A projectile launching device having at least first and second elastic members that are attached to a projectile pocket where a tong member is adapted to grasp the projectile pocket with the projectile therein and reposition the projectile pocket rearwardly to store energy within the first and second elastic members. The tong member is adapted to be mounted to the base frame of the projectile launching device where the projectile is positioned in a substantially consistent manner from shot to shot and active involvement is required by the shooter to maintain the projectile launching device in a stored energy state.