Big Shot Launching Technique

chris_girard

chris_girard

Branched out member
Location
Gilmanton, N.H.
While looking through Wesspur’s 2011 catalog a while ago, I noticed on pg 25 that there is a picture of a TCC competitor using a technique to launch his throwbag with the Big Shot that I have never seen before.

Scott Nyuli is using his Big Shot with the sling & pouch head inverted up instead of in the usual way that the Sherrill directions show. Has anyone else used this technique, and if so, what are the advantages? I haven’t had a chance to try this method out yet with my Big Shot.
 
I lent Scott that bigshot and he says its more accurate that way. the problem is that if the bands break they smack you in the face instead of hit the ground. i would recommend
the usual way
 
[ QUOTE ]
I lent Scott that bigshot and he says its more accurate that way. the problem is that if the bands break they smack you in the face instead of hit the ground. i would recommend
the usual way

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not saying it won't happen but I've broken a few slingshot bands and they always break at the pouch connection, which is the weakest point in the system. When they break at the pouch no problemo for your face, sometimes your shot will still get over the limb.

So if you like to shoot horns up, eye protection and before firing a quick inspection of the bands where they meet the slingshot head is a smart idea.

I still prefer horns down, habit I guess.
-AJ
 
Another potential accident is if the bag hits the horn and wraps back. The bag could come flying back at the shooter. This is less likely to happen with horns down.-
 
I use it horns down and the throw line never gets tangled...when I have tried the other way the cord get screwed up passing over the top and my body is in the way.
 
for really big shots/ shots just out of reach. .. shots that i know i can hit ,, but a few extra feet might help, put the base of the pole on something hard.. a rock ,, a paver , an outrigger pad,, a peice of slate or wood,, something soild ,,, shots from grass just dont peak like, they could..
 
[ QUOTE ]
for really big shots/ shots just out of reach. .. shots that i know i can hit ,, but a few extra feet might help, put the base of the pole on something hard.. a rock ,, a paver , an outrigger pad,, a peice of slate or wood,, something soild ,,, shots from grass just dont peak like, they could..

[/ QUOTE ]

Good point, I'm in the woods alot, duff doesn't make a great firing base.
-AJ
 
My BS is setup with a release trigger and two-four foot section. My preference is to shoot shotgun style and use the horns as my front site. Adding a shoulder stock would be my next modification...hmmm...that's how I can use the crutch tops!
 
First, let me say that I have always (even now) fired the big shot horns up. For a few years, I didn't even know it could be fired horns down until I saw others doing it that way.

Now let me tell you about perhaps my most embarrassing injury. It should be good for a chuckle (and maybe a lesson for some). I was working out of a truck I don't usually use and in the process of transferring gear to it, I forgot my 8' big shot pole. I got to the job and had to improvise by using a 6' pole propped up on a rope bag. No problem there except that the pole I was using was old and had a burr or something in the female ferrule that wouldn't allow the big shot head to fully seat and lock with the pin in place. It was about an inch and a half (or so) into the female hole and I figured that was good enough (big mistake). I had the big shot fully drawn back while very precisely aiming it. Then it happened. The big shot head sort of folded out of the female end of the pole. The metal female ferrule bent over on one side. The entire big shot head sling-shotted back and hit me in the forehead. It rotated 360 degrees and the portion of the big shot that actually impacted my forehead was the edge of the metal pipe (male end). I was luckily wearing my safety glasses so no injury there. I was wearing a ball cap (not my climbing helmet). Which, in a weird way, may have been a blessing in disguise because as the big shot rotated back toward me, it folded the bill of my hat down so that the cardboard/fabric hat brim served as a thin buffer between the metal and my skull. Even with the bill, I got split open, blood pouring, saw stars, and ended up with a very large knot (see attached photo).

So there you go buzzers, I've finally confessed it. My stoopid/silly accident. It's kind of freeing actually.
 

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Chewie,

Posting this story in Awakenings will free you even more!
smile.gif


You have a vivid memory of what happened. Especially for a head-thwoker!

I'm glad you're OK...and free-er!
 
Here's my slingshot rig being fired, fast forward to 1:24 for the slingshot sequence

On high shots the trajectory isn't flat, I've found no difference aiming horns up or down. Human brain has amazing ability to estimate trajectory, think of a baseball pitcher throwing a fastball or even more impressive a curveball, they're not looking down a gunsight to throw a strike.

My slingshot is not a Big Shot, it's a little lighter and has slightly less diameter bands. Pole is ten feet, breaks down to 3 sections, each section approx. 33".

Trigger is the pricey but very reliable Wichard snap release, clips into a mini D rated biner on a plastic sleeve at the top of the bottom yellow pole section. A Klemheist hitch attached to the sleeve/biner is pushed down by the sleeve to load the sling. The sleeve can be pushed down full length of the pole for max power.

I've gotten a bag over a 135' limb in winter conditions at max power (slings were pre-heated in a camp stove), in the summer only need half power to get a 10oz bag 90-100'
-AJ
 
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