Best Survival Slingshots | Tested & Reviewed
While most shooting sports require a lot of practice, slingshots take the cake. They are impressively versatile and powerful, allowing you to hunt small animals, sling lines, and set traps, but you’ll need to know what you’re doing and have the right slingshot for the job.
I’ve been testing and reviewing slingshots for a few years now, but I’ve used them since I was a kid. For this review, my son helped me determine the best-performing slingshots by testing their accuracy, ease of use, and versatility.
My top recommendation is for the SimpleShot Scout XT, which has unparalleled performance and versatility.
If you want something less expensive, the humble Daisy B52 is great for beginners and can even be upgraded with SimpleShot bands down the road. I also suggest a unique pocket slingshot and a bomb-proof option with great durability.
Contents (Jump to a Section)
In this update of the best survival slingshots, I’ve added a pick for durability, added many more pictures, and now show more testing data. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Disclosure»
Best Survival Slingshot
SimpleShot Scout XT
Versatile, Powerful, and Well Made
The top model from the top slingshot manufacturer is the one you want to trust with survival on the line.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
SimpleShot is the slingshot brand if you are serious about it as a hobby, sport, or survival method. They have a huge catalog of slingshots, any attachment or accessory you could think up, and plenty of target practice equipment.
Specifications
- Frame Material: Polycarbonate
- Band Material: Flat latex
- Frame Color Options: 4
- Fork Gap: 2.19″
- Configurations: OTT/TTF, trim for draw weight
- Size: 4″ W x 5.25″ H
- Weight: 6.0 ounces
- Manufactured: USA (near us in Asheville, NC!)
The Scout XT is one of their most popular models, and for good reason. It is easily configurable with the FlipClipX band attachment system that lets you adapt it to a huge range of ammo, draw power, and shooting styles.
How it Shoots
After testing all of the models, both my son and I gravitated towards this one. It’s a blast to shoot, easy to configure, and amazingly accurate. It is easy to grip and balances stability and fork gap width well with its design.
It comes with everything you need to figure it all out. One downside is that you need a flathead screwdriver to adjust or tighten the clamps that allow it to adjust from Over the Top (OTT) to Through the Forks (TTF). That doesn’t matter much if you carry a multitool.
With huge versatility and superb quality, it’s easy to see why the SimpleShot Scout XT Slingshot tops the rest.
Best Budget Slingshot
Daisy B52
Collapsible, Inexpensive, and Effective
The Daisy you grew up with still stings with the best of them and gets the job done for beginners.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
Many of us have grown up with a Daisy wrist rocket in our back pocket, and they are still sold. There have been a few upgrades, like a wrist stabilizer, and there are a few new models out there now.
Specifications
- Frame Material: Steel
- Band Material: Latex tube
- Fork Gap: 3.21″
- Configurations: OTT, trim for draw weight
- Features: Folding wrist support
- Size: 3.5″ W x 8″ L collapsed
- Weight: 8.5 ounces
Seasoned slingshot pros may balk at my recommendation here, but these things continue to work, have easily replaceable parts, and are dirt cheap!
How it Shoots
The B52 unfolds to support itself on your forearm, giving you a pretty good grip angle from the get-go. The yellow tube that comes with it will only last a couple of hundred shots, but they are easy to shoot and incredibly forgiving with the wide fork gap. It doesn’t have the best accuracy, but it also surprisingly doesn’t have the worst accuracy either.
For its low price, it is surprisingly effective and fun to shoot. You can also reconfigure it with SimpleShot flat bands (especially if the stock band wears out or breaks) to have it perform even better.
If you are looking for an inexpensive beginner slingshot, the Daisy B52 Slingshot is still the best option.
Best Pocket Slingshot
The Pocket Shot
Small, Lightweight, and Versatile
The often imitated and rarely duplicated Pocket Shot is a novel slingshot with a wide range of usefulness.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
The Pocket Shot made waves a few years back, as it is a simple concept that doesn’t seem like it should work as well as it does. Instead of using latex tubes or straps, it uses a latex pouch to launch projectiles.
Specifications
- Frame Material: Polycarbonate ring
- Band Material: Latex pouch
- Fork Gap: 1.60″ (inner ring diameter)
- Configurations: Blue pro pouch option for draw weight
- Features: Watertight storage, zipper case
- Size: 2.3″ D x 1.3″ H closed
- Weight: 2.0 ounces
Holding the ring gives you plenty of control, although accuracy and proficiency with this unique slingshot definitely takes practice. The survival versatility the design provides is just as intriguing as shooting with it.
Use the small pouch to keep things dry, as it is waterproof with the cap. Alternatively, you can use it to hold a small amount of liquid. Its uses beyond a simple slingshot make it an interesting choice for survival kits.
How it Shoots
To put it bluntly: it’s the hardest slingshot you’ll shoot. The good part is that it’s very easy to use, and it is extremely safe- there isn’t a way the ammo, pouch, or ring could hit you when you are using it.
