Ask Nathan Q15 - Why Don't My Thicker Slingshot Bands Shoot Faster?

[@canvandal4503]

Spot on!!! Went thinner a while back and improved my personal performance noticeably! Great advise! 👊

[@205jab4]

100% correct i shoot 3/8 ammo with .5 simpleshot black (gen2) with 10 in active and 24mm to 14mm taper and get speeds of about 290fps with an extremely light draw. Most people think of .5 to thin for 3/8 steel but if you dial your taper in, then you can really get some speed out of it. Saying all this, my 3/4 butterfly draw has alot to do with me getting the speed I do. The gen2 of simpleshot black is really fast and the cold doesn't hurt it that much. I recommend it. Also sumeike .5 and .55 is really good. Nathan, i will get to shoot with you one day!.

[@jojojaykay]

how do you know the speeds you’re getting?

[@205jab4]

@@jojojaykay I actually checked it on my crono and get about 290fs. It was a typo

[@MangaGamified]

@@205jab4 What if my prongs are only 20mm no-tie clamp style, could I fold the 24mm, 2mm on each side so it will become 20mm, what do u think?

[@nathangrueber9834]

Im using 4 x 1mm bands. Huge speeds!

[@raptorone7327]

I suppose the issue with a thinner band is that they will wear out quick? So a bit more maintenance needed and ensure you are checking your bands every time you shoot, no one wants to loose an eye for our hobby! 🤔😂

[@nathangrueber9834]

True but rarely does a band break at the front (less movement). Poutch end flaps around and cuts itself. Usually your ok. But too bigger poutch causes wind drag and more inertia to resolve afterward(band slap). Means your tunings off. Simple wear glasses always. The 1 day you dont is the day you get a cut face

[@romanista77]

Great info. Personally, I’ve had best results switching down to single 1642 tubes.

[@danpost4755]

Great explanation, Nathan!

[@csuzlimania9922]

Thanks Nathan! In Hungary are still "experienced" 🤣 guys, wich are shooting 8mm steel with 1.2mm bands tapered 25/15. Even i show them chrony results. Good video. I ve shared it

[@nathangrueber9834]

I just changed my slingshot frim 4x 10mm tubes to 4 x 1mm flatbands. I noticed if you run two bands one inside the other the internal friction is like tubes. So i arranged the bands so both are tied to the poutch at the same time but the post ends are tied one ontop of the other to keep them away from eachother. And the diference was huge! Way faster than tubes! Internal friction isnt just a myth its a huge thing! Im using 1mm flats cos thats the most i can pull. Thyr exercise bands.

[@timmy101able]

You can put multiple bands on at a time?

[@nathangrueber9834]

@@timmy101able yes but depends why? For example the maximum retraction speed of the bands(un loaded)never changes so more bands dosnt mean speed it stays the same. But more bands means more pulling power for bigger things. The initial pull is slower till the front (forks) end of the taper is pulling. Smaller tapers at the poutch end make it faster but never faster than the unloaded band. Too smaller taper can make it unsteady. So just match the band to the ammo. Like a bullet; too much powder makes it unsteady; more dosnt mean faster it'll never be faster that the burn rate of your powder. The bands are your powder and case. Disposable

[@forksandspoons7272]

Just thought I'd share a trick I learned. When I need to tie a pouch with no tools, I wrap and tuck the pouch to the side of one fork. Then stretch the fold across the gap and wrap and tuck it to the opposite fork. Both hands are now free to tie it. It's a lot of tying and untying, but it let's you fix a band anywhere.😉

[@nickcook8523]

It’s even easier with flipclips. Just loosen the screws and align the clips TTF style, then tuck the fold under the outer edge of one clip and tighten the screw a little bit. Then pull the pouch across to the other fork and push under the other clip. It’s easier if you have the thumb screws installed because you don’t have to keep reaching for a screwdriver.

[@forksandspoons7272]

@@nickcook8523 True, the same is true with my Ocularus. I'm shooting homemade frames at the moment. This method is definitely more of a pain with a basic frame, but it does work with most frames. I've seen some natural forks with a huge gap. I doubt this work with those. You simply can't stretch the rubber that far.

