question .... RE: ANST - Gulf War Archery and Seige

[Mark.S Harris]

j'lynn yeates wrote:
> here's a thought ... racket ball rackets lobbing tennis balls for
> those wishing to be early period "slingers" (grin)
> 
> 'wolf

Yes, I have considered doing the sling thing. I had not gotten as
far as determining the appropriate ammunition, though I imagine I
was thinking of the tennis balls. I have been corresponding with
a non-SCA individual who has been doing some work with slings. If
I remember correctly, he was consistantly hitting a man-sized
target at a hundred feet. But he was using rocks, not tennis
balls.

My understanding is that it does take some practice to get this
good, though.

And (of course), for those interested in more info, take a look
at this file in the COMBAT section of my Florilegium:
slings-msg        (34K)  3/22/99    Slings as weapons. combat and hunting.

The Florilegium is at: http://www.florilegium.org

I have pasted a few snippets from this file below.

Stefan li Rous
stefan at texas.net
----------

> From: brainjunky at aol.com (BrainJunky)
> Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
> Subject: Slings- a follow up
> Date: 26 Oct 1996 00:28:03 -0400

> Have been using old cassette tapes from my dictaphone as the projectile.
> They fit nicely into the cradle and make a big noise. Not bad aerodynamics
> also.
> 
> I start with an underhand swing to get speed then I go over hand in a loop
> above my head. Then release.
> 
> And you know what, Those buggers can really fly.
> 
> Also, accuracy is not that bad. I have a tendency to go high. But, other
> than that I'm consistently hitting a 1 and 1/2 ft square at 30 paces. I
> suspect that slings don't require the years of practice that is often
> stated.

> Rob


> From: "Ballard, Lynn" <Lynn.Ballard at UNISYS.com>
> To: "'lindahl at pbm.com'" <lindahl at pbm.com>
> Subject: The venerable handsling
> Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 15:25:04 -0600

<snip>
> 
> The baseball throw is superior to the "whirl around the head"  and
> underhand method of throwing. The throwing hand is held to the chest
> with the pouch in the extended "aiming" arm.  The projectile takes one
> helical orbit back, over the head and behind the back of the thrower.
> The throwing hand falls behind the head like a quarterback's.  At the
> same time the thrower steps forward and throws overhand, releasing like
> a baseball.  The trajectory is low and fast but can be adjusted for
> distance.  No twirling is involved.  I can throw a good rock 500 feet on
> a good day.


> Subject: slings
> Date: Tue, 02 Feb 99 12:01:25 MST
> From: "cbaedit" <cbaedit at gtii.com>
> To: "Mark.S Harris (rsve60)" <rsve60 at email.sps.mot.com>

> I have never been able to cast a stone, the size of a small hen's egg, much
> beyond a 100 yards, but up to sixty yards, the impact of the stone is
> impressive; I believe that within the sixty yard range, the stone would
> shatter an arm bone.
> 
> Ron Fortier


> Subject: RE: ANST - Combat slings at Gulf Wars?
> Date: Thu, 04 Feb 99 15:44:37 MST
> From: "Christopher D. Baran" <rrhms at texoma.net>
> To: "'ansteorra at Ansteorra.ORG'" <ansteorra at Ansteorra.ORG>
> 
> Last year I was allowed to sling during Gulf Wars.  I have been
> using a sling in the SCA for about 6 years now and have found that using a
> regular split tennis ball I can get as great a range as an archer, though
> not as great as accuracy.  I am able to hit a man sized target at about 35
> yards (when I am in practice).
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