Unfortunately, it also has lackluster power and abysmal aim when compared to traditional slingshots. There isn’t a great place to aim through, and gripping the ring gets uncomfortable quickly when you are drawing the pouch back far.
Even for all its shortcomings in its main function of being a slingshot, all of the versatility it brings can make up for it. At just 2 ounces, it makes sense as a water-tight container first and foremost, with the slingshot secondary. Plus, you could always get luckier than we did in the accuracy testing.
With a versatile design, The Pocket Shot is a unique choice for EDC and survival kits.
Most Durable Slingshot
Stainless Rams Horn
Simple, Accessory-Laden, and Durable
This simple cold-rolled steel slingshot is virtually indestructible and comes with plenty of practical accessories.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
When you aren’t plinking with this heavy-duty slingshot, you can use it as a hammer or an impromptu pair of brass knuckles.
Specification
- Frame Material: 304 stainless steel
- Band Material: Latex tube & flat (4 total)
- Fork Gap: 1.47″
- Configurations: OTT, flat straps with buttons
- Features: Storage pouch
- Size: 3.9″ W x 4.8″ L
- Weight: 6.9 ounces
This entire slingshot is a cold-rolled 0.35″ stainless steel bar twisted into a ram’s head shape and wrapped with grip tape. Tubular bands pop in through the bottom of the fork holes, and they seat in the top notches for an OTT configuration. You can use flat bands with it as well, using the included plugs.
The frame is high quality and the most durable you’ll find. The bands will wear out eventually, after a couple of hundred shots on the included flat bands and several hundred on the tubes. It also includes 100 colored clay balls as ammo and a drawstring pouch with a belt loop.
How it Shoots
This slingshot is a bit harder to handle than other slingshots we tried, due to its grip length, narrow fork gap, and grip contour. Even though the grip is contoured to your hand, it doesn’t fill out my palm enough to make it as stable as other slingshots when you draw it far.
Despite the shape, it did not twist as easily as I thought it would, and it was easy to sight through the band notches with the tubes in the OTT configuration. With a slightly larger grip, this model could contend for the overall best, but that would also add some significant weight. Even though it wasn’t our favorite to shoot, I still recommend it for anyone looking for a bomb-proof option.
Grab a Stainless Steel Rams Head Slingshot if you want one that’ll be on this Earth long after we’re all gone.
Comparison Table
| Survival Slingshot | Recommendation | Price* | Material | Fork Gap | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simpleshot Scout XT | Best Overall | $46 | Polycarbonate | 2.19″ | 6.0 oz |
| Daisy B52 | Best for Beginners & Budgets | $8 | Coated Steel | 3.21″ | 8.5 oz |
| Pocket Shot | Best Lightweight for EDC & Kits | $25 | Polycarbonate | 1.60″ | 1.9 oz |
| Stainless Rams Horn | Best Durability | $22 | Stainless Steel | 1.47″ | 6.9 oz |
| Simpleshot Hammer XT | $50 | Polycarbonate | 2.31″ | 7.2 oz | |
| Tops Sling | $195 | 1095 Steel | 2.13″ | 6.7 oz |
How I Tested
Slingshots are designed to shoot projectiles, so practical testing involved lining up shots on a target and letting loose. Not all of them were as accurate, so that helped me evaluate the various slingshots with accuracy and how easy they were to draw and shoot. I also had my 7-year-old son with me, who shot each one as well.
Here are the specific tests for this review:
- Shooting Accuracy: I stapled a 5-target paper to a large piece of cardboard and shot the slingshots at the target from a distance of 25 feet.
- Ease of Use: Drawing and shooting each slingshot, along with my son, allowed us to rank how easy each slingshot was to use and fire.
- Measurement: I measured the slingshot sizes, fork gaps, and weights with a yardstick, digital calipers, and a digital scale to compare against manufacturing specs. I always list my own measurements rather than the manufacturer’s.
- Assembly: I put the slingshots together in every possible way to see how easy they were to configure
Shot power was very dependent on the straps, the ammo, and both my sons and my draw strength.
Why Trust TruePrepper
A slingshot can be an effective hunting tool in the right hands (just look at Fowler), but it’s also useful for a variety of other survival tasks, like line throwing, self-defense, and even trapping. I’m Sean Gold, and like most boys, I shot a Daisy slingshot as a kid growing up. Since then, I’ve accumulated several slingshots over the years, mostly to augment survival kits rather than using slingshots as a hobby.
I also brought in my 7-year-old son to try out the various slingshots for this review. He had a lot of fun shooting them, picking out his favorite models, and configuring them for different ammo types. We ended up agreeing on the overall best, but the wrist stabilizer of the Daisy did help him draw further for more power. This review gave me another opportunity to review shooting sports safety with him, and it was great to share my love of survival gear and testing with him for an entire day.
Beyond shooting wrist rockets in our backyard, I always push reviews further by collating manufacturing specifications and checking them against my own measurements for even more comparison points.
