Q. WHERE IS MY BULK AMMO?
A. Bulk ammunition ships separately from any other items you order. This is explained on the BULK AMMO page, but the reason for this is so that the other items you order do not get damaged during shipping due to the weight of the ammo itself. You will receive a separate tracking email for this, so please check your emails junk folder. Ammo shipping is free, but any other products on the same order will be charged regular postage rates, because they ship separately.
Q. DO YOU SHIP TO THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND?
A. Unfortunately we can no longer ship to the ROI due to anPost continually rejecting our shipments. We contacted them several times, but they were not able to provide a solution to the problem, and our shipments continued to be rejected. Sorry for any inconvenience, but we tried to resolve this many times.
Q. HOW DO I APPLY FOR MILITARY DISCOUNT?
A. Please send us a picture of your military I.D with the number blocked out. A picture of a recent bill or statement with your name and address on. The address must be the location where the orders will be sent. If the discount code is used with a different address, the order will be refused and refunded. Also please inform us of the email address you will use to make your orders. We can then activate your details on the system, and approve you for the discount code, which will be sent to you after approval. If you are a military vet, you can still apply for the discount, but please send a picture of your vets I.D card instead. This discount is currently only open to UK Military services. Please send all of the above relevant info to; cattyshackcustomerservice@outlook.com
Q. HOW LONG WILL MY ORDER TAKE TO BE SENT OUT?
A. All orders are processed and sent out on a next working day basis. Orders placed on a Friday will be processed and sent on the Monday (excluding Bank Holidays) 24 and 48 hour delivery options, are not a guaranteed timescale of actual delivery from the time you place the order. Once the order has been handed over to Royal Mail, we have no control over the delivery, so delivery times may vary, but usually 1 – 2 working days for First Class, and 2 – 3 working days for Second Class. Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays are not working days.
Q. I DID NOT RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION EMAIL
A. Firstly please check your spam / junk folder. If the email is not there, it is most likely you have entered your email address incorrectly, as all confirmation emails are automatically sent to the email address you entered. This will not affect your delivery in any way.
Q. WHAT CATAPULT SHOULD I USE?
A. You won’t go wrong with any of our in-house designs. However catapults really come down to personal preference, so there really is no definitive answer. I always advise to start out cheap. Besides, experimenting, upgrading, and shooting different frames is all part of the fun!
Q. I WANT TO START HUNTING. WHERE DO I START?
A. This is my most commonly asked question. If you’ve never shot a catapult before, my answer will always be the same; learn to shoot a catapult first. Please do not send us emails about hunting for a beginner. Beginners should not be hunting, until a good level of competency is achieved. These catapults kill with accuracy, so taking head and neck shots are a must. So firstly you must learn to be accurate, with plenty of practice.
The best way to go about this is to start with a light set of bands and smaller ammunition. There are two starter kit options in the products list, so either of those is a good option. A catch box is also a good addition at this point, because it will allow you to collect and re-use your ammunition. Spare bands are always worth having. Flat band isn’t the longest lasting material, and one band set can last up to 250 – 300 shots on average…providing you have it set correctly.
Q. WHAT IS BEST TO HUNT WITH?
A. Again, another very commonly asked question. People hunt with many different set-up’s, but I personally use 11mm steel, or 10mm lead, with a 0.85 or 1mm band. For those starting out, it is definitely not recommended to hunt at all, and also not recommended to start with this set-up. For a new user, you are very likely to run into problems, such as hitting the frame of the catapult, your hand, breaking your bands prematurely due to improper use, and very poor accuracy.
Q. WHERE CAN I HUNT?
A. You can only hunt on land where you have permission from the land owner. You cannot hunt on common land, on the roadside, in parks etc.
Q. WHAT CAN I HUNT?
A. Many people believe if you’re on permission, you can hunt anything, at any time, as long as it’s considered a pest species. This isn’t correct under the rules of the new General Licence. So just popping a Pigeon for the pot, whether it be on land you have permission to hunt over or not, is actually illegal. I would advise everybody to stay within the law, and read up on the ins and outs of the General Licence. If hunting any game species, be aware of the hunting seasons, and only hunt within them. Also pay attention to your ammunition. Waterfowl, such as ducks, must only be shot with steel shot.
