Main Discussion Area > Primitive Skills
Hand thrown spear better than the Atlatl?
edgemaster:
Atlatl is objectively better. It's more accurate, has more stopping power behind it, and moves faster. But if spearchucking is your thing, that's fine too.
Pappy:
John that is about my limit with my selfbow, so I would say that's pretty good. ;) :) Most good hunters should be able to get with in 20 yards of a critter that want to kill. :)
Pappy
Josh B:
Well said Rich. Your post got me to thinking about a pretty common hunting practice that is used in my area. A large group of hunters splits into 2 groups, walkers and blockers. The blockers set up in ambush around a clearing or natural funnel such as a gully. The walkers go to the opposite end of the woods that are being hunted and spread out in a line and start walking through the patch of woods. They push the deer ahead of them towards the blockers in the kill zone. In essence, it's the same tried and true method of hunting that has been employed for millennia. The weapons have changed of course. They're using high powered rifles instead of spears, but the basic idea has not. This same tactic is used for pheasant in the grasslands and fields using dogs and shotgun. Man has hunted this way for along time even if the weapons have advanced the tactics have not. Just a somewhat related observation that popped into my head while reading through this. Josh
John32r:
--- Quote from: edgemaster on December 04, 2015, 08:39:10 am --- It's more accurate,
--- End quote ---
Evidence, please.
--- Quote --- has more stopping power behind it
--- End quote ---
No it does not.
--- Quote ---, and moves faster.
--- End quote ---
Relevance?
John32r:
--- Quote from: Zuma on December 03, 2015, 05:43:32 pm ---Interesting.
I am not sure if Montezuma and the Aztecs had atatls
or not. Although they did use spears as did all warring
folks up until the first world war. Still used in a lot of jungle areas.
There are many pre Colombian atatls found throughout Central America.
The Alaskan natives used atatls well into historic times.
Masai warriors have killed full grown male lions with thrusting and
throwing spears in historic times. Although steel tipped.
I threw the javelin on the high school track team.
Had fun but wouldn't want to make a living with either weapon.
Zuma
--- End quote ---
I guarantee you a high school javelin thrower can throw a heavier javelin than an atlatl dart for farther distance and with more accuracy than an atlatlist. The maximum hunting range for the atlatl appears to be 20-30 yards, ancient Romans threw spears for twice that distance. At that range an atlatl dart wouldn't even have the kinetic energy to break skin. The atlatl is essentially a scam.
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