When it comes to slingshots, the concept has evolved far beyond the Y-stick with a rubber band. It has become a profile-shooting rubber pouch and, more recently, versions that fold into a “card.” The latter solves two major cons of slingshots: accuracy and consistency, thanks to a fixed band pull and a built-in rail that guides the ball bearing for repeatable power.
You’d think that would be it. Nope. Some enthusiasts in China have upped the game further with assault rifle- and crossbow-style slingshots. One example, called the “Automatic Slingshot Rifle,” has a bullpup-style assault rifle profile with a foregrip, a main handle with a trigger, and a “magazine” that runs horizontally between the stock and the main body. A spring-loaded pusher lines up the next ball bearing after one is fired. This particular example appears to be 3D-printed, or at least part of it is.
All this while, a rubber band and pouch that fire the projectile downrange are kept within the “rifle.” Arming it is much like a pump action. Pulling the handle all the way back, away from the foregrip, loads a ball bearing into the “chamber” where the “pouch” is and also stretches the rubber band. Squeezing the trigger releases the band and sends the projectile downrange.
Because it has more length to stretch, it is able to use a stronger band, which results in very powerful shots. Accuracy has been increased, too, now that the ball bearing has to run through a length before going on its own toward the target. It is safe to say a slingshot like this could hurt a lot.
There are also a bunch of crossbow versions. The concept is simple enough. Instead of bowstrings, they have rubber bands, and instead of arrows, well, they shoot ball bearings. You can check out this YouTube channel for a bunch of such ball-bearing-firing contraptions.
Images: YouTube (QS Slingshot).
