Key Takeaways:
- G-10 is a laminate of fiberglass and resin that is now being used in high-end slingshots.
- Its strength, durability, and satisfying heft make slingshots easy to shoot and heirloom-quality. G-10 slingshots are excellent for all shooters from beginners to pros.
- SimpleShot offers most of their most popular models with G-10 frames, and they are a great way to level up your slingshot game!
G-10, a high-tech laminate sometimes mistaken for wood, has made its way to slingshots, and it’s quickly earned the favor of shooters worldwide. They love it for its rugged resilience, solid strength, and premium feel that gives shooters a world-class experience. Today I’ll show you what G-10 is, why it’s perfect for slingshots, and which G-10 slingshot will be best for you. Let’s jump in!
What is G-10?
G-10 is a laminate made by impregnating fiberglass sheets with epoxy resin, stacking them together, and under high heat and high pressure, curing them into a solid block. In its most basic form, it takes a translucent jade green color. Originally it was made for circuit boards, which is why the motherboard in your computer is green! But G-10 can be dyed almost any color, and when it’s sculpted, the sheets of fiberglass inside it reveal themselves almost like wood grain. In addition to its good looks, G-10 is incredibly strong and resistant to the elements. This has earned it a spot on gun grips, knives, and now, slingshots!
What this means for slingshots
G-10 makes an excellent slingshot for beginners and experts alike. Beginners will appreciate its incredible strength and weather resistance. G-10 makes some of the most durable slingshot frames. Fork hits, where a shot hits the slingshot frame rather than going through it, can leave deep dents in plastic or wood, but G-10 shrugs even the hardest fork hits off like they’re nothing. G-10 also is highly UV and water resistant, so if the frame gets left out all night at camp, it won’t mind (but your bands might, be sure to look them over before shooting).
Experts, enthusiasts, and collectors love it for its performance. G-10 has a nice weight to it and feels really solid. A slightly heavier slingshot means smooth transitions between targets, and not getting thrown off as easily by bumps and breezes. G-10 also has much greater wear resistance than plastic and wood. That means its textures won’t wear down, even if you shoot the thing ten hours a day for the rest of your life. And as you can clearly see, G-10 slingshots look really good. They almost have a camouflage appearance because of the colors and curvy lines revealed in the machining process.
Best G-10 Slingshots
SimpleShot already makes the best slingshots in the world. Why would they stop at G-10? Several popular models are available with gorgeous CNC-machined G-10 frames!
Scout X PRO G-10
The Scout X offers both over-the-top and through-the-fork functionality, and provides handy high-viz fiber optic sight pins as well. With its larger size and substantial palm swell, it’s a great target and hunting slingshot. It’s also a great choice for a new shooter! If you like this one but want something a bit smaller, check out the Scout LT2 G-10!
Shop the Scout X G10
Axiom PRO G-10
This is the author’s favorite slingshot. As an over-the-top only slingshot, it keeps the bands nice and close to the hand while shooting and minimizes leverage against the wrist. Its fiber optic sight pin makes aiming easy, and its deep textures in the handle are grippy and really show off the grain of the G-10. It looks and shoots great, and makes a superb EDC slingshot!
Shop the Axiom PRO G10
Slant Spartan
This limited-edition frame, designed by slingshot legend Mark Seljan, is truly something special. It’s made of G-10 and brass, which takes the smooth draw and shooting cycle to a whole new level. It also has an adjustable fiber optic sight pin, and a double-screw mount for bands for added security. The Slant Spartan is also a thru-the-fork only frame, which is a rarity in the high-end. This slingshot is the culmination of a ten-year development process, and it’s one of the most amazing slingshots ever made. But act fast, there’s only 320 of them, and once they’re gone, they’re gone forever!
FAQ’s
Why use G-10 on a slingshot?
G-10’s unique ability to resist impacts and retain its textures and colors make it a great choice for a premium slingshot. It also is a bit heavier than other materials, making for smoother draw and release cycles.
How are G-10 slingshots made?
G-10 cannot be injection molded or carved with a knife. G-10 slingshots are precision milled by CNC machines.
Is G-10 flammable?
Yes. It takes a lot of heat to get it going, but once it does, it releases noxious fumes much like any plastic or epoxy product. Best to keep it away from open flames.
Why are G-10 slingshots more expensive than plastic?
Plastic is a cheaper material and can be molded, which requires less work and less material. G-10 comes in a block that must be milled into shape, which requires a fancy machine, a skilled machinist, and much more material loss. Thus, G-10 slingshots are a bit more expensive.
How to care for a G-10 slingshot
G-10 is an extremely resilient material and doesn’t need much babysitting. If you keep it clean and dry, it will perform like new every time. Some people like to give it a light coat of beeswax every two years or so to bring out the shine of the colors, but it’s not necessary from a performance standpoint.
Who makes the best G-10 slingshot?
SimpleShot already makes the best frames in the world for every type of shooter, and their G-10 versions are all precision milled from raw G-10 without voids, dry spots, or soft spots. They are true buy-it-for-life competition-grade slingshots!
About the author
George Muhlestein is the YouTube host for Blade HQ, where he has spent the last few years writing about knives — the other industry that knows what G-10 can take. He’s also a longtime SimpleShot fan whose whole family shoots slingshots, and a Scout X made a cameo in Blade HQ’s knife sharpeners video (watch it here — the Scout X shows up at the 2:09 mark).