[@richyoung4051]

i just carry extra bandsets screw that noise lmao. im too impatient for that 🤣

[@knowhy9238]

Your the man thank you 🙏🏼 Nathan

[@simpleshot]

Thank you!

[@jcismysavior9126]

Thank you

[@jameskellam2980]

If I understand this right, you use the thinnest bands that give you the most accuracy? Is there a chart that shows best thicknesses for differnt size ammo, from say BBs up to 5/8? Or wouldn't it make more sense to adjust the thickness of the bands to the weight, not size, of the ammo? After all, a 3/8 clay or plastic is far lighter than 3/8 lead. Interesting video. Makes one come up with gazillions (that's a real number) of questions.

[@simpleshot]

The bands need to be matched to the ammo weight. Here is a link to our recommended ammo sizes for our bands and tapers. simple-shot.com/pages/slingshot-faqs#reamaze#0#/kb/product-support/flatband-and-die-cut-tapers

[@dalroache]

Please when talking about ammo size please state it in mm please as I don't understand 7/8th is etc thanks great explanation on this video cheers from the uk

[@harisyoung4110]

you can just type it like this in google, 7/8 to mm..

[@MangaGamified]

google 7/8" to mm, sometimes they mention many so google the most popular 5 they mention and place it in a .txt or excel

[@julioseviltwin2304]

25mm is 8/8 3mm is 1/8

[@robboberts6899]

Hello, can you tell me where to find the video you mention @ 2:40? I don't see the link. Thanks.

[@simpleshot]

Sorry about that. Here's a comparison of heeeeavy double bands vs. much lighter bands. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZnHm5-mor-KsLM This is the one Nathan had in mind.

[@hippo_3976]

@@simpleshot Hey man, What kind oh f bands do the axiom ocularis have?

[@danielgreen3715]

Right Nathan ..Good points..But ..Can you realistically layer your Bands Cut to taper to get your speed and Velocity up using heavier Ammo say 10 mm steel and above or same in lead preferred but by layering say .5 bands at say 20 to 10 mm taper or something like that but 2 or even more Bands at a time ?

[@simpleshot]

No, even though the amount of latex is the same, since they are still technically different, they will also shoot differently.

[@ZwillenBendiger]

It is possible to shoot as fast with thicker bands For example i used 0.35 latex (250-21-7) for .177 bbs in order to reach 425 fps for target shooting ( * such a bandset don't lasts very long due to the agressive taper) Than i used 0.9 latex with a cut of 250-5-3 and it reached the same speed with a much less agressive taper (tried also with 0.7 250-6-3, was even a bit faster) The same principle also worked with 5/16

[@simpleshot]

Yes, but there will be a sweet spot. As you said the .7mm was the fastest but with another ammo size it will be different, perhaps a .6mm thick latex will be best with different ammo weight. It all depends on the ammo you are using.

[@ZwillenBendiger]

@@simpleshot yes, thats true

[@simpleshot]

It will also vary with latex. If after top speed and performance a chronograph is a must.

[@ZwillenBendiger]

@@simpleshot yes, thats also true, i started the sport with highspeedshooting (i don't recommend starting with highspeedshooting in first place), a chroni was one of my first investments

[@simpleshot]

Nice!

[@Wldmanuk]

Here's another question training for competition I've heard some shooters train aiming without ball just use pouch put ball on target and practice this way then add ball and put it on target don't shoot but setting your mind so you can aim directly on target when you do actually shoot at target is this true or just false info

[@daddystein8839]

Sigh I just made this mistake......wish I'd seen this sooner it's already shipped

[@simpleshot]

I am so sorry you seen this after. Thank you for your order.

[@anoyyinggamer2442]

Can you use the bands that come with your slingshots for pest control like rats and things like that

[@simpleshot]

Absolutely. The bands we include are very powerful when matched with ammo properly. They will shoot 3/8 with a vengeance. Be VERY careful of ricochets!

[@MangaGamified]

can i ask what pests?

[@James-wd9ib]

So, what if you took a big old thick fat band and shred it into a bunch of little bands?

