If you're looking for more information on atlatls on the internet, you may want to check out Tom Mill's "Paleoplanet" site. Just Google "Paleoplanet", it'll come up. I'm Terrorstrike on there, by the way. We focus on several different aspects of palaeo-life, aside from weapons, though. I've been building, designing and using atlatls for some time now, and I've always preferred to use natural materials, if for no other reason, I like the feeling I get from sticking to the aboriginal ways. Although, the world record holder for distance with an atlatl threw a dart for 848.5 feet using a carbon-alloy atlatl with an aluminum dart. In light of that fact, however, my favourite atlatl of all is a poplar wood, walnut stained hybrid type coated with beeswax, with a rawhide secured mule deer tine spur and double fawn suede wrapped handle that I made myself in less than two hours. Looks beautiful, and performs well. In fact, I've never need to fashion any sort of counterweight or bannerstone, though I know Bob Berg swears by them. So, my advice is stick to the natural materials, personally.

Sorry mate, I've never seen any pictures or heard anyone make mention of any even existing, but it's obviously well documented that "Dave Ingvall of St. Joseph, Missouri, USA on 15 July 1995 in Aurora, Colorado" proved himself to be the world's best man at throwing an atlatl dart with a distance of 848.56 feet.

http://www.flight-toys.com/atlatl.html is one site has posts this info, if you're curious.

Aye, poplar.  I find it's a good, light wood with a parallel grain and few flaws, knots or burls. stains well, and holds its colour. Pretty inexpensive, to boot! I had a spur break off on me one day. First atlatl I ever made; I spent several nights on it, so I got upset and just started gouging away at the spur channel I had carved into the head. Lo and behold, I gouged a deep trench in the firing head, which resulted in a loading channel. I deepened the angled hole in the back of the trench, and tapered the proximal tips of my darts so they would slide into the now V-shaped rear notch and pretty much load themselves. With the rear end braced into the hole in the "chamber" I don't even need to hold them in place to fire them. Wonderous accident, really.

the Atlatl guys are one of the reason finding this site was great for me.
the Atlatl people will argue you blue in the face when it comes to slinging
It is really good to find other people who share my
enthusiasm about the sling.
they will try to convince the atlatl has better range and every thing else. granted it is a great weapon.
but can it fit in your pocket.
If you want to meet atlatl Bob I understand he go's to the rabbit stick gathering every year in Idaho
it happens mid sept. I beleive

Quote:

I am an atlatlist first and foremost but I readily admit that the sling posses a far better range. Just the other day I threw a fire clay projectile 115 yards, more than 20 yards farther than my atlatl darts. And I do love how you can stuff it into your pocket and viola! you have a concealed weapon. But for pure lethality, you can't beat a weapon, that with pure force of impact can knock a 40 pound animal off its feet.

It all depends where you hit it.  I guess with a slingstone if you hit the front shoulder of an animal, then it will drop, just as with any weapon.  But an atlatl will easily kill most animals with ease - especially if it hit the shoulder.  I know which one I'd trust, but if a sling was all I had, then....

Buffalo?  You really must be dreaming.  It is theoretically possible to hunt elk, moose, white tail, that kind of thing, with an atlatl, because they are not protected.  But a buffalo...