I posted a slingbow for sale yesterday and the post was removed as there was some doubt about legalities. I received a PM from Tony this morning asking if I would put up a post to try and bring some clarity to what a slingbow is, their legalities and uses so here it is:
What is a slingbow?
A slingbow is a cross between a catapult/slingshot and a bow in the crudest sense. They originated as slingshots that were modified to enable the user to fire arrows as well as standard ball ammunition. This evolution diversified a small platform into a very effective tool for its purpose.
Are they legal?
Presently in the UK a slingbow is legal to own and use for recreational purposes, however they have not been specifically tried in legal cases and thus no precedent has been set either way. They are also legal in most European countries as well as worldwide in places such as Canada, America and others.
It must be reiterated that hunting with an arrow within the UK is illegal under the Wildelife and Countryside Act as amended 1981 and slingbows cannot be used in the arrow shooting form for hunting. A catapult firing normal ball ammo is however a useful hunting tool
So whats the use?
Specifically within the UK they are for recreational purposes only. I personally shoot mine alongside practicing with my normal compound and recurve and have fun in doing so. In the USA/Canada slingbows are used as a very useful hunting tool and have even been proven to rival bows for hunting small, medium and large game.
What does one look like?
To answer this question none are the same. Most slingbows are self built by the owner, starting off with a catapult frame, adding an arrow rest and knocking point to enable arrows to be shot. This diversity results in many different forms aiming to achieve the same purpose.
I have spent 2+ years of trial and error trying to come up with a entry slingbow that is reasonably priced to allow people to start in the hobby without risking injury from slingbows they have made themselves. The photos of our model are below:
For anyone also interested, I founded the UK Slingbow Archers Association in 2013 to help promote the safe use of these items, raise awareness as well as promote the hobby in the UK to enable more people to experience slingbow shooting in parallel to catapult shooting. The UKSAA are also looking to hold shoot events with the British and UK catapult associations at their upcoming events.
So please feel free to ask any questions and I will try my best to answer them.
What is a slingbow?
A slingbow is a cross between a catapult/slingshot and a bow in the crudest sense. They originated as slingshots that were modified to enable the user to fire arrows as well as standard ball ammunition. This evolution diversified a small platform into a very effective tool for its purpose.
Are they legal?
Presently in the UK a slingbow is legal to own and use for recreational purposes, however they have not been specifically tried in legal cases and thus no precedent has been set either way. They are also legal in most European countries as well as worldwide in places such as Canada, America and others.
It must be reiterated that hunting with an arrow within the UK is illegal under the Wildelife and Countryside Act as amended 1981 and slingbows cannot be used in the arrow shooting form for hunting. A catapult firing normal ball ammo is however a useful hunting tool
So whats the use?
Specifically within the UK they are for recreational purposes only. I personally shoot mine alongside practicing with my normal compound and recurve and have fun in doing so. In the USA/Canada slingbows are used as a very useful hunting tool and have even been proven to rival bows for hunting small, medium and large game.
What does one look like?
To answer this question none are the same. Most slingbows are self built by the owner, starting off with a catapult frame, adding an arrow rest and knocking point to enable arrows to be shot. This diversity results in many different forms aiming to achieve the same purpose.
I have spent 2+ years of trial and error trying to come up with a entry slingbow that is reasonably priced to allow people to start in the hobby without risking injury from slingbows they have made themselves. The photos of our model are below:
For anyone also interested, I founded the UK Slingbow Archers Association in 2013 to help promote the safe use of these items, raise awareness as well as promote the hobby in the UK to enable more people to experience slingbow shooting in parallel to catapult shooting. The UKSAA are also looking to hold shoot events with the British and UK catapult associations at their upcoming events.
So please feel free to ask any questions and I will try my best to answer them.
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