Deconstructing My Survival Slingshot

by Todd Walker

Ben left a comment requesting details on how to make the Survival Sling Shot I shared in August.

Thanks for your interest, Ben. Here ya go!

Step 1: You need a basic wrist rocket sling shot to start.

A DiY Survival Sling Shot with Big Game Capabilities

You can find them at box stores for cheap or yard sales even cheaper. They usually come with a yellowish colored surgical tube band. Purchase a black band and replace the one that came with your sling shot. The black ones are stronger and offer more power on your draw.

Step 2: Fabricate a piece of lightweight metal (aluminum) about an inch wide. I used a scavenged bracket from a bleacher. Bend the strip at a 90 degree angle at the 3 inch mark on one end.

Aluminum bracket for mounting the line spool

Create a notch on the short end of the bend that will fit between the bar and plastic handle of your sling shot.

Tweak the notch until it fits snuggly

Pre-drill two holes in the bracket and plastic handle and mount it with screws to the weapon.

Step 3: Build your line spool from a 5 to 6 inch long piece of PVC pipe (1 inch diameter). Glue a cap to one end. Drill a 1/8 inch hole in the center of the other cap that will accept a 1 inch long bolt.

Mounting bolt attached to cap

Insert the bolt from the inside of this cap and secure it to the cap with a lock washer and nut.

Drill a matching hole in the top of your aluminum bar to accept the bolt. Attach the line spool cap to the bar with a wing nut and lock washer – thumb tight.

You can fill the line spool tube with small items you might need, like fire starter and repair glue to change arrow tips. Don’t forget to include a small Bic lighter.

Now dry fit the spool onto the mounted cap. Don’t glue this end. Use tape to hold the cap on the pipe so you can access the goodies inside the spool when needed.

Step 4: Wind several feet of nylon line around the spool. I notched a small groove near the unglued cap end and tied a simple loop to begin my spool. Use duct tape to secure the line on the spool.

Wrap the line around the spool until you have enough. Not too bulky, but enough. You’ll always have extra cordage with you when needed.

Attach a fishing leader to the end of your line. Burn the loose end to prevent unraveling. I used a velcro strip to keep the line from peeling off during storage. A rubber band would work too. This is where I attach the line to my arrow when sling shot fishing. (Check game and fishing regulations in your state before using this to harvest animals or fish)

Step 5: Attach a Whisker Biscuit for your arrow rest between the arms of your sling with wire ties. If done properly, you can make the arrow rest fold down to allow you to shot ball bearings or small pebbles from your sling.

Whisker Biscuit

Step 6: You can modify a carbon arrow with a fishing tip, field tip, or broad head. Here’s a look at my mods on my fishing tip.

Fishing tip with line attached and glued

The line runs from end to end of the arrow and attached with hot melt archery glue. (Keep the glue stick inside the spool tube for storage).

Golf tee inserted for a nock

I removed the standard nock and glued a golf tee in its place. This gives a better gripping surface in the leather sling pouch when you draw your sling shot. This step is not necessary, but adds to the overall project.

To use for fishing, attach the leader from your spool to the line on your arrow. Load your arrow in the arrow rest, and you’re ready to go fishing!

I’ve got a couple of arrows in my sling shot quiver for different applications. My next project will be to make a take-down arrow to fit inside my kit.

Hope this helps, Ben. Let me know if you have questions or need more details.

Keep doing the stuff!

Todd

P.S. ~ As always, if anything from this site adds value to your life, please pass it on. You can also connect with us on Twitter, Pinterest, and our new Facebook page. Thanks for sharing the stuff!

Copyright Information: Content on this site (unless the work of a third-party) may be shared freely in digital form, in part or whole, with a link back to this site crediting the author. If you are interested a third-party article, please contact the author directly for republishing information.

 

Related articles

• 33 Awesome DiY Projects for Preppers (survivalsherpa.wordpress.com)

A DiY Survival Sling Shot with Big Game Capabilities

by Todd Walker

Could you survive in the wilderness with only a sling shot as your weapon?

A DIY Survival Sling Shot with Big Game Capabilities

Lots would depend on your survivability. Having a means to harvest protein and animal fat would surely increase your chances.

In a perfect world, the sling shot would not be my first choice. But having options makes one more robust.

When Dave Canterbury first talked about hunting big game with a sling shot, I thought he’d lost his mind. But then again, I’ve seen him do amazing things with common, everyday items. [Note: Check your local hunting regulations before hunting with a sling shot.]

I first saw his video on his pocket hunter over three years ago before he was co-starring on Dual Survival. I was impressed. So much so that I turned my wrist rocket into a DIY version of his now patented Deluxe Pathfinder Pocket Hunter Kit. 

My version is rough, but functional. I have three points on arrows for my sling shot: fishing tip, broadhead, and judo points. Here’s a look at a judo point on a wooden arrow.

Judo point ready to slay a spud.

The purpose of the judo point is to snag on brush, grass, or the ground and flip the arrow up to make finding a missed shot easier. It’s used for hunting small game animals.

The smallest game I could legally hunt today was Mr. Potato Head. Dirt Road Girl offered up a sacrificial spud. The hunt was on!

Use the same draw technique as you would with a traditional bow.

Dead spud at ten yards!

Both field points and broadheads penetrated this target about 5 inches at ten and 15 yards. Just like finding your anchor point in archery, shooting sling shots are no different. I anchor at the right corner of my mouth and aim instinctively.

Back when I built my pocket hunter, I secured a Whisper Biscuit between the arms of my sling shot with wire ties. I can fold the arrow rest down to shoot ball bearings or pebbles.

My arrow with the fishing tip is carbon. I secured a piece of nylon bank line to the arrow. This line is attached to the line spool on the PVC pipe on the wrist rocket. I mounted the pipe on a piece of aluminum plate screwed into the base of the wrist rocket. When shot, the line peels off the spool perfectly.

Bow fishing set up.

The main drawback of my pocket hunter is carrying full length arrows. Dave fixes that issue with take down arrows.

You can check out his kit at his Pathfinder Store. The Three-Piece Take Down Arrows are sold separately. I’ve added them to my wish list. This allows you to carry a silent, but deadly, weapon in your survival kit – all in one self-contained bag. Brilliant!

I use an old military surplus medic IV bag to store and carry my pocket hunter. Just need those break down arrows to complete the kit.

As I said in the beginning of this article, I would prefer to have a long gun for wilderness survival. But the pocket hunter is another option for redundancy in harvesting game quietly in a survival scenario. Options are good!

Keep Doing the Stuff of Self-Reliance,

Todd

P.S. – You can also keep up with the Stuff we’re Doing on Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook… and over at the Doing the Stuff Network.

P.P.S – If you find value in our blog, Dirt Road Girl and I would appreciate your vote on Top Prepper Sites! You can vote daily by clicking here or on the image below. Check out all the other value-adding sites while you’re there… 

Thanks for Sharing the Stuff!

Copyright: Content on this site (unless the work of a third-party) may be shared freely in digital form, in part or whole, for non-commercial use with a link back to this site crediting the author. All links in articles must remain intact as originally posted in order to be republished. If you are interested a third-party article, please contact the author directly for republishing information.