[@simpleshot]

That can work but thinner latex retracts faster thus giving a better speed.

[@Wldmanuk]

Hi Nathan what's best latex thickness for competition ie 10m with 7 and 8mm ballbearing. I've went from .65 to .45 band thickness and finding .45 latex better for accuracy with 8mm ball than .65

[@AnubhavAnkitGeorge]

Sir so for 8.9mm steel ammo what thickness band I should go for. Should I go for .65mm or .70mm thick band. Kindly respond

[@simpleshot]

We believe that you cannot go wrong with 6.5 or 7mm! In fact, we do not even sell these as different options. We love geeking out over the details, but honestly, latex has a thickness tolerance of that makes the .05mm practically undetectable.

[@AnubhavAnkitGeorge]

@@simpleshot ok sir thanks 🙏

[@williamjoyce6553]

I use triple but thin tubes and there perfect

[@bensigl3766]

I cant seem to find videos on youtube of flat bands on slingbows. Is there a reason why tube bands might work better (or worse) for a slingbow?

[@simpleshot]

Tubes last longer but many shooters will make their own arrow flat bands with 1mm thick latex.

[@dustinh4175]

So i just bought some 1.5mm bands not knowing anything and was wondering if .45 lead balls would be a good match

[@simpleshot]

Depending on the taper you use but yes, I would go much thinner.

[@kamotetopz6776]

Quick question, when shooting 9.5 clay balls, would it be good to use 1mm thick bands?

[@simpleshot]

We shoot both the 3/8" and 1/2" clay with the Target Shooting Flat Bands (5/16"). They are made with a .5mm thick latex. A 1mm thick latex would need a very narrow taper but it could be done.

[@gerardo_may]

I bought 1mm bands and they don't have much power and they don't have any precision, the shots go everywhere and never reach the target :(

[@simpleshot]

Thicker latex is for heavier ammo. It will not give better speeds with light ammo. This is a common misconception.

[@Sporek]

Dozens of articles, forum comments, videos on youtube and I still don't know what kind of band set you can buy would give me the highest fps count possible. I never thought that slingshooting is that complicated... 😐

[@simpleshot]

In a way it IS that complicated, yes. One bandset will shoot small ammo at ridiculous speed, inaccurately. It will shoot a large ammo accurately, but slower. Match your ammo to your bands, then tune them in for the fastest FPS possible. We tested our bandsets thoroughly to give them the matching they have here: simple-shot.com/accessories/2s1000xx/slingshot-flatband-bandsets. This matching will get you fantastic FPS. Keep shortening them to increase elongation and speed. Remember, the greater the elongation, the shorter the band life.

[@Sporek]

@@simpleshot Thanks for the comment 😉👍. Hey, I wonder what kind of ammunition is good for those thickest 1mm bands of yours? 25mm steel or something like that?

[@simpleshot]

@@Sporek Experimentation is the fun of it. :)

[@michaelneiltandingan1536]

Can you give me some advice, because I'm into hunting rats at home, but I'm not sure what is best thickness of latex for hunting....

[@simpleshot]

That will depend on the ammo size you are using but the .7mm thick latex is a pretty common thickness. You can make narrower tapers for lighter ammo or wider tapers for heavier ammo. The same applies for all latex thicknesses with taper adjustment. For example a .5mm thick latex at a wider taper may still not be enough for the ammo you are shooting but it will shoot heavier ammo than a .5mm latex using a narrow taper.

[@michaelneiltandingan1536]

@@simpleshot thank you sir.....

[@simpleshot]

You are very welcome!

[@alexblue6991]

Someone said you can youse gym bands has anyone tried this?

[@simpleshot]

TheraBand has been loved for years, although in recent years it has fallen far behind with new elastics beating it soundly on every level. Some are truly unusable as they do not contain latex at all. Resistance is NOT retraction. Slingshots rely on the retraction of latex to work. Many new exercise bands have great resistance, but no retraction and will NOT work for slingshots!

[@alexblue6991]

@@simpleshot I thought so thanks for verification

[@simpleshot]

You're welcome!

[@shadowybubble3774]

First