Abstract: An apparatus for picking or firing a projectile-like shuttle contains a pair of rolls revolving at a relatively high rotational speed. The rolls of the roll pair can be simultaneously brought into contact with a related shuttle in order to accelerate the same by frictional forces. To that end the rolls are each arranged upon a pivotal arm and operatively connected with a control arrangement. The rolls possess a predetermined elasticity such that their radial springiness or resilient yielding action at least approximately linearly increases as a function of the increasing radial contact pressure upon bringing the rolls into contact with the shuttles. These measures ensure for a practically wear-free, absolutely precise and controllable mode of operation of the apparatus.