Henry Rifle Forums

Wanted something to plink off the back porch with, and read an article in American Handgunner by Dr. Dabbs... had to have one and ordered it online. No Permit needed, no FFL... it came in and I quickly found I could hit targets as far away as 20 yards.... it's a .38/9mm caliber but silent.


Yup, a Barnett Havoc Hunter Slingshot. I ordered the CLAY practice ammo, as well as a supply of the metal 38 "Hunting" ammo for the fun of it. I am just plinking with the thing, but the reviews said the hunting stuff is more accurate. This thing is very well made, but... I forgot I have had several hand injuries and the surgical tubing is STRONG and the wrist support on this one presses RIGHT on the implant in my left wrist. I just let it hang, and shoot without it. It has fiber optic sights UNDER the arms in the handle and on one of the supports. It folds up into a compact package for carry or storage in a backpack or pouch.


I have NOT figured out how to apply the sights yet, and have been using the calibrated optic eyeball to aim. I am getting better. My daughter has issues with varmints around her huge horse barn and indoor riding ring, so I will likely give her THIS one and she'll order me to "Ambush" model with the lighter surgical tubing and NO wrist brace. I like the quality, and have been having fun with it. I like the dissolving clay practice ammo. (it's magnetic though, you can collect it with a magnet and reuse it if you so desire.) Some hang up an old sheet to catch it and do so. There are parts available, replacement bands, and bulk ammo. Everything is also available on Amazon. The prices are very fair. IMHO.


https://barnettcrossbows.com/collections/slingshots


Anyone else playing with slingshots again in their adult youth?

I had one similar but much simpler long ago, may still be around somewhere but the last time I saw it the surgical tubing had deteriorated. These seem reasonably priced, might order one to play around with. I wonder how the sights will work once you figure them out, I got pretty accurate with my old one and I was just shooting rocks. I don't see the practice ammo at your link, is it on Amazon?

Now that is a hi-tech sling shooter!

I bought it on amazon. Search "clay slingshot ammo."
There are various brands and quality available, I read the reviews, and bought in bulk for practice.

As for the sights, I am learning to float the target above the two fiber optics on top of the grip and my hits are improving. I may move the sight on the left arm to the right side so when I'm holding the slingshot sideways, you know - Gangsta - I can float above that one as well. I'll figure it out.

Looks like some fun there marine. Pests beware.

BrokenolMarine wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 11, 2024 3:29 pm

As for the sights, I am learning to float the target above the two fiber optics on top of the grip and my hits are improving. I may move the sight on the left arm to the right side so when I'm holding the slingshot sideways, you know - Gangsta - I can float above that one as well. I'll figure it out.

I've always had a "Wrist Rocket" slingshot/catapult on hand. They are a lot of fun. I've watched several videos of professional catapult shooters and there are some who are really good at it. They all hold them Gangsta style and from what I've gathered, that is the proper way to hold and aim them.
I once took a squirrel out of a tree at about 10 to 15 yards...lucky shot for me, I'm sure. I'll have to look into that ammo you mentioned.

This Oct. stop at a fireworks stand and see if they still sell the small round crackers that detonate on impact. Used to use those. Generally not lethal, but the blast, shrapnel, and noise gets their attention.

Very Neat! Reminds me of the days when I was a kid and we'd hunt squirrels in the cemetery in town. There were large areas that they had not yet set up for gravesites, and it was really the only wooded areas around, so that's where we went. The Wrist Rocket was our big gun, and we'd make smaller slingshots from wire coat hangers and elastic bands that could shoot a BB pretty well. We'd take turns with the wrist rocket, we only had the one. Everything was fired instinctively, which is what it sounds like you're doing too. You can get pretty good doing that. We'd spend a while down by the little stream that ran through the cemetery collecting nice roundish pebbles for our ammo. I once bought a bag of white marbles and those things worked like tracers from the slingshot, you could see that white marble the whole way.
Looks like a lot of good fun ahead, sweet!

My favorite ammo for my slingshot was MARBLES.........They hit hard.

I have several hundred marbles that I had collected over a lifetime. I have them in a square glass container that used to sit in the window of my office to cast light into the room. Now they sit on the railing of the porch for the same purpose. I have 38 caliber ball bearings for "Hunting" ammo, but I am mainly just plinking to kill time. If I have varmints, I have a CZ 455 with a nikon scope that shoots dime size groups at 50 yards.


I'm having fun learning to shoot the Havoc.

Grumpy is a bada$$.


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9ieWrWLji ... eHBlcnQ%3D


I remember seeing this Years ago and being impressed. He appeared on Carson.

WOW! Rufus is awesome.

Yup, rufus is the man.

I took the Havoc to my daughter to use in her barn for vermin since I have been using it with the wrist brace hanging straight down. I can't use it on my arm as it puts pressure on the prosthetic the inserted when I broke my wrist a couple years ago. I have been practicing, and been getting better.

Because of the wrist issues, and the arthritis in both hands, l ordered the Ambush model as a replacement. No wrist brace and the slightly weaker bands. Less stress on the wrists. I'm just plinking. I'll post a review when I've had some time with it, it's due on Monday.

BrokenolMarine wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 15, 2024 8:43 pm

Yup, rufus is the man.

I took the Havoc to my daughter to use in her barn for vermin since I have been using it with the wrist brace hanging straight down. I can't use it on my arm as it puts pressure on the prosthetic the inserted when I broke my wrist a couple years ago. I have been practicing, and been getting better.

Because of the wrist issues, and the arthritis in both hands, l ordered the Ambush model as a replacement. No wrist brace and the slightly weaker bands. Less stress on the wrists. I'm just plinking. I'll post a review when I've had some time with it, it's due on Monday.

Will be looking forward to your report Jim! BTW, you have inspired me to break out the old "Wrist Rocket"... It's been a while.

I am enjoying the slingshot. The arthritis wasn't. Hoping the lighter bands will help.

I hope the lighter bands give you better luck marine. I might have to get my sling shot out too.