View Full Version : Catapults
Has anyone tried using a catapult for hunting ?
If so what catapult did you use and whats the biggest thing youve bagged duck goose ect ect?
Or are there legal implications and I shouldnt really be asking this question?
i use a black widow for rats at work but only when i forget to take the
mags for my theoben slr :-D
well i'v tried hunting with a catapult a few times
it's a bit miss & hit if you know what i mean
i've never killed anything yet but got quite close
haven't given up yet though, you've just got to keep shoting at the little ****ers :AR15firin
Scott
oh & it's rabbits i usually go for
I've got a Barnett Diablo, but it needs some new tubing on it so I havent tried it on anything. Gotta really watch where you use them though, the one I've got will shoot a ball bearing through a 50gal steel drum.
Roving Rich
02-02-2004, 12:53
Never managed to hit anything, I cannot get the accuracy. I recommend marbles for ammo tho, cheap and not so obvious.
I tried persuading the dog to catch rabbits but he's just too daft. We'd sit still in the hedgerow until the rabbits reappeared only 10 feet or so
then loose the dog (once he'd seen em!). Hopeless. I think i may have better luck the catapult (black widow)
Grumit, would that be the rapid 7?
Rich
Celtic Dragon
02-02-2004, 13:17
Rich, Theoben did produce / still do produce a rifle called the slr. it does use the r7 mags.
Simon
Roving Rich
02-02-2004, 13:58
Doh, i thought you said Sir, thought it was a bit polite!
I'll look it up. Rapid 7 is fantastic best airifle i have ever had the pleasure to use.
Cheers
Rich
Roving Rich
02-02-2004, 14:13
Grummit its a tad pricey, i'd still be inclined to the Rapid if i ever get enough pennies! Our local free Ads won't advertise em anymore so I don't tend to see them second hand.
Is it any good then? :-D
Rich
i have a scirocco to but that is getting on for 15 years old the slr is a fine
gun good to shoot easy to reload and if you bear in mind i live in guernsey
no vat not to pricey :-D and my shooting buddy just got rapid with all the gear for £400
Celtic Dragon
02-02-2004, 14:43
Guys try www.airgunnbbs.com. athough I think you might know it. The Rapids are nice but very price. Much prefer the S10 myself or my daystate harrier.
Simon
i got an old tm 100 for field target but no club here still trying to
put one together the chap that sold my pal the rapid just got the s 4 10
Celtic Dragon
02-02-2004, 14:52
Grummit, your lucky, I've shot a few rapids and some very heavily modded one as well. The problem is I don't get on with the recoil pattern of gasrams.
Pity cos I'd love an Olymus.
Simon
you don't know it's there after a day or two my pal had a fenman
but he shoots paper targets with his steyr so had to get a precharged for hunting he also has a riply ar4 for ft (field target) :-D
Hmmm, I'm going to have to hook the Diablo out. Anyone know of anywhere to get some decent tubing/elastic (not sure of tech name) for it?
MartiniDave
02-02-2004, 16:25
I think Barnett make the Diablo. Try their websit, failing that fishing tackle shops usually sell them.
Dave
Roving Rich
02-02-2004, 16:27
Its medical tubing of some sort. ?
I'll get you some details
Rich
Just been doing a search on the web you can get the rubbers for about £4 and I might get a replacement sight for it as well. All I'll need to do then is find somewhere well away from anyone to practice.
tip for good cheep backstop for catapults tie a rope between
two tree's drape old blanket over at slite angle then fire away
all the ammo falls in same place (if you hit it :lol:
if you hit it
If definately being the correct word ;)
the naughty boy
06-03-2004, 17:53
practise makes a good shot! you need to put the effort in though.its about consistency as well.as with archery,you need to use the same pull each time and a good tip is to move your whole body not just your arms to aim.
i,ve whacked quite a few bunnies but it was from a static position by a hedgerow,i just waited till they popped out a few feet then WHACK! but be carefull cause if you only stun them they will jump back in sharpish.if in doubt run over and dispatch straight away.
but buy an airgun if you live in the mainland.i need a lisence over here and they are a bugger to get.
bushwacker bob
03-06-2004, 23:09
has any one tried to fire shot from a catpult?i.e a dozen or 2 bbs about 6mm diameter. I have a piegon roost on my patch and can often get to within 10 metres, so would it be effective?
the naughty boy
03-06-2004, 23:22
im lucky if i can get a few fields away from the woodies near here but in sure if your that close then it would be effective m8 better yet though i think if you used a funnel type cup to hold your ammo like coarse fishermen use to shoot maggots then you could get a better grouping anstead of the more erratic pattern from a standard leather type holder,what do you recon m8?
