duckdiver
Tiro
Offline
Slinging Rocks!
Posts: 17
san mateo coast
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I have a lot of fun with bolos. Easy to make from junk like old spark plugs, fishing weights, handy cord to start.
Mine range from 1-3 feet, sized and weighted to simulate the critters i’m pretending to catch when I play with them ranging from mice to wild hogs.
Lots of good clips on this site to see bolos in action and ways to make them, but I prefer 3 cords with similar weights and tied with a fat knot. Monofilament lines are sketchy to use as you can’t trust them not to brake without frequent close inspections for nicks. Everybody loves fancy knots but the regular overhand knot works fine. Let weights hang evenly and take time to work out the cord length issues, sometimes sticking a fid or pencil can help keep knot loose while you make adjustments. Some folks use washers at the knot but I don’t like the balance and they can get nicked and stick you. After you make your bolo and want to start playing, consider rewatching the clips again first, with a cautionary mindset to the potential for unintended consequences.
The two basic throws I use are;
1. Twirl weights around by holding the knot and let go. Flys like a rock on a string, only in a bunch, with force per speed and weight. Speed is close to what you get from slings, and a lot faster and harder than I can throw by hand.
2. As above but hold a weight in hand with the knot, twirl and THROW at target, Little tricker than 1 to get hang of release. Letting the front weights pull the hand weight works also, causing the bolo to spin sooner and a little slower with less distance. Bolo flys with the cool looking bolo twirl. Much slower speed than 1 but gives lots of entanglement at contact. Damage from weights comes from the speed they get wrapping around target more than the speed of the throw, and can be surprising.
Three of my favorites that sort of cover the range are the rat, spark plugs, and balls.
12” Rat Bolo Tie 3 ,1-2 oz fishing weights to 3 individual cords of braided fishing line or lines from para cord cores. Works best for rats with first style, does’t usually kill them, buts stuns them long enough to get them and finish them off.
3’ Spark plug Bolo. Tie 3 or 4 cords with reinforced slip knot around plug body after knocking off ceramics with a hammer. Don’t trust using closing the gap for a handy loop. Basic all purpose bolo for both styles. I use weights up to 3 oz and paracord sheath with cores removed. Fun at night when walking or jogging on asphalt streets with first style as the weights spark as they bounce and skitter down the street. Older plugs with lots of iron content spark best.
3’-5’ Ball Bolo Poke 2 small holes in opposite end of 3-4 tennis balls, poke cord thru holes and tie a couple fat knot knots so cord won’t pull out easily. Be cautious when throwing at friends, balls can really hurt when they smack you at wrap speeds.
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