Anyone got any good advice on Black widows?

[Hedge Kid]

Apologies if this is slightly off topic but I thought that some of you may be able to offer me some advice.

I would like to get something like this:  http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/ishop/877/shopscr111.html but having only ever used one once about 20 years ago, wondered if anyone had any top tips on:
Buying (good and bad brands, what to look out for)
Using (how not to take my eye out, good aiming technique etc)
Storing (perishability of the rubber straps etc)
Legality in the UK (including those under 16)

Thanks in advance for any tips! 

[Flash]

Is this for you or Hedge Kid Junior 

[DaveK]

Aaaah Barnett.

I used to sit next to a guy in school (his surname began with "J", mine with "K") and we became good friends. His father was a senior designer for Barnett, and he used to get us loads of gear. Catapults like the Magnum, and the then new Diablo, crossbows, all sorts.

Barnett made great stuff, it'll do what you want

[Hedge Kid]

Is this for you or Hedge Kid Junior 

If I say me, Nuph is less likely to tell me off  

To be honest, I'd love one and have always wanted one but I also think he'd have a great time with one...just wanted to be sensible with that   Son of Hedge Kid spends a lot of time in the middle of nowhere in the countryside amusing himself...thought he could practice his aim and then go and find dinner  

[Hedge Kid]

Aaaah Barnett.

I used to sit next to a guy in school (his surname began with "J", mine with "K") and we became good friends. His father was a senior designer for Barnett, and he used to get us loads of gear. Catapults like the Magnum, and the then new Diablo, crossbows, all sorts.

Barnett made great stuff, it'll do what you want

Sounds like puppy heaven 

I thought £9 was worth the gamble!

[DaveK]

I got my catapults muddled up there. Magnum wa sthe name for the extra strength elastics, so I did indeed have a Black Widow, before the Diablo.

They are both great catapults. Barnett used to have a promotional video where they pout a ball bearing through a car door with the Magnum bands, and a kid at our school used to be able to take birds out of trees easily with the Diablo. I was never that accurate 

£9 sounds well worth a gamble

[Benner]

I've got a Barnett somewhere.    Wonder where that went.

[Leatherman123]

I used to collect wrist rockets and my favorite (by far) were the Daisy and Trumark variety.

[Pacu]

my advice is don't hit your thumb with a penny used as a projectile.  I thought my thumbnail would never grow back.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Yep I've still got one, and there a brilliant bit of kit

As for shooting tip's, it's whatever works for you I'm afraid, as there's no hard and fast rules

If you can convince a load of friends to get one, then you can do paintball on the cheap with them

[Leatherman123]

A wrist rocket w/ a paintball would go a lot faster than a paintball gun.. It would be a very painful experience! I got shot with a rubber bouncy balls at a buddies party in the back and it hurt- bad! This was when I was young and stupid about eight years ago! 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

A wrist rocket w/ a paintball would go a lot faster than a paintball gun.. It would be a very painful experience! I got shot with a rubber bouncy balls at a buddies party in the back and it hurt- bad! This was when I was young and stupid about eight years ago! 

Pain is good, why else do you think I used one over a wousie paintball gun

[Mike]

I have a simple Trumark folding wrist rocket under $10.00, though Barnett does make some nice ones too. The rubber will be your biggest challenge as it does deteriorate. When not in use, keep it out of direct sunlight and carefully inspect for "rot" it prior to each use. Always have a spare set with you if you are out in the middle of nowhere. But be advised, some require that you let them sit for a few hours after band changes to allow your spit or rubbing alcohol to dry out. Wear safety glasses for your eyeballs.

I have heard the tapered bands provide a little more power. But I have also read where the more powerful the bands are, the more your accuracy will suffer. I use 5/16inch stainless steel ball bearings for ammo. Too small and they act like a knuckle ball in flight, too big and you don't get the velocity. You'll want to experiment with this to see what works best for you and your needs.

Saunders Archery has double banded wrist rockets which look pretty nifty too.
http://www.sausa.com/category.php?category=16

Most of all, practice and have fun!

Mike

[Hedge Kid]

Thanks Mike. I'll bear all that in mind. Could you tell me what a knuckle ball is please?

I'm not sure about buying ammo for it. I'm not sure how I feel about firing little balls of metal and plastic out into the world. I might just go with little pebbles - old school 

Mind you, having said that, paintball with them sounds wicked! I'm with you Mike, it's alllllll about the pain! And a black widow is a lot cheaper than a paintball gun!

Getting one in the ear was pretty unpleasant though. My mate got shot point blank in the back of the hand and it blasted the skin away  She's got a painball shaped splat mark cut out of her skin. I hope it doesn't tattoo 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Yeah paintball guns are pretty vicious

Another bio degradable source of ammo that works quite well are aniseed balls

And if you stick them in the freezer overnight they explode spectacularly on impact