Q. WHERE CAN I SHOOT?
A. You are free to use a catapult on common land (targets, not hunting), provided you are acting in a safe and sensible manner, and cause no threat or danger to the public. Catapults are legal, but can be classed as an offensive weapon if being used in an unsuitable environment. Common sense really needs to play a part here; recreation grounds, although common land, aren’t a safe option. Choose an open field, out of the way, where you can see all around you, and be aware of where your shots will land.
Q. WHY ARE MY BANDS BREAKING AFTER JUST A FEW SHOTS?
A. There can be many reasons why bands are breaking prematurely, and it is usually always down to user error. They are being used too short for the length you are trying to pull them. They are being pinched in between the catapult and the frame when you are shooting, causing splits and holes in the band, which of course then causes them to snap.
Q. HOW LONG SHOULD MY BANDS LAST?
A. A correctly set up band, should last around 250 shots. You can get more life out of bands if you use them to less than their maximum stretch potential. Also, conversely, if you push a band to it’s absolute limit, they will have a much reduced life-span, and snap prematurely.
Q. WHERE DO I START?
A. There are several options on the website. Starter kits and a catch box are the best option to learn with. A competition shooters set-up is most often very light bands, and small ammunition such as 8mm or 9.5mm. This allows the shooter to easily be extremely stable when taking the shot, allowing heightened accuracy. This is also beneficial for those starting out, because it allows you to concentrate on using and learning the correct form, technique, and repeatability to allow you to shoot accurately, and not hit the frame, or break your bands.
Q. HOW LONG DO I NEED MY BANDS?
A. This is something nobody can answer in one question. Band length comes down to the individual. Some like to use a band drawn to its absolute maximum, others like to use them to 90% and so on. It will also be different by which brand of band you are using, what thickness of band you are using, what the temperature is like (hot days, bands become stiff and do not stretch as much. Winter they become looser and stretch more) Your height and arm length play a huge role. It really is something nobody can answer without being very specific, and knowing exact details. The best way is always trial and error, from this you learn for yourself.
Q. WHAT IS MY DRAW LENGTH?
A. Draw length is the measurement from the tip of the catapult, to your anchor point, when the band is drawn back.
Q. WHAT IS MY ACTIVE LENGTH?
A. The active length, is the length of the band from the attachment on the catapult, to the attachment on the pouch, when the band is not stretched.
Q. WHY AM I HITTING THE CATAPULT?
A. It is very common for new shooters to hit the catapult (frame hit / fork hit) There is nothing wrong with the catapult, this is always down to user error. Main causes of this are incorrect holding of the frame, incorrect releasing of the pouch, and / or a combination of both. Pulling the hand away from the face when you release. Moving the frame into the line of the ball on release. Elbow position not parallel (either too high or too low) this will usually cause the ball to be sent upwards towards the catapult, causing a strike on the top fork; this is most common. This is all caused by incorrect technique, and will be made worse if you are trying to use a set-up that is too heavy for your current capabilities, or it is too strong for you to shoot with correct form and technique. There is a plethora of information on YouTube, on how to shoot a slingshot. I have a few on my own YouTube channel ‘Catty Shack Hunter’
Q. WHAT DO YOU HUNT WITH?
A. I mainly use the Catty Shack ‘EVO Field Pro’ with either a 0.85 or 1mm band, and 11mm steel or 10mm lead.
Q. WHAT DIFFERENCE DO TAPERS MAKE?
A. Tapers are used for several reasons. To increase the speed of the band, and also as a safety aspect. In normal use, (aside of damage to the band caused by the shooter) the band will begin to fail at the weakest part, which is near the pouch (the thin part of the taper) this means if the band snaps when you are drawing it back, the remaining part of the band breaks away from the face, and retracts towards the catapult…not your face. Safety goggles are always recommended anyway.