The 7 Best Hunting Slingshots
Updated by · How we research
Braced wrist rockets and flat-band slingshots for small game, compared on bands, grip, sights and safety. The SimpleShot Scout XT leads. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A slingshot's bands and ammo decide how hard it hits, far more than its frame, so hunters usually swap light starter bands for heavier ones and move up to steel or lead shot before going after rabbits or squirrels. This guide is for small-game hunters and backyard shooters weighing braced wrist rockets against compact flat-band frames.
Editor's Notes
October 27, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The SimpleShot Scout is the only slingshot from the old list still worth buying, and in its current form, the SimpleShot Scout XT, it now leads. It fits more hands and grips than anything else here, and its bands change in a minute.
Most of the rest had vanished. Several old picks are no longer sold at all, and the ones still around are generic copies with nothing to set them apart, so we brought in the King Rat Havoc Hunter, the Daisy B52 and Daisy P51, the Marksman Laserhawk and the newer SimpleShot Scout LT2.
We skipped the new crop of magazine-fed, semi-automatic slingshots: they're expensive, their makers are new, and SimpleShot's own lessons say springs and gadgets don't make anyone more accurate. For the hunting advice, we leaned on SimpleShot's guidance on how much energy a clean small-game shot needs, and we checked federal recall records, which turned up old Barnett and Daisy recalls for models not on this list.
Earlier notes
October 21, 2020, by Luke Perrotta:
We removed the ZQQ Outdoor, MoreFarther Superpower and MoreFarther Set due to availability concerns. Instead, we've replaced them with the Elfirly Heavy Duty, Ucho Outdoor, and Easimgo Set, all of which are high-quality three-band options with folding handles. We were initially surprised by the evident popularity of this design, but found that it offers a combination of power, reliability, and versatility that most other constructions lack.
June 19, 2019, by Joseph Perry:
Hunting slingshots are not the same things you played with as a kid. In general, they are much more powerful with thicker, multiple bands being typical, and often include a sighting or aiming mechanism to help put your shot exactly where you want it to go. Built to last, they are designed to let you replace the rubber bands as they age so that you can always enjoy the slingshot's full intended power.
In this update, we re-evaluated each selection for quality and value and included both wrist-rocket and standard models to suit a range of preferences. Added the Huntcool Catapult and the SimpleShot Scout as solid, no-frills, y-style options that will appeal to purists with their basic design and reliability. Removed the Larel Vitor Velocity due to concerns about its availability.
Special Honors
SimpleShot Academy SimpleShot's free lesson site covers aiming, band selection and ethical small-game hunting, with plain advice on energy, ammo and shot distance that suits any brand of frame. simpleshot.academy
Wrist Brace Or Flat Band
The tradeoff is technique: your wrist does the work, so form matters more.
Most slingshots sold for hunting are one of two kinds. A braced frame, often called a wrist rocket, has a steel fork, round latex tubes and a support that rests on your forearm. The brace carries the pull, so a beginner can draw heavy tubes and hold steady. Braced frames are cheap and forgiving, but bulky. The Daisy B52 and the Marksman Laserhawk are classic examples, and HiConsumption named the Laserhawk III its best overall pick after two weeks of target shooting.
A flat-band frame is smaller and has no brace. Flat latex bands tie or clip to the fork tips, and you hold the frame in your fist or pinch it between thumb and finger. Flat bands draw more smoothly and shoot faster for their pull, which is why most serious shooters use them. The tradeoff is technique: your wrist does the work, so form matters more. SimpleShot builds the Scout family around this style, with bands that mount over the top of the fork or through it.
Pocket and folding card-style slingshots are too weak for game, and the new magazine-fed designs add springs and moving parts without a track record. We left both out.
Power Comes From Bands And Ammo
The frame steers the shot, but bands and ammo set its power. SimpleShot Academy suggests aiming for at least about 12 foot-pounds of energy on target for small game, and says heavier lead ammo is the most practical way to get there. It also warns against bands too heavy to draw smoothly, since a shaky release costs more than the extra speed gains.
Plan to buy heavier bands and real ammo with almost any frame. Kit bands are usually light, and clay balls are for practice only. Steel shot is cheap and reusable; lead hits harder for its size, but some places restrict lead for environmental reasons, so check before you buy. SimpleShot's power collection also stresses that closer, surer shots matter more than raw speed.
The rule of thumb from experienced hunters is accuracy first: shoot only at distances where you can hit a ping-pong ball nearly every time, and aim for the head. Latex wears out with use, heat and sunlight, so replace bands at the first sign of nicks or cracks, before they fail at full draw.
Safety And The Law
Wear shatter-resistant eyewear every time, and make sure anyone nearby does too. Bands most often break at the fork, which can send the band back toward your face. Never shoot at water, rock or metal, since steel shot ricochets. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled a Barnett Black Widow in 2015 after its wrist strap slipped off the brace, and a Daisy model in 2006 after its band slipped out of the frame. Neither model is on this list.
Braced slingshots are not legal everywhere. New York's Penal Law 265.01 lists a wrist-brace type slingshot among weapons that are a crime to possess, and some other countries restrict them too (Wikipedia). Whether you may hunt with a slingshot at all depends on your state or province and the species, so read your wildlife agency's current hunting regulations before you take one into the field.
How we researched this
We screened about 60 slingshots and looked closely at 18 current models and kits, read maker pages from SimpleShot, Barnett, Daisy and Marksman, a published hands-on comparison and SimpleShot Academy's hunting guidance, analyzed owner feedback for patterns, checked U.S. recall records, and read New York's weapon law on braced slingshots.
Frequently asked questions
Can a slingshot kill a rabbit or squirrel?
Yes, at close range with heavy enough bands, steel or lead ammo and a head shot. Practice until you can hit a ping-pong ball at your hunting distance nearly every time.
Is it legal to hunt with a slingshot?
It depends on where you live and what you hunt. Rules differ by state, province and species, so check your wildlife agency's current regulations. New York also bans possessing wrist-brace slingshots.
Which is better, a wrist rocket or a flat-band slingshot?
A wrist rocket is easier for beginners because the brace takes the strain. A flat-band frame is lighter, smoother and faster, but needs more practice.
What ammo is best for hunting with a slingshot?
Steel or lead balls. Lead hits harder for its size but is restricted in some places. Clay is for practice only.
Can a slingshot take down a deer?
No. A slingshot is a short-range tool for small game, and using one on deer would be cruel and is illegal in most places.
