Archery VS Slingshot hobby

[VanLifer39]

I wanted to ask to see if anyone has experience with Slingshot devices/models. I've been interested in learning a new survival preparedness skills set for hunting and protection.

I asked about archery because the slingshot is similar. I am more partial to a Slingshot because they are much more stealthy in size and require no license. The damage from a slingshot in ballistics gel looks very formidable to archery. I've watched videos of people killing street rats in Philly and Baltimore and a person in Egypt killing pigeons. They've got to be a pro at it with all the people walking
In the cities.

How is learning this skill? I'm sure there are challenges, but is it a simple skill?

 

[billt460]

I have a few slingshots, and they're fun to play with. But that's about it. Realistically forget about slingshots as a viable alternative to hunt anything with. Especially if you're going to place any kind of dependance on them for survival, and / or food gathering.

In the hands of most people they're weak, inaccurate, and quite honestly in today's day and age, not even worth considering. With the exception of trying to kill small vermin like rats and mice, what could you possibly shoot with one that would accomplish little more than aggravating or wounding it?

Time, money, and effort would be far better spent on a small, easy to carry .22 handgun, with a good set of adjustable sights. A Ruger Mark IV, or one of the excellent Browning Buckmark series.

They're well made, affordable, accurate, and very reliable. Ammunition is cheap and easy to carry plenty of. And it is much easier and quicker to develop a skill and accuracy level that would be both useful and productive in the field.

 

[Lubener]

I have used a wrist rocket before. Far superior to a sling shot. They are very accurate and can take small game with no problem.

 

[Ursatdx]

In New Jersey, slingshots are generally not legal to carry in public without an explainable lawful purpose, and possession can be treated as a fourth-degree crime under state law.
I led a childhood of crime. Large capacity pants pockets filled with lethal marbles.

 

[Kira]

Go back into the magazines of the day and see Wrist Rocket ads featuring drawings of bounding bucks; obviously implying that you could take deer with one.

In the book, "Rats" by Robert Sullivan (recommended by me), the author mentions that exterminators lay in wait and use .22s more often than you'd think.
Being neophobes (fear of new things), rats will avoid black box traps for weeks until they're familiar seeing them.
They'll also avoid a plate of fresh food when set in a familiar alley filled with familiar restaurant dumpsters.
It's a good read.

 

[2005jettatdi]

If you want fun, make yourself a sling. In college, there was an article in Scientific American on slings. Some friends and I got little patches of leather and nylon rope and made them for ourselves. It was an interesting lesson. Our first tries went anywhere except to the front, including straight up. As we learned to control our releases we were amazed at how far we could chuck a rock, and with decent accuracy. David was on to something.

 

[Owen Lucas]

I elementary school I watched a kid hit a bird mid air with a slingshot. At first I was shocked at the accuracy hitting a moving object 30' up and then for the poor bird!