The Atlatl reminds me of a 'toy' I used to make as a youth. My uncle taught me how to make it, it was called a 'swiss arrow'.
It was made from a length of bamboo slightly longer than an arrow - we used to cannabalise the cheap fishing nets you could buy in seaside shops.
One end was sharpened and behind the point a few wraps of masking tape were added for weight.
A split was made in the other end with a small hole drilled at the bottom to prevent the split running all the way through the shaft.
Flights were made with cardboard, typically from a cereal box, covered in wax crayon or candlewax for waterproofing.
Just below the flights, there would be a small notch cut.
We would then take a length of string, tie a knot in one end, then wrap this around the shaft 2 or 3 times just underneath the fletching - using the knot to secure it in the notch (not tying it on, but hooking the string under the notch).
To fire, the string was pulled tight down the length of the arrow, and you would hold the arrow just behind the tip.
Bringing your hand forward in a fast snapping motion would cause the string to propel the arrow, and because the string was wrapped around, this would cause a small amount of spinning to help with trajectory.
As I remember they went very far, but I can't recall testing the accuracy of them. I imagine with practice you could maintain a certain level of accuracy.
And after writing all of that, I have found a more eloquent description on wikipedia. Typical
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_arrow
It was made from a length of bamboo slightly longer than an arrow - we used to cannabalise the cheap fishing nets you could buy in seaside shops.
One end was sharpened and behind the point a few wraps of masking tape were added for weight.
A split was made in the other end with a small hole drilled at the bottom to prevent the split running all the way through the shaft.
Flights were made with cardboard, typically from a cereal box, covered in wax crayon or candlewax for waterproofing.
Just below the flights, there would be a small notch cut.
We would then take a length of string, tie a knot in one end, then wrap this around the shaft 2 or 3 times just underneath the fletching - using the knot to secure it in the notch (not tying it on, but hooking the string under the notch).
To fire, the string was pulled tight down the length of the arrow, and you would hold the arrow just behind the tip.
Bringing your hand forward in a fast snapping motion would cause the string to propel the arrow, and because the string was wrapped around, this would cause a small amount of spinning to help with trajectory.
As I remember they went very far, but I can't recall testing the accuracy of them. I imagine with practice you could maintain a certain level of accuracy.
And after writing all of that, I have found a more eloquent description on wikipedia. Typical
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_arrow
.
just finished making my blowgun! Works like a beauty! Not sure it shoots 200 yards but the arrows stick easily in trees every time! 