bushwacker bob
04-06-2004, 00:09
just brought some catty elastic and dug out the ancient milbro frame,when Ive assembled it, I'll give it a go and keep you posted :wink: Never did get to see your joke tho! :-(
the naughty boy
04-06-2004, 13:51
what joke was that m8?
bushwacker bob
04-06-2004, 14:21
forgotten now, but it was censored, so it must have been rooooode :oops:
the naughty boy
04-06-2004, 15:02
erm yes it was rather :oops: and as tone rightly pointed out ..not for this forum.i,ll pm it perhaps when i got more time m8 :wink:
Carcajou Garou
07-06-2004, 23:50
Partridge, rabbits, squirels all edible small game. Takes practise but as a kid had lots of time.
bushwacker bob
10-06-2004, 00:04
did you try using shot or single shot?
Carcajou Garou
10-06-2004, 06:50
When I was young, always used single projectiles, mostly selected stones, in the spring time we used glass marbles. Now I use steel ball bearings 3/8" for most game and glass marbles to chase bears away.
bushwacker bob
11-06-2004, 00:56
I see why your called a wolverine! 8-) if we had any bears in this country I wouldn't be shooting them with a catpult, Well actually thinking about it, I probably would as our government wont let most of us any easy access to any effective weapons.even carrying a knife over here is technically illegal most of the time. :wink:
Carcajou Garou
11-06-2004, 03:06
I am of the bear clan so I cannot kill a bear except to save a life, the bear is my family. If they get unreasonable sometimes you have to chatise them. If you get confronted with a black bear assume the largest profile that you can (put your coat, sweater over your head, oops! do not block your vision) and in a calm voice try to soothe it; slowly, carefully back away do not fall, do not stare the bear down as this is an aggressive posture for the bear and it could precipitate an attack unless thats what you want :lol: Do not run a bear can outrun a horse in a short race. Never lie down and play dead with a black bear. If there is contact then fight for your life punch and kick and bite the same as fighting a human anatomy is the same. With a brown or grizzly bear the opposite is true play dead keep your pack on so if the bear bites you it will have something else in it's mouth other than you, clasp your hands around your neck let it bite your hands not your neck it will hurt, try to keep from being turned over and expossing you vitals. :-( I usually will talk a bear away and lead it from the others till it sees something else to take interest (does that make me boring?)
just a thought
Roving Rich
11-06-2004, 15:01
Boring ! :shock:
Blyme I fell privilaged to have met a bear let alone talking it into leavin my pic-a-nic basket alone booboo
When i encounter wildlife in the Uk i'm usally mumbling for it to stay.
:-D
Rich
bushwacker bob
11-06-2004, 23:40
Please dont think that I would shoot a bear with access to a suitable weapon :oops: I just thought that you must have some bottle to fire a catapult at one! I realise,that as a native American you obviously have a greater appreciation of the flora and fauna of your land than the image we in the U.K are given of the average North American.I thought that Mace,pepper spray or a 44 mag were the more 'american' way. I totally agree with Rich that observing wildlife is a priviledge.Bears have been extinct in the U.K for centuries but I have noted your very sound advice and will use it if I ever reach any'bear country' The largest predator left in this country is the fox and shooting one with a catapult would be far more acceptable than the methods used by some of our countrymen :-( I find your wisdom refreshing not boring
Carcajou Garou
12-06-2004, 04:58
Please don't get me wrong, as an aboriginal person I don't have any special gifts other than having a closer relationship with my world by the fact I am here. I just try to understand what it is I am seeing, and try not to judge good or bad in an animal, plant, person; eg. a bear stalks you is he bad? good? no he is doing what comes naturaly to him, no wrong, no right just what is. Don't think me so brave I didn't say I would push the marble in with my fingers :shock: that's why I use a catapult :lol: We have a lot of bears in our area and they are getting into trouble. One just broke into a house and started to look for food, tearing things up, out, he was found by a young lad who called the police. Bear left the premises only to come back hadn't finished yet :lol:
By the way just for clarity I am Canadian Aboriginal 8-)
Not to blow my own trumpet but i was ****e hot with a catapult as a kid,i never ever left the house without one round my neck and under my jacket.Ive had just about everything you can with a catapult bar rabbit.Its all down to practice really.A few months back i found my old catty in the shed put some new bands on it and away i went,30 mins later i was as good as ever.Like riding a bike i suppose.
bushwacker bob
17-07-2004, 23:57
Matt, town and country sports in Botley sell catapult elastic!
