One of the local idiots threw a billiard ball into my garden some time ago, I should imagine that they are quite expensive, but has anybody ever tried to sling one, this one is about twice the size of a golf ball, bright red, weight unkown (but I will find out and post it).

Dave M wrote on Sep 26^th, 2007 at 8:11am:

One of the local idiots threw a billiard ball into my garden some time ago, I should imagine that they are quite expensive, but has anybody ever tried to sling one, this one is about twice the size of a golf ball, bright red, weight unkown (but I will find out and post it).

Maybe your neighbor will throw two more and you can make one mean bolas!

Trebuchet    ;D

I thought at it but they cost to much.

they are awsome I once gain a bunch at a local recycle shop

lobohunter wrote on Sep 27^th, 2007 at 5:53pm:

they are awsome I once gain a bunch at a local recycle shop

Do you mean a store that sells billiard or pool supplies and has old balls for sale?

Trebuchet :)

Punk them from bars? ;)

Well if this is of any use to anybody here are the sizes and weights of golf and billiard balls as weighed on er indoors kitchen scales
Golf balls 1.5 oz Billiard ball 3.8 oz
Golf ball Dia 1.1/2 ins Billiard ball Dia 1. 7/8 ins hope this is of intrest, if I get a chance I will try slinging the billiard ball and compare the results against a golf ball and let you know the results next week

Thought this might be of interest as well, Its the first time I have tried using a picture hope it works if not sorry please explain to an old duffer hoe i should do it

---

no bing recycle mostly building materials but some times pool balls

Dave M wrote on Sep 28^th, 2007 at 6:05am:

Thought this might be of interest as well, Its the first time I have tried using a picture hope it works if not sorry please explain to an old duffer hoe i should do it

I apologize.  I didn't get the BIG PICTURE until I fooled around with the image.

Everybody correct me if I'm wrong, but:  Put the loop at one end of the string around your ring or "pinkie" finger, and put the knot between your thumb and forefinger.  Adjust the "knot" end until the sling is level --- both sides hang equally and the pouch is not "lopsided."   One side higher than the other.

Put the ball into the sling pouch and swing it around vertically, like an airplane propeller. GENTLY.  You're testing yourself and the relationship between the ball and the sling pouch.  Slowly work up faster and faster until you can spin it very fast.  This will tell you that, one, the ball will stay in the pouch, and two, that your reflexes are OK.

Slow down and let the sling stop.  Pick a target.  Make certain nothing breakable is nearby.  Start the sling rocking like a clock pendulum then in one smooth motion swing your arm toward the target as though you were throwing a rock at it.  When your arm is a bit above where you would release a rock from your hand, let the knot go.  The ball will go somewhere in the vicinity of the target.

If the ball flies forward, you've just made your first step toward slinging.

There are many different ways to sling a stone or ball: overhand, underhand, and sidearme (like you would throw a baseball or rock).  I prefer sidearm.  But I can't hit anything.  That's a function of old age.

Check this forum for many suggestions about how to sling a stone or ball.  Much good advice here.

Best,

Trebuchet


:)

Absolutely no reason a billiard ball shouldn't be good sling ammo - I can tell you that I have slung  a golf ball right through a half inch sheet of plywood (and no that particular throw never made it to video - lol)
With the extra weight I see no reason why you couldn't do at least as well with a billard ball - now that would make a big hole :-)  

they are also in that weight range I consider deadly

Curious Aardvark wrote on Sep 30^th, 2007 at 8:38am:

Absolutely no reason a billiard ball shouldn't be good sling ammo - I can tell you that I have slung  a golf ball right through a half inch sheet of plywood (and no that particular throw never made it to video - lol) With the extra weight I see no reason why you couldn't do at least as well with a billard ball - now that would make a big hole :-)

There was once a time when one could find "stray" golf balls on the street near a local golf course.  Over time they vanished; either the golfers learned to hit straight or the street cleaning crews got to them before I drove by.


When time and finances allow it, I still want to buy an aluminum bullet casting rig from Dixie Gun Works.  I think a 58 caliber "Minnie" ball would make a great sling projectile.  It weighs about 500 grains and if the hollow base is filled with lead it would weigh even more.  How much, I don't know, but a lot.

It would be even neater to have Dixie grind a mold to a specific projectile size.  Again, cost is an impediment.

A trip to a local tire (tyre, for our English friends) should yeild lots of used tire/tyre weights.  They're lead and melt easily.

Think I'll look up Dixie on the net and see how much they charge for custom aluminium mold blocks.

Once upon a time, when linotype machines were still used for printing newspapers, I "borrowed" about ten pounds of linotype metal from the local newspaper print shop.  I used it to cast bullets for my .58 caliber muzzle loader and a .38 special revolver.  Linotype metal is a lead alloy and very hard compared to lead and much harder to melt.

Trebuchet

;D

It would be even neater to have Dixie grind a mold to a specific projectile size.  Again, cost is an impediment

We used a regular meatball mold to make regular sized pottery clay sling ammo.  Weigh about an ounce dry, unfired.  Would probably weigh a little less if fired, but won't biodegrade when they get lost.  Eventually those turn back to mud...

But...

I can't see why that couldn't be used to cast lead balls that size.  Around 1 1/8" diameter.  I guesstimate that would be about 6 oz or so.  It's just like aluminum pliers, each with a hemispherical end, one having a hole around 5/16" in dia.  Then again, it would be possible to dump half a load of molten lead on something.  I'm not sure.  Anyway, that's pretty huge of a lead ball.

wrote on Sep 27^th, 2007 at 10:41pm:

Punk them from bars? ;)

Not any bars I am familiar with.  Don't want a bunch of bikers treading on my head.

Trebuchet

Dave M wrote on Sep 28^th, 2007 at 6:05am:

Thought this might be of interest as well, Its the first time I have tried using a picture hope it works if not sorry please explain to an old duffer hoe i should do it

Very good picture, Dave.  That's a good looking sling.

Trebuchet

M. Demetrius wrote on Oct 7^th, 2007 at 6:10pm:

It would be even neater to have Dixie grind a mold to a specific projectile size.  Again, cost is an impediment We used a regular meatball mold to make regular sized pottery clay sling ammo.  Weigh about an ounce dry, unfired.  Would probably weigh a little less if fired, but won't biodegrade when they get lost.  Eventually those turn back to mud... But... I can't see why that couldn't be used to cast lead balls that size.  Around 1 1/8" diameter.  I guesstimate that would be about 6 oz or so.  It's just like aluminum pliers, each with a hemispherical end, one having a hole around 5/16" in dia.  Then again, it would be possible to dump half a load of molten lead on something.  I'm not sure.  Anyway, that's pretty huge of a lead ball.

Hey, Demetrius,

In Alabama we’re “et up” with red clay of a very good quality, so good that an entire pottery industry is springing up.  I’m not familiar with the “meat ball” mould” you mention.  Could you drop me a PM with more details?  Perhaps even a picture?  I can’t quite get my mind around the idea of a meatball mould that would cope with molten lead.  Fired red clay bullets would be something special.  I would like to try that.

Thanks,

Trebuchet

It would be very similar to the ammo used by the Balearic slingers. They got along OK with them

Never having been conked by a wife by a well made piece of hardened clay pottery, I can’t imagine what it would be like.  But I suspect I wouldn’t like it very much.

Trebuchet
;D