Bands & Ammo Guide
Choosing the Right Slingshot Bands
Slingshot bands come in different thicknesses and tapers. The right setup depends on draw length, ammo size and the type of shooting you enjoy.
At Natty Catty Bands, our bands are cut for smooth draw, good speed and reliable accuracy for target shooters.
Common Band Thickness
.4 & .45
Light draw and fast shooting. Good for lighter ammo and relaxed shooting. Suited to clay, 6mm and 7mm steel ammo.
.50
A great all-round band thickness used by many target shooters. Suited to 7 & 8mm steel ammo.
.60
Stronger bands suited for heavier ammo or higher power setups. Suited to a powerful 8mm set up and a nice 9.5mm steel ammo.
.70
Heavy duty bands designed for powerful setups and larger ammo such as 9.5mm steel and bigger.
Understanding Tapers
A taper means the band is wider at the fork and narrower at the pouch.This improves efficiency and helps the bands accelerate the ammo smoothly.
Common tapers include:
15-10 Light setup for light ammo
18–12 A smooth draw with excellent accuracy.
20–15 A stronger taper used for more heavy setups.
Example Target Setup
A common setup for target shooting might be:
18–12 taper
Around 130–150 mm active band length
7 mm steel ammo
This type of setup gives a good balance of speed, control and accuracy.
Custom Band Sets & Signature Builds
I provide fully bespoke band sets tailored to your specific draw length and shooting style. While I can cut to any specification, I maintain a precision inventory of our most popular Accelerated Speed Tapers:
Available Precision Parallel Templates
15-10, 18-10, 18-12, 20-12,
20-15, 22-14, 23-17, 25-20
The "Parallel-Ends" Advantage
Every set I produce from my signature Parallel-Ends templates. Unlike standard tapers that can look messy or uneven when shortened, these are designed for maximum performance and aesthetics:
• Clean Optics: Even if you need to trim up to 20mm off the length, you retain the parallel profile at the tips.
• Clear Sightline:- No "ugly" excess material hanging out of the clips to obstruct your aim.
• Consistency:- Enjoy the aggressive snap of a speed taper with the professional finish of a custom shop build.
Whether you're looking for flat-band speed or a specific hunting taper, I’ll ensure your setup is clean, fast, and precise.
Choosing Ammo
Steel ammo is the most common choice for slingshot shooting.
7 mm steel:- Popular for target shooting and practice.
8 mm steel:-Slightly heavier and delivers more impact.
Clay ammo:-Good for safe backyard shooting where steel may not be suitable.
Always inspect your bands before shooting and replace them if they show signs of wear.
Choosing the right band setup can make a big difference to your shooting experience. Start with a comfortable setup and adjust as you gain experience.
This guide is intended to help shooters understand common setups and enjoy the sport safely.
Band Length Guide
The correct band length depends on your draw length and preferred stretch ratio.
To find this out measure from your slingshot fork tip to where you anchor E.G face (short draw) or further behind your head (long draw).
If you shoot with a longer draw than 800mm you will be best going down a band thickness E.G you shoot 8mm steel a .45 band will be better than a .5 or .6 thick band due to the length.
Most slingshot bands perform best when stretched around 5–6 times their relaxed length regardless if they stretch further.
Example guide:
Draw length 700 mm → Band active length 120–140 mm
Draw length 750 mm → Band active length 130–150 mm
Draw length 800 mm → Band active length 140–160 mm
Draw length 850 mm → Band active length 150–170 mm
Active length refers to the band length from fork tie to pouch tie before stretching.
Maximum Stretch Of The Bands Doesn’t Always Mean Maximum Speed From Your Bands.