Roman slinger gear

[Legionare Vibius Atimoniu]

I know that website that you have the link for! I am a member in that forum as well as this one it is a great source for slinging tips and many other slinging topics and stuff. I realy enjoy it.

[Peroni]

The sling was not only a weapon used by auxiliary troops; the legionaries too had their training with the sling (Vegetius I. 15).

In Vegetius’ second book (Vegetius II. 23) he describes to us how archers and slingers would set out ‘scopae’ (straw and twig targets) at a distance of 600 feet, with the consequence that practice ensured hitting the target more frequently. The soldiers also had to learn to whirl the sling only once about their heads before loosing the shot.

It is notable that Vegetius only mentions stones (lapides) in connection with the sling, whereas the use of lead glandes is well attested for the Republic. Could this be due to the de-specialisation of the slingers? When they had been specialists brigaded together into their own units, they may have taken more pride in their craft and materials, but in later days, possibly the ‘amateur’ legionary slingers tended to regard the sling as a barbarian weapon?

If this is so, and the lead went out of fashion in the first century, how do we explain the 133 lead glandes found at the second century fort at Burnswark, Dumfriesshire? It would seem that Burnswark was a training camp or artillery range, and the lead shot are ‘shrapnel’.

[Iulia Cassia Vegetia]

Salve Marcus Ulpius Peronis!
How's your canteen holding out? Yours was the first I ever made, and the first to be sent overseas. I've made and sold quite a few since, thanks to you.

[Peroni]

Ave Iulia Cassia!

Unfortunately, due to my own innadequate transportation of said flask, the neck snapped off! It has been repaired, but just a show piece now.

[D B Campbell]

It would seem that Burnswark was a training camp or artillery range.

Or the scene of a genuine siege!

[marsvigilia]

This illustration of a slinger confuses me greatly! No slight on your artistic talents here, It's a lovely illustration.

My question would be.. Whilst he is holding the grip of the shield, how the devil is he supposed to reload the pocket of the sling?

I don't find this to be a problem and doesn't require setting down the sling at all. I feel odd about posting this as it seems natural to me, but I've seen this come up a couple of times on RAT. I have two slings one 48" and the other 72" total length. I try to use glandes weighing 1.5 - 2 ounces (42 - 57 gr) Lead is nice but has some environmental issues.

1. Hold shield in left hand.
2. Hold end of the sling cords in right hand with finger through end loop.
3. Bring hands together, hooking the cords behind the thumb of the left hand while still holding shield handle.
4. Draw hands apart while allowing cords to slide between thumb and fingers of left hand.
5. Stop when the pouch of the sling reaches fingers of left hand.
6. Hold pouch and shield in left hand. Hold cord ends in right hand.
7. Reach into projectile (glandes) bag with right hand while continuing to hold the cord ends.
8. Select the glandes you want by feel, while continuing to hold ends of cords.
9. Withdraw right hand from bag.
10. Bring hands back together.
11. Using both hands, place glandes in pouch, wrap pouch around glandes.
12. Pinch the pouch or cords where they meet on the opposite side of the glandes, thus holding glandes tightly.
13. While continuing to hold shield, use left hand to hold/pinch sling pouch with glandes pinched inside.
14. Draw hands apart with right hand moving upwards at a diagonal.
15. When cords are taut, release the pouch and glandes from the left hand.
16. Pouch and glandes will swing free but glandes should stay in the pouch.
17. Check for stray civilians and such.
18. Begin your wind-up and release.

Well it works for me.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

sounds logical!