
Gender: male

Re: Hunting/Combat Sling Length
Reply #13 - Apr 12^th, 2012, 11:32am

Quote from Morphy on Apr 11^th, 2012, 5:51pm:

Quote from Atlatlista on Apr 11^th, 2012, 4:56pm:

Quote from David Morningstar on Apr 11^th, 2012, 4:49pm:

The slings being used in Mallorca were mostly a little shorter than the arm and used with seriously large stones, hens egg would be the minimum size used.

That's really interesting to know. I'm starting to find that the bigger the stone I use, the more accurate I am (to a point). I haven't found that shorter slings are more accurate, though I probably need to play around with length a little more to be certain.

I totally agree with both statments. Thank you... It feels good not being the only one who feels that way about short slings not necessarily being more accurate, even if it's just an initial assessment. For me personally, longer slings, not shorter, are much more accurate. Might be something to do with the particular way I do the Fig-8...

As to the original question I generally use a 25 inch sling. That lets me sling heavy(ish) stones with decent power while in grass that comes up to my knees. Which comes with the territory when hunting.

Well a 25inch sling would come under the heading of a short sling.

Short slings (within reason) are easier to be accurate with for several reasons. (different from 'more accurate' - sling have no accuracy quotient it's all down to the slinger).

The sheer mechanics - shorter slings give shorter arc of travel than a longer sling and there is a shorter window of release which makes repeating an aiming point easier.
Shorter slings are also easier for the body to adapt to. Are less likely to flex with a bad technique (mainly why stones fall out of pouches) and can be moved faster than longer slings.

So yes shorter slings can aid the slinger with increased accuracy - but at the end of the day, it's 100% down to the individual slinger.

To answer the actual question. If I were to take up hunting wit a sling - I'd probably go for 24-26 inch sling with modified bolas ammo.
For combat it would be a longer sling 30-36inches for 2 reasons.
1) I'd want to engage the enemy at distance.
2) human up close is a big target and a longer sling will allow a lot more power in my shots. If they're that close I want to take them down with just the one shot.

Back to top

Do All things with Honour and Generosity: Regret Nothing, Envy None, Apologise Seldom and Bow your head to No One - works for me

IP Logged

Morphy

Interfector Viris Spurii

Checkmate

Posts: 2432

Re: Hunting/Combat Sling Length
Reply #14 - Apr 12^th, 2012, 1:15pm

Quote from curious_aardvark on Apr 12^th, 2012, 11:32am:

Quote from Morphy on Apr 11^th, 2012, 5:51pm:

Quote from Atlatlista on Apr 11^th, 2012, 4:56pm:

Quote from David Morningstar on Apr 11^th, 2012, 4:49pm:

The slings being used in Mallorca were mostly a little shorter than the arm and used with seriously large stones, hens egg would be the minimum size used.

That's really interesting to know. I'm starting to find that the bigger the stone I use, the more accurate I am (to a point). I haven't found that shorter slings are more accurate, though I probably need to play around with length a little more to be certain.

I totally agree with both statments. Thank you... It feels good not being the only one who feels that way about short slings not necessarily being more accurate, even if it's just an initial assessment. For me personally, longer slings, not shorter, are much more accurate. Might be something to do with the particular way I do the Fig-8...

As to the original question I generally use a 25 inch sling. That lets me sling heavy(ish) stones with decent power while in grass that comes up to my knees. Which comes with the territory when hunting.

Well a 25inch sling would come under the heading of a short sling.

True, but I use that length for convenience while hunting, not because it gives me the most accuracy. I am more accurate with a 30 inch sling.

Back to top

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..."

IP Logged