In Video, Hussein Uses Slingshots and Bows to Rally Iraqis for War (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/24/world/middleeast/24saddam.html?ex=1322024400&en=02841b1e1b1e85db&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss)

By SCOTT SHANE
Published: November 24, 2006

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 — As the world worried about Saddam Hussein’s quest for nuclear and biological weapons, he took time out to discuss with his top advisers the merits of a decidedly more primitive arsenal: slingshots, Molotov cocktails and crossbows.


In a previously undisclosed video, apparently shot in the months before the American-led invasion in 2003, Mr. Hussein, the Iraqi dictator, beams as military officers display and demonstrate low-tech weapons spread on a table in a ceremonial room. Whether the episode shows genuine preparation for an insurgency or was merely a bizarre propaganda exercise is unclear.

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Ever been hit by a projectile shot out of a slingshot? Those things hurt! OMG, imagine a slingshot loaded with an atomic bomb! I betcha that'd leave a mark.

Ever been hit by a projectile shot out of a slingshot? Those things hurt! OMG, imagine a slingshot loaded with an atomic bomb! I betcha that'd leave a mark.
Yeah, my friends and I used to shoot each other with our wrist rockets using tightly folded paper as ammo. It definitely left some impressive welts. I'm not sure how far that leg operated slingshot would lob an atomic bomb but it might be a good idea to take some precautions to prevent tightly folded paper from falling into the hands of the insurgents.

Paper was a good always available ammunition. We were surprised how hard it was to find good slingshot rocks when you actually start to look for them. I remember spending a couple bucks on the actual slingshot ammo they used to have (or still might) in Walmarts, the shiny ball-bearing looking shots - expensive, but man, you could do some damage. We got creative at one point and started using pennies (made cool whistling noises) and frozen grapes. The grapes did a surprising amount of damage.... :)

Crab apples work great as well but were a bit on the hard side as far as using them on each other. They'd go through a beer can quite nicely and they flew nice and straight. I know what you mean about the steel shot -- that stuff was amazing although it was a tad on the pricey side given the amount of shooting we did.

y favorite slingshot by far was my trusty Falcon II (http://www.shoptheoutdoors.com/B0000T74FU/Falcon_II_Slingshot_40Model_Falcon_II41_2012.html) . A couple of years ago I was pining for it and bought another one. Damn those things are fun!

Damn you Klath, now you made me go out and look for the one I had.
I bought the Walmart special - the el'cheapo <a href="http://www.outdoorsuperstore.com/product.asp?prod=280851">Marksman generic folding slingshot</a>. I think I owned one without the brace at one time or another and ended up with quite a few welts because of it. Eventually I graduated up to manual BB guns, then CO2 BB guns, and then I think Nintendo took over (granted I did have the laser pistol and the SNES bazooka cannon thing). I didn't get a real firearm till I was 25ish - very late in life for a native Texan. Man, I was/am a tomboy :P

We used to roll up Mylar into darts and blow them out of PVP pipe. But we were careful to burn the tips, because once someone blew one of the darts through an apple. And we wore safety goggles too. :p

Blow guns and thumb tacks.

We used to roll up Mylar into darts and blow them out of PVP pipe. But we were careful to burn the tips, because once someone blew one of the darts through an apple. And we wore safety goggles too. :p
I used copper piping for a blow-gun and nails wrapped with tape as darts. I was always amazed at how accurate they were.

We used to roll up Mylar into darts and blow them out of PVP pipe. But we were careful to burn the tips, because once someone blew one of the darts through an apple. And we wore safety goggles too. :p

That sounds sooo cool.