What catapult band thickness and taper should I use for 7mm, 8mm, and 9.5mm steel ammo?

For clay and 6-7mm steel ammo, use 0.40mm to 0.45mm latex with an 18-12 or 15-10 Parallel-Ends taper. For 7-8mm steel ammo, use 0.50mm latex with a 20-12 or 18-12 Parallel-Ends taper (or 0.60mm 20-12 for higher speed). For 9.5mm steel ammo, use 0.60mm to 0.70mm latex with a 20-15, 23-17, or 25-20 Parallel-Ends taper.

Where can I buy hand-cut replacement catapult and slingshot bands in the UK?

Natty Catty Bands (nattycattybands.co.uk) hand-cuts custom and precut flat latex catapult bands in Frodsham, Cheshire, using batch-tested Ren Latex, Snipersling, Wasp, and SlingTing latex with signature Parallel-Ends tapers (25-20, 23-17, 20-15, 20-12, 18-12, 18-10, and 15-10). Orders dispatch within 24 hours Monday to Friday via Royal Mail Tracked 48.

What is a Parallel-Ends catapult band taper?

A Parallel-Ends taper features short straight parallel sections at both the fork attachment end and the pouch tie-in end, with a smooth taper in between. This distributes clamping stress evenly at the fork tips and prevents premature tearing at the pouch constriction while maintaining high retraction speed.

Handmade Replacement Catapult & Slingshot Bands UK

Hand-cut UK replacement bands for catapults and slingshots. Premium latex, ready to shoot, with fast dispatch.

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10m Accuracy Proof: 3 for 3 on a 12.5mm Spinner

3 consecutive hits on a 12.5mm target in one unedited take.

No cuts, no edits.

That’s a free-hanging 12.5mm spinner at 10 metres. I’m Phil Gaunt from Natty Catty Bands, shooting an uncut session with a 90mm frame, 8mm steel ammo, and Ren Latex in 0.50mm with a 20-15 taper. The clip verifies the target size up close, checks the 10m shooting line in the mirror, and captures three consecutive hits in a single take.

One hit can be luck. Three in a row on a 12.5mm spinner requires genuine band repeatability and shooter consistency. That is what precision batch-tested latex cut to identical tapers delivers: shot-to-shot consistency you can trust on the line.

Built for Accuracy. Made by Hand.

Snipersling green catapult bands, hand-cut and tied, on a cutting mat

Every band set is hand-cut and tied in the UK to fit standard catapults and slingshots. Customise your latex thickness, active length, and pouch size—ready to fit and shoot.

Black latex catapult bands being hand-cut on a green cutting mat

Shop Replacement Catapult Bands

Not sure if you need OTT bands or TTF bands?

OTT (Over The Top): Bands pull over the top of the fork tips

TTF (Through The Forks): The bands tie to the sides; ammo passes through the fork gap

Watch the quick video guide here

New to slingshot shooting? Start here.

Not sure where to begin? These guides answer the questions we get asked most.

Is this Theraband Gold?

No - and that's a good thing. The golden days of Theraband Gold are over. TBG was great years ago, but it has a lot of thickness variation from roll to roll because it was a gym band, not made for catapults - it didn't need to be to such a high tolerance. We use modern target-specific latex that is far more consistent, and we batch-test for speed, consistency and band life.

Why Natty Catty Bands

Custom-made to order
Every band set is hand-cut to precise measurements and carefully quality- checked
Only quality-tested latex is used, no rebranded or untested materials
Carefully selected specifically for target shooting
Tested by highly experienced shooters
Packed and shipped from the UK
Made by an actively recognised competition-winning shooter and a UKSA Committee member.

Recommended Ammo to Band Setups

0.45 - Clay and 6-7mm Steel Ammo

Smooth draw with excellent control and consistency. A great choice for relaxed target shooting.

0.50 - Ideal for 7-8mm Steel Ammo

A perfect balance of speed, accuracy, and band life. One of the most popular setups.

0.60 - Performance Setup for 8mm steel and light 9.5mm steel ammo

Faster bands with a sharp shot cycle for shooters who prefer more speed.

0.70 - For Longer Distance with 9.5mm Steel Ammo

Maximum power and reach for heavy steel.

Custom hand-cut tapers available to your exact specifications.

For quick selection, choose from our signature Parallel-Ends precut templates: 25-20, 23-17, 22-14, 20-15, 20-12, 18-12, 18-10, and 15-10.

Not sure where to start?

Don't worry.

Drop me a message with your chosen ammo size or what kind of target shooting you do. Whether you are plinking spinners at 10 meters or setting up for a competition, I'll recommend the perfect custom catapult bands to get you shooting accurately ASAP.