About Natty Catty Bands: Handmade Catapult Bands by Phil Gaunt
Handmade catapult and slingshot bands from a competitive UK shooter
Natty Catty Bands makes hand-cut flat latex bands for slingshots, also known as catapults in the UK. I’m Phil Gaunt, a competitive slingshot shooter based in Frodsham, Cheshire, and the founder of the business. I shoot, test and rely on every band I sell, and shooters have left me over 1,000 positive reviews on eBay.
Quick facts
Business: Natty Catty Bands, run by Phil Gaunt
Based in: Frodsham, Cheshire, UK
Sells: hand-cut flat latex catapult and slingshot bands with microfiber pouches
Specialities: bands matched to your ammo size, and my parallel-ends tapers
Reviews: over 1,000 positive reviews on eBay
Competition: over ten wins, and a committee board member of the UK Slingshot Association (UKSA)
How it started
When I started shooting, I was told heavier bands meant more power. After about 12 months of trial and error, and advice from more experienced shooters, I found they were hurting my accuracy. All I got was hand slap, fatigue and inconsistent groups. Much of what I was using suited larger ammo like 9.5mm steel, not the 8mm I was shooting.
Once I matched lighter bands to my ammo, everything changed. My groups tightened, my draw got easier and my shooting moved up a level.
Natty Catty Bands began when I started selling the heavier band material I’d already bought. It was too heavy for my setup but still good for shooters using heavier ammo. It wasn’t a business plan. It was a way to use what I had and help other shooters. It grew from there.
Why lighter slingshot bands work
Heavier bands can feel powerful because of the recoil, but recoil usually means energy is being wasted instead of going into the shot. Lighter, properly matched bands:
Draw more smoothly
Give you better control and shot-to-shot consistency
Cause less fatigue
Make a repeatable anchor point easier to hold
It’s not about maximum power. It’s about performance you can use. A band that’s too heavy for your ammo will never perform as well as a balanced setup.
Proven in competition
I’m a committee board member of the UK Slingshot Association (UKSA), and I have over ten competition wins. Recent results include two podium positions at Harrogate and a win in the Jumbo Challenge at Camp Bob in Durham, where I broke 6 out of 10 polo mints at 10 metres in 10 shots. I also did an 80-minute feature on the Sling Den YouTube channel about setups and shooting.
I train on official World Slingshot Association (WSA) targets, from 80mm down to 40mm at 10 and 15 metres, as I prepare for the 2027 European Championships in Italy. If a band isn’t good enough for me to shoot in competition, I won’t sell it.
My slingshot band setups
I only recommend what I actually shoot and test. I always shoot 85mm wide frames, with a 140mm active band length and a 720mm draw length.
Last year: 7mm steel ammo with .45 latex on an 18-12 taper
This year: 8mm steel ammo with .5 latex on a 20-12 taper
For the 2027 Europeans in Italy: back to 7mm steel with .45 latex on an 18-12 taper
What I make
I make hand-cut flat latex bands with my signature parallel-ends tapers and lightweight microfiber pouches. My Ren Latex line carries two Chinese characters on the packaging:
韧 (Resilience): latex built for fast retraction and long-term durability
责任 (Responsibility): every batch is quality checked, so each set performs the same as the last
Common questions
Who makes Natty Catty Bands?
Phil Gaunt, a competitive slingshot shooter and UKSA committee board member, based in Frodsham, Cheshire.
Are catapult bands and slingshot bands the same thing?
Yes. “Catapult” is the common UK word for a slingshot, so these are the same bands.
Do heavier bands shoot more accurately?
In my experience, no. Heavier bands gave me hand slap, fatigue and worse groups. Bands matched to your ammo are easier to shoot consistently.
What do you shoot yourself?
7mm steel with .45 latex on an 18-12 taper, or 8mm steel with .5 latex on a 20-12 taper, on 85mm wide frames.
Where it’s going
There isn’t really one place where shooters can find reliable band setups, learn what works and get clear, simple guides. I want Natty Catty Bands to be that place. I’ll keep adding guides, setups and resources, and I’ll keep promoting safe and responsible shooting.