Analysis & Test Results
The best survival slingshots have a few features to look for:
- Value
- Performance
- Durability
- Size & Weight
- Versatility
When you get the right blend of these, you can find the perfect slingshot for hunting, slinging guide wires, and even self-defense. Below, we break down what each of these features means for the slingshots that truly set themselves apart.
What is the Best Value?
The amount of money you spend on something like slingshots shouldn’t blow out your entire budget. There is a wide range of prices in just our picks, so there is no need to spend beyond your means.
You never want to spend too much money on one resource, even when it comes to a survival weapon. It’s better to diversify your spending to make sure you are covered for a wide range of scenarios.
Performance
The performance of a slingshot depends on several design features, the bands used, the ammo, and the shooter. To look at it in my testing, I split performance up into power and accuracy.
Power
Slingshots typically have as much power as you can muster, given the limitations of the bands and the ammunition you are using. You typically want to adjust your bands’ draw weight to your specific type of ammo, as you can quickly get diminishing returns with ball bearings.
Most slingshots list a max speed of 350 fps (feet per second), but practically, we see 120-170 fps. Pistols range between 750-1500 fps, so there is a big difference in speed.
Slingshots can use various sizes of ammunition since they aren’t limited by a chamber and a barrel. A larger, slower-moving projectile can transfer just as much energy (or more!) than a smaller, fast-moving projectile.
Accuracy
The fork gap (distance between the forks) on a slingshot directly affects the accuracy and stability. Wider gaps are more forgiving but reduce accuracy, while narrow forks require precise band and ammo matching.
The Daisy B52 has an extremely wide fork gap, while the stainless ram’s horn had the smallest we tested. Despite that, the Scout XT had the best accuracy, and the Pocket Shot had the worst.
Durability
As with any survival gear, you need your slingshot to last. Having replaceable parts is a start, but having high-quality parts is better. Typically, the bands break when you are drawing the slingshot to take a shot, so broken equipment could mean a missed survival opportunity.
All of our picks use latex bands and strong polymers or steel for the frame. Frames are rarely the issue when it comes to durability, but moving parts and bands can wear out.
Size & Weight
Even for hunting and target practice, you’ll want a slingshot that isn’t too bulky or heavy. It’s similar to bows, in that holding it out and drawing it repeatedly will wear you out over time. In survival situations, you’ll want to conserve that energy, not burn it up using a slingshot that unnecessarily weighs over a pound.
Slingshots will also be stowed in a kit, so size matters a bit. Being flat and lightweight for the most part helps- any slingshot is much more portable than a bow.
Versatility
Versatile slingshots can do more than one function, use a wide range of ammo, and/or can be adjustable for different pull weights/draw lengths.
All of these make a slingshot more useful in more situations. Being able to quickly modify, replace parts as needed, and stow them away in a small profile all set the simple slingshot apart from other shooting equipment.
How to Use a Survival Slingshot
You can use a survival slingshot for all sorts of survival-related tasks in addition to hunting.
Warning: Slingshots can be dangerous to you and others. Be aware of what is behind your target and wear appropriate PPE, like protective eyewear.
One of our favorite uses is slinging a wire up over a high limb for communication equipment or running a rope. You can also use the components of a slingshot for various tasks- the latex bands are especially versatile.
Zachary Fowler (from the Alone survival TV show) proved his expertise with survival slingshots and makes great tutorials now:
Who Needs a Slingshot?
For most people, slingshots are far from a survival necessity. Even with years of training, there are more reliable methods for hunting. That didn’t stop Fowler from selecting one as one of his 10 items on Alone as he went on to win the competition.
He is exceptional with a slingshot, though, and if you don’t have the countless hours of training Fowler’s put in, you can’t realistically expect his results.
If you elect to put one in a survival kit, we would suggest :
The reusable and generic ammo make them slightly better for:
Although we don’t consider them essential, don’t sleep on their usefulness in practicing small game hunting, working on accuracy, and just getting outdoors in general.
Sources & References
All of our experience and the testing we do to determine the best survival slingshot are useless without listing our research sources and references. We leaned on these for the book knowledge that we paired with our hands-on testing and practical survival experience:
Batista Santos, C. (2020). Hunting Practices Among the Indigenous “Truká” in the Semiarid Region of Brazil. Amazonia Investiga. Volume 9. Issue 31. Pages 127 – 147. (Source)
Franklin, A. (1996). Australian hunting and angling sports and the changing nature of human-animal relations in Australia. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Sociology. Volume 32. Issue 3. Pages 39 – 56. (Source)
Skov, E. (2013). Experimentation in Sling Weaponry: Effectiveness of and Archaeological Implications for a World-Wide Primitive Technology. University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Theses and Dissertations. (Source)
Conclusion
Besides being useful for survival, slingshots can also be fun. Plenty of people pick them up as a hobby or even as a target sport. There is a wide range of prices, so there is hardly a barrier preventing you from trying one out.
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