TheViking
20-07-2004, 15:04
Hi...
I'm just about to make a catapult/slingshot and wanted to know how powerful such one are?? Once heard that an occupyer group in dk, made slingshots that could shoot through the polices shields?! (they occupyed a building and shot steelballs at the police) I would like some of that elastic........ :twisted:
I'll make mine of 6 mm. elastic-string. I have 2 m. of it.
How powerful are the ones from Barnett?? 100 m.?.... 200?..... :shock:
Cheers
C_Claycomb
20-07-2004, 16:57
Having got used to the draw weight of (what are really fairly light) long bows, barrnett slingshots feel pretty whimpy! :lol: I wouldn't want to get shot by one you understand, just that they feel like they only pull 20lb or less.
The elastic is nothing more than surgical tubing. I have just learned that there are different sizes/wall thicknesses for this stuff. Apparently the really strong stuff is used by divers for lashing dive gear down. I have been told that most dive shops, in particular those that cater to technical divers, will have it in stock.
If you are building from scratch you can double up on the elastic.
http://www.primitivesupply.com/slingshots.cfm
The above is a fairly interesting site which I may have mentioned before :roll:
are the catapults shown on the website c_claycomb (http://www.primitivesupply.com/slingshots.cfm) really capable of taking deer and other such game?
I have several and hunt regularly with them, rabbits and squirrels beware!!!. as for power, my barnett with the upgraded bands I put on it will shoot a 36cal. lead musket ball thru a car winshield at 20ft. like a bullet , makes a evil dent in a 55gal drum from 25ft. that powerful enough for you??. heres the trick, If there is a supply store that sells supplies for commercial fishermen you can get to you can find surgical tubing large enough to fit over factory bands. sort of makes it qaud powered. I suppose If ypu could hit a deer in the head it would certainly kill it.
I've been wondering about a modern materials stonebow - rekon it'd be worth a try? - fibreglass limb, maybe rubber line too ( don't know what happens if you combine the two ). Using a trigger mechanism means being able to get a lot more power ( and range ) behind the shot. At the moment I'm still on vaguely thinking about the trigger mechanism for a foot cocked version.
Realgar
hobbitboy
12-01-2005, 15:49
Ok you guys seem quite knowledgeable bout this, when using a Barnett Black Widow "gangster style" ie held sideways as recomendded by Barnet the elastic keeps flicking round and crackin my poor knuckles. Anyone know why? It doesn't happen when shooting from the traditional stance!! Silly gangsters... :roll:
bambodoggy
12-01-2005, 15:54
Check you're still holding the pull back in direct line with the uprights....it's harder to tell when the arm is twisted.
I tend to only fire mine upright though....seems to be more accurate. :o):
your wrist is turning , when you release, watch your hand when you shoot see if thats it. also could be the angle at which you hold your bands in relationship to the grip ,if not parellel it will cause this problem.
Not to blow my own trumpet but i was ****e hot with a catapult as a kid,i never ever left the house without one round my neck and under my jacket.Ive had just about everything you can with a catapult bar rabbit.Its all down to practice really.A few months back i found my old catty in the shed put some new bands on it and away i went,30 mins later i was as good as ever.Like riding a bike i suppose.
Clem, Did you use proper ammo or pebbles? I would think it quite hard to get good consistency with pebbles?
Thanks :wink:
Eric_Methven
24-04-2005, 19:47
Braided condoms work. Braid three condoms for each side and attach to the catty. I use a black widdow (with doubled elastic) to take rabbit mostly. For ammo, I use aniseed balls. Although light in weight I don't have to worry about recovering 'evidence' as I would with steel ball bearings. Animals will polish off any aniseed balls left lying around. I have noticed though that they don't usually kill rabbits, just stun them so I need to shoot, run and pick up in one quick move. Having said that, I mostly just take the odd one if the opportunity presents itself.
Eric
demographic
24-04-2005, 20:34
Braided condoms work. Braid three condoms for each side and attach to the catty. I use a black widdow (with doubled elastic) to take rabbit mostly. For ammo, I use aniseed balls. Although light in weight I don't have to worry about recovering 'evidence' as I would with steel ball bearings. Animals will polish off any aniseed balls left lying around. I have noticed though that they don't usually kill rabbits, just stun them so I need to shoot, run and pick up in one quick move. Having said that, I mostly just take the odd one if the opportunity presents itself.
Eric
I seem to remember seeing a picture of a kind of catapult that some african kids had knocked up, it was made from the neck of a coca cola bottle (glass :eek: ) with a condom duct taped on the wide end of it.
