bernardz
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Thank you Rat Man for your welcome.
I noticed a wide variation in answers, please let me make a few observations, which might be relevant even though I have never used a sling (Note, I am keen to try a sling, so I have taken a plan off this site and will make one soon)
The reality is then like now, the military often takes what they can get. In this scenario, we are not talking about the Roman legion, who had much more money to pay then our mediaeval captain. If they need slingers and all they get is trainees, they will take them.
Furthermore, I think there is a tendency for experts to exaggerate the skill required. The military in my experience often does not require as skilled people like civilians. Here I expect many people have learnt to fire slings underarm, over arm, figure 8, etc. Our military captain would probably concentrate on one style. I could imagine him going like drill one ......, two ....... , three ........, four, etc.
Over his course, a trainee slinger would be throwing many stones. I have seen figures on this forum of six a minute. That rate is certainly not sustainable, but I suspect that many people, here would not be throwing that many as our trainee slinger would by the end of the course if it lasts two to three months. Some people in the course would be more talented and quicker learner than others. Our mediaeval Captain could simply fire those that are not catching on.
Having said that if you disagree with my observations, I am probably wrong and would like to know why. I am basing this on the closest analogy I can think of my experience with a crossbow. I taught myself. Everyday I took a few shoots within a few weeks. For the first few weeks while my muscles were building up, I went through a terrible agony. Soon I had to stop. People today are often not as strong as then. I expect a typical villager than to be much stronger than now. Maybe their muscles need less developments. However, in less than a month I was firing about 6 bolts a minute with reasonable accuracy at a short range. Having said that I suspect that a sling is a much harder weapon than a crossbow to use.
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