By Anthony Yeary

No matter how old, tools continue to evolve as human ingenuity expands. The knife for instance, one of the oldest  tools in history, is evolving rapidly in just the last few decades. The sling, and by extension the slingshot, are also very old tools,Recently, a new take on it has developed. This newest perspective, the Pocket Shot, is a variation of that old tool, utilizing a natural rubber latex pouch as its method for propulsion instead of cord. Holding the device between your thumb and index finger, you load a projectile into the pouch, pull back and release. While not a toy by any means, it is a fun recreational sporting good none-the-less and is manufactured here in the US.

 

The basic Pocket Shot kit includes a nylon ring (which is the main body of the device), two pouches- a standard black one and a blue Pro Pouch, as well as an instruction sheet. Ammo is sold separately, but as the Pocket Shot is a take on the slingshot, ball bearings are perfect, as are airsoft pellets, paintballs and other improvised projectiles like stones. As I said earlier, the device is a nylon ring that your hand grasps in an “OK”-like gesture. The nylon pouches attach to it with a locking ring and there is a thread-on cap that doubles as a wrench to secure the pouch to the ring. When the cap is threaded on, you can store ammo inside it and the cavity is airtight.

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I tried it out with 5/16th inch ball bearings, ¼ inch ball bearings, airsoft pellets and stones. Although I have no way of measuring the speed of the projectiles, I believe that the ball bearings and Airsoft pellets will achieve the 350 f.p.s.+ velocities that they claim in their advertising. The stones wouldn’t, but obviously they are limited by their total lack of aerodynamics. With all forms of ammunition I found it very difficult to be accurate at first. I attempted to “aim” the Pocket Shot conventionally despite it not having any sights and was mostly unsuccessful. From the hip, aiming intuitively, I was far more successful. With practice I was able to keep my shots grouped on the back of a pizza box at a distance somewhere between 15 and 20 feet. If I kept at it, I’m sure I could do better, but I doubt that I could get good enough to hit small game with it.

 

The Pocket Shot is an interesting product that definitely draws your attention. Although not as precise as a standard slingshot, it is quite fun to play around with. Not that I’m bowing to political correctness, but remember to observe the same rules of safety that you would apply to a normal slingshot or a firearm, as this tool is not a toy and has the velocity to seriously hurt someone. If you’re searching for something new and unique to carry in your store, take a closer look at the Pocket Shot. It’s a one-of-a-kind product that will definitely draw attention.

for ore information on ordering a Pocket Shock, click here.