thecatapultkidforums.myfastforum.org a friendly group for anything related to the slingshot. also known as the beanshooter, catapult, flip, shangahi, and many other names
Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 8:35 pm Post subject: Best slingshot bands for hunting?
Origionally posted by Benjamin.
Best slingshot bands for hunting??
Benjamin397
I need some new bands for my trumark.I've read that the blue crosman bands are the best. Or should I order some new trumark bands,They lasted a long time.
Peakshooter
Hi from the UK,
Go for the Trumarks or see if any one out there is selling flat bands - the flats are so much better. The Trumarks are good though. Try 'em
Peakshooter
Catapult Kid
nice seeing you here peakshooter
Take Care:
The Catapult Kid
Peakshooter
Glad to be aboard Kid!
Benjamin397
What are flat bands??? I'm in the US.
Peakshooter
Hi Benjamin
There are more experienced people out there than me to ask about flat bands.....like the Kid for example.
Flat bands are just that - instead of tubular bands the bands are made from flat latex, straight or tapered cut. The taper and the thickness varies depending on how fast you want them to shot.
The old slingshots always used flat bands - usually made from old tyre inner tubes.
They are far easier to pull and consequently improve your accuracy. The best ones are custom made. they can be considerably more powerful than any commercial bands.
Come on Kid, help me out here!
Benjamin397
Now I know what your talking about. Thanks.
Catapult_Kid
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I can't add a whole lot, Peakshooter pretty much summed it up. I shoot Flat bands, hardly ever shoot tubes. I custom cut my own bands from .050 flat latex sheet rubber that I buy from Mcmaster Carr. You can buy it in many different thicknesses, and cut it to your own specifications. I cut mine 1 1/2"x 3/4" x 8" (or 8 1/2") from .050 latex rubber , they are strong and hit super hard. You nearly have to make your own flatbands because no one commercially makes them that I am aware of. I hope this helps. You can also make them from flat gum rubber, and strips cut from electricians gloves. Like airgunning, you need to experiment around with different styles and sizes of bands to suit your needs. I have found that the above mentioned latex bands shoot the hardest from what I have experimented with.
Take Care:
The Catapult Kid
Peakshooter
Hi,
Don't get me wrong, Trumarks are good. Along with Barnett bands, Trumarks are the only decent ones we can get over here in the UK.... I prefer the Trumarks.
I've heard that Crosmans are good too - not seen any over here yet, although the slingshots are on sale.
Remember if you are hunting to use some heavy weight ammo - its the stopping power of the ammo that does the damage. 00 or .44 lead shot is better than steel balls.
Catapult_Kid
I have to agree .44 caliber lead ball hits hard and dosen't have the drop of a .50 lead ball. Steel ball bearings are good for practice, but when it comes time to go out on a hunt I reach for the lead.
Take Care:
The Catapult Kid
Benjamin397
Why aren't the steel ball bearings as good for hunting??
Catapult Kid
Steel bearings are too light. Slingshots mainly kill from blunt force so weight is needed, steel bearings do not have the weight to present enough impact upon the intended quarry to make clean kills.
It's been awhile since I hunted,but I do remember having bands chill up on me when hunting.I used flat gum 95% of the time when hunting,and gum did pretty good in cold weather.Latex tubes were another matter.They slowed up a lot when it got cold.I never hunted with flat latex straps,so I don't know how they do in cold.In cold weather,I always used to keep the slingshot loaded and held with one hand jammed under my other arm to keep it warm.I hardly ever hunted when it was warm.If you hunt when the weather is warm,I'd go with a heavy tapered flat latex.Tubes would be RRT's from Tru-mark,Saunders heavy's,or the Blue Crosman's.Hope it helps! Flatbandjavascript:emoticon('')
Smile
I just put new bands on my old wrist rocket. I used surgical tubing, it has a much thicker sidewall than the original tubing and really takes alot more effort to pull. In plinking on some corrigated boxes after installing, my 50 cal lead balls were completely penetrating both sides of the box.
Bob
Welcome Bob,
You may want to try flat bands on your wrist rocket, it may give you suprising results. Welcome aboard!
Take Care
The Catapult Kid _________________ Catapult Kid
Custom made catapults:
http://catapultkidslingshots.freehomepage.com/index.html
try daisy yellow power bands form Kmart if the have some. i use them for the bigger game(coons beavers) and the have a heavy draw on them. _________________ let he without sin shoot the first rock
Hey Rat,give those Crosman Vortex replacement tubes(the blue ones) a try.They are the fastest tubes out there.Pouch a little small though,but a lot of power. Flatbandjavascript:emoticon('')
Smile
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:18 am Post subject: hmmm
everyone always talks about the hitting power that these bands have, and feet per second velocities and such, but has anyone tried using ballistics gel to see just what kind of damage and penetration you can get with em? i have a link here that shows how to make the stuff, i though it might be interesting
Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 1:52 am Post subject: flat bands versus the other types
also what kind of ammo has the best damage to weight ratios n stuff, wound channels and things like that, i was wondering if like wiht guns, a slightly slower projectile with more weight versus a slightly lighter ammo at higher velocities, thats where the ballistics gel could be handy, i might try to make some of my own just to see what its like
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