I got a Big Shot, mostly because of my "new school" education that I am getting here at AS. Quite frankly, I didn't like it that well, because it is too difficult to pull hard enough to shoot very high, and more trouble than it is worth to just throw the ball for the easier shots. So it sat mostly unused.
Then I read (here at AS) about getting an archery release mechanism to assist in drawing the Big Shot. Since I only have three fingers on one hand, that sounded like a great idea.
I'm sure someone else has had this idea, but here is my addition: I added a tiny block & tackle system that allows me to easily pull the Big Shot as far as I want, then I can easily hold it with one hand to take aim, then I just squeeze the trigger for the final shot. It works very well. This makes it much more like shooting a crossbow than pulling a giant slingshot.
Some pictures:
The release, clipped to a short loop of 3.5mm pull rope cord.
The tiny block & tackle. This is attached to the pole with a prussic friction hitch that allows me to slide the anchor point up and down the fiberglass pole.
And here is a view of the whole thing cocked and ready to shoot. (no, I didn't really stretch the rubbers very far for this picture)
This beats the heck out of laying on the ground to hold the pole, aim, and pull the pocket back at the same time (or struggling to hold it and aim while standing). This way you can cock it, load it, then casually take aim and shoot it. I have a MUCH higher hit percentage when I use my trigger with pulleys.
Cost: $29 archery trigger from Cabela's, and less than $15 in two pulleys from Home Depot and engine starter pull rope that I had in inventory.
NOTE: Sometimes we get distracted after work by having fun lobbing rocks 150' in the air and watching where they come down. It's mesmerizing to watch them come down like little mortars, hopefully missing some of the stuff we shouldn't be shooting anywhere near. I think we'll get in trouble someday...
Then I read (here at AS) about getting an archery release mechanism to assist in drawing the Big Shot. Since I only have three fingers on one hand, that sounded like a great idea.
I'm sure someone else has had this idea, but here is my addition: I added a tiny block & tackle system that allows me to easily pull the Big Shot as far as I want, then I can easily hold it with one hand to take aim, then I just squeeze the trigger for the final shot. It works very well. This makes it much more like shooting a crossbow than pulling a giant slingshot.
Some pictures:
The release, clipped to a short loop of 3.5mm pull rope cord.
The tiny block & tackle. This is attached to the pole with a prussic friction hitch that allows me to slide the anchor point up and down the fiberglass pole.
And here is a view of the whole thing cocked and ready to shoot. (no, I didn't really stretch the rubbers very far for this picture)
This beats the heck out of laying on the ground to hold the pole, aim, and pull the pocket back at the same time (or struggling to hold it and aim while standing). This way you can cock it, load it, then casually take aim and shoot it. I have a MUCH higher hit percentage when I use my trigger with pulleys.
Cost: $29 archery trigger from Cabela's, and less than $15 in two pulleys from Home Depot and engine starter pull rope that I had in inventory.
NOTE: Sometimes we get distracted after work by having fun lobbing rocks 150' in the air and watching where they come down. It's mesmerizing to watch them come down like little mortars, hopefully missing some of the stuff we shouldn't be shooting anywhere near. I think we'll get in trouble someday...
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