They dropped a stone through the neck onto the teat bit and pulled it back while holding the neck.
Let go and the stone (hopefully) shot through the neck and hit the target.......
On the other hand it could also smash the bottle that the kid was holding :eek:
I assume things have moved on and they perhaps use placky bottles now.
innocent bystander
24-04-2005, 20:45
steel ball bearings. Animals will polish off any aniseed balls left lying around. I have noticed though that they don't usually kill rabbits, just stun them so I need to shoot, run and pick up in one quick move. Having said that, I mostly just take the odd one if the opportunity presents itself.
Eric
Luckily at work, they use 9mm ball bearings for rigs testing engine oil. I've literally got 1000's at home, and a gert great box stached at work :eek: Shhhhhh !!
ChrisKavanaugh
25-04-2005, 06:40
We have a fairly recent thread going at ETS about catapults, or slingshots in english, er american :p
www.itzi.net
Gives nice pictures and movies about historic machines.
Dorian Gra
23-05-2005, 11:55
I've killed a few rabbits and one phesant using my black widdow cataplut. It is very difficult to get the shot in the kill zone. Use one stone for ground targets and several for birds in the air. Also you can only really get into effective killing range if you have cammo gear by stalking you prey.
You are better buying an air rifle as catapults are not that effective at killing as they lack power and accuracy
bambodoggy
23-05-2005, 13:09
Also you can only really get into effective killing range if you have cammo gear by stalking you prey.
Nothing to do with having cammo gear Matey...it's to do with your movement and stalking skills...hone those and you could go out dressed as Mary Poppins and still bag things :D
Justin Time
23-05-2005, 18:28
Bam
we want pictures! :D ;)
Yggdrasil
23-05-2005, 19:10
Ive been interested in catapults for a while but i havnt bought one. Some of you guys coming at the weekend should bring them and show us what they can do :p
~yggdrasil~
they really are wicked, i bought a black widow in a shop in hastings, and after an hours practice i was hitting rat sized targets from 50yards almost every time, well worth the effort and the money, make sure you get a few spare rubbers though, i wore mine out in a week (constant practice) nothing worse than a weekend with no rubbers :D
Spacemonkey
23-05-2005, 22:18
My last Widow was confiscated by a huge fisherman on mudeford quay, in exchange for a clip around the ear. Looking back, I can see that firing stones at outboard engines maybe wasn't the best practice....
Must get another...
bambodoggy
23-05-2005, 22:51
Bam
we want pictures! :D ;)
:D Don't tempt me....I've already offered another group of mates that I'll run through a French forest in nothing but a loin cloth flushing out wild boar for them!!!! :eek: I really need to think things through before I post!!! :p :D
bambodoggy
23-05-2005, 22:52
Ive been interested in catapults for a while but i havnt bought one. Some of you guys coming at the weekend should bring them and show us what they can do :p
~yggdrasil~
Where have you desided to go this weekend Matey? :)
Look and enjoy.
http://www.knifeforums.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB42&Number=572250&Forum=All_Forums&Words=&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Main=546070&Search=true&where=bodysub&Name=10128&daterange=1&newerval=1&newertype=y&olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#Post572250
Yggdrasil
24-05-2005, 11:49
Ill be at the spring meet sunday and monday. :)
innocent bystander
24-05-2005, 17:32
Look and enjoy.
http://www.knifeforums.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB42&Number=572250&Forum=All_Forums&Words=&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Main=546070&Search=true&where=bodysub&Name=10128&daterange=1&newerval=1&newertype=y&olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#Post572250
Laser sited slingshot?
Whatever next, i ask you ???? :confused:
bambodoggy
24-05-2005, 18:59
Ill be at the spring meet sunday and monday. :)
Good for you Mate...sure you'll have a great time there, I know Tony and his team have got heaps of stuff planned for the weekend.
Say hello to Womble and anyone else I know who's there...
Cheers,
Bam. :D
Dorian Gra
26-05-2005, 15:04
When I say use cammo to stalk your prey I don't mean cammo colours but folage tied onto clothing to break up appearence as this is more important than colours as most animals see in black and white. :D
bartjen 2
11-11-2006, 11:52
I have bought some surgical tubbing but doe anyone know witch wood is good and how to fasten it to the wood. Has anyone experience with how long the tubbing has to be for hunting birds and rabbits??
The tube is ong. 1cm in diameter
thanks
http://www.melchiormenzel.de/
This is a useful site.
We had a good thread about slingshot hunting a couple of months ago here (http://www.melchiormenzel.de/) which was closed pending finding out about the law regarding slingshot hunting.