sling shot

[Marcus Mummius]

Salve omnes,

We would like to make some sling bullets at an event this weekend. We don't want to use lead. Should we use clay or loam?

Has anyone done this before? Any tips?

Thanks in advance,
Vale

[Tarbicus]

I can send a meat pie from a shop near where I live. I can barely stand up after eating one.

[aitor iriarte]

Jef, better if you go to a river and choose suitable rounded pebbles. Is that what we use for our displays and you don't even need to bother about recovering them after each display :wink:

Aitor

[Marcus Mummius]

Thanks guys

But what we want to do in the first place is bake the sling bullets. I don't know if anyone will be throwing them, we'll be in a marketplace surrounded by crowds of people so I don't think it will be safe to do (might be fun though lol). :wink:

So my question is: use clay or loam? Anyone done this.

Meat pies are an option but too much work...

[Primvs Pavlvs]

Jef I would use clay since its readily available in most craft stores.

[Wes]

I'll take one of those meat pies!! I had a few tasty ones when we were there last June.....great time!!

Wes

[pvblivs cordvs]

Hi Jef and others.
If you want to make double-conical sling shot bullets out of clay you'll need to dry them in the sun.
And that just might work with the weather we're having now.
Otherwise in NL and B, not a chance.
That's because you'll need the water content for the weight and density.
That's how the old bullets were done anyway.
Baking them makes a bullet dry and brittle.

What also works, and that's one I tried.
Put a pebble (for weight) in some self hardening clay and let it dry slowly.
Not too fast; the clay shrinks and will break if you dry them out too fast.
But please do not use them around anything living or anything you don't want damaged.
Remember a slingshot bullet is capable of killing.
You wouldn't fire a gun or throw a sharp spear either.

What would be an option as well, and makes a much better story, is make a lead bullet mould.
The ones that have been found usually make eleven at once.
In my humble opinion that must be one of first examples of mass production.
If you don't have a picture of one of those moulds I can scan it for you.
(I hope)

Cheers,
Wim/Cordvs

[Marcus Mummius]

Such a picture would be very much appreciated, Wim. You have my email adress :wink:

Lead would be very easy to do at an event too. Melting it on an open fire is easy.

I know how dangerous slings are. I once almost hit someone full in the head with a large stone while slinging (it was at sea and a heavy wind burst caused my sling to entangle while I was swingin it). It missed by a hair.... I don't want to experience that again :?

[Hibernicus]

We've cast glandes in TIN at events.

...and you can hammer them easily, give them that faceted surface some of the lead Glandes have.

[M. Demetrius]

Here's a wild idea for a batch of sling bullets fast:

Get a meat ball pliers. Cooking stores have them.

Make clay balls. They'll all be the same size and weight. Don't bake them, just dry them. If you can't find them after throwing, it's ok. It just turns back to mud. Yes, they'll be spherical, not oblate, but they'll still fly straighter than odd-shaped rocks.

[Peroni]

I've seen groups using tomatoes as ammo in combat re-enactment!

They fly really well, and you can eat the ones you find for lunch! :wink:

[Marcus Mummius]

I've seen groups using tomatoes as ammo in combat re-enactment!

They fly really well, and you can eat the ones you find for lunch! :wink:

:lol: and you can do it with white tunics so they have a nice tomato colour afterwards.

[Peroni]

Don't let the public see you with them though, as the Romans did not have tomatoes! :wink:

[pvblivs cordvs]

Too bad the Romans didn't have tomatoes.
For a second I thought we had finally cracked the riddle of the red and white tunic colours.
:lol: :lol:
Cordvs/Wim

[Magnus]

Ha!

IF the romans had tomatoes, just think...they could have used ketchup instead of that stinky garum!

And pizza!