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Crossbows are being legalized in many states across the country now. As the popularity of crossbows grow, more and more companies are now offering them. Below are a few of the crossbows that are currently available on the market. They are fast, smooth and easy to shoot.
Scorpid CrossbowsScorpid Crossbows is a radical new crossbow from a new crossbow company. Their flagship models are the RDT 100 and 125. RDT stands for Reverse Draw Technology. It is one of the quietest and smoothest shooting crossbows on the market, thanks to its reverse design. The composite limbs on the RDT are reversed, causing the crossbow to look a little odd, but the benefits caused by reversing the limbs are many. The 2-cam RDT crossbow has a 19-inch power stroke which is said to be the longest in the industry. Having an extra long power stroke allows the crossbow to shoot a 350-grain arrow 370 FPS, giving 106 pounds of kinetic energy while only having 125 pounds of pull weight! Increasing the power stroke and reducing the draw weight produces a crossbow that is incredibly quiet, amazingly shock-free, and has a very easy trigger pull. Vibration and noise is further destroyed because the RDT limbs are parallel to each other.
The composite stock on the RDT is also unique. The stock has a thumbhole design like most of today’s most popular crossbows. It’s unique because it can actually fold in half, making the RDT extremely compact. This feature allows hunters to easily cock the crossbow while sitting in their treestand instead of having to stand up or lean over the side of the treestand to get the crossbow cocked.
To ensure user safety, the RDT crossbow has an anti-dry fire bolt sensor that eliminates the chance of dry firing the crossbow.
The RDT crossbow is 39 inches long when the stock is extended, 29 inches when folded, and 18 inches wide. It is available in 100- and 125-draw weight and comes in Next G1 Camo.
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Parker CycloneParker is known for producing extremely high-quality compound bows. Their complete line of crossbows is quickly gaining the same reputation. Their flagship model for 2008 is the Cyclone. The Cyclone has a wide variety of features hunters will enjoy. The Cyclone throws a 425-grain, 20-inch carbon arrow a whopping 350 FPS which reportedly delivers an astounding 115 pounds of kinetic energy, making the Cyclone an ideal crossbow for hunters hunting big game animals like elk. With that much kinetic energy, the Cyclone would be at home hunting large game in Africa. Much of the energy produced is the result of its unique inverted cam design that adds over two inches of power stroke which gives the Cyclone a 15-inch power stroke. To top it off, the Cyclone comes with the Red Hot high-velocity string featuring a C3 serving. This string adds speed and durability to an already fast and tough bow.
The Cyclone is compact; it’s 35 inches long and comes with a retractable stock that has six positions so the stock can be adjusted to fit virtually any hunter from youth to adult, making it a one-size-fits-all crossbow. The forearm is adjustable, which gives the crossbow a custom feel regardless of the size of the shooter. The Cyclone comes with an ambidextrous auto engage safety that incorporates an anti-dry fire mechanism that prevents the bow from accidentally shooting the crossbow when loaded or dry firing it.
Other key features include a picatinney rail, vented limb pockets, and an ergonomically-correct pistol grip with a crisp trigger that has virtually no travel. The Cyclone can be purchased in a package that includes a scope, a 3-arrow quiver complete with arrows, a rope-cocking device and Sims string leaches and Limb Savers. The Cyclone is available with a 165-draw weight and is available in Next G1 camo.
Barnett PredatorBarnett Crossbows have been around since the 1950’s. With over 50 years of experience building crossbows, Barnett knows how to build high-quality crossbows. One crossbow receiving lots of attention this year is the Barnett Predator. The crossbow is a “predator” designed to effectively harvest big game animals. At the core of the Predator crossbow are the all-new AVi (Anti-Vibration Isolator) limbs. The limbs are made up of a composite for strength and durability and then coated in a rubber-like material that is soft to the touch. It does a variety of things to make the crossbow hunter-friendly. The rubber-like material reduces vibration and shock. The material also reduces the noise made by the crossbow if it bumps into something while hunting, making the Predator extremely quiet all the way around.
The Predator has an ingenious shoot-through foot stirrup that gives the crossbow an extra long power stroke of 17 inches. It delivers a devastating 175 pounds of kinetic energy. The engine that helps produce the incredible amount of energy is Barnett’s high velocity cam and cable system that shoots like a dream and delivers enough knock down power to take down the biggest of big game animals. The Predator shoots a 22-inch arrow 375 FPS which produces an astonishing 128 pounds of kinetic energy.
In the hands of a hunter, the Predator feels more like a sniper rifle than a crossbow thanks to its 3.5 pound CNC trigger and the adjustable butt and cheek plate which provides a comfortable fit for almost any shooter.
The Predator utilizes Barnett’s crank-cocking device that reduces the 175-pound draw weight to a light 16 pounds. A variety of accessories can be purchased for the Predator including scopes, quivers, and arrows. The Predator is 37 inches long and is available in Realtree AP camo.
Darton StormDarton Archery’s innovative crossbow line includes the Darton Storm, which features EFLEX quad limbs that are strong and lightweight, making the crossbow easy to handle and carry on long treks afield. Darton Archery is a longstanding industry leader in cam design. They used their experience in producing highly efficient bow cams to produce the machined high energy cams. The Mach HEC cams combined with a 15 ½ inch power stroke makes the Storm super fast, allowing it to shoot a 425-grain arrow at 350 FPS, giving it 115.63 pounds of kinetic energy.
The Storm has a precision-machined arrow track that keeps arrows flying straight and holding tighter groups. It also has a machined aluminum riser. To help eliminate torque, the Storm comes with power yoke cables that have split anchor attachments on each limb that help balance the limbs.
Gun hunters making the switch from rifle hunting to hunting with the Storm will appreciate the rifle style safety and the adjustable butt plate. The machined trigger with controlled sensitivity and a 3 ½ pound pull are sure to make those used to hunting with a gun happy. The Storm comes with a patented dry-fire safety mechanism eliminating the chance of dry firing and damaging the crossbow.
To help eliminate bow noise and vibration, the Storm comes with Sims Limb Savers. Two cocking devices are available for the Storm: a simple cocking rope with a T-handle or a cocking winch that makes cocking the Storm simple. A plethora of accessories are available for the storm, including three different scopes: a red-dot scope, a 2-7x32 scope with a lighted reticle, and a simple 4x32 scope. A five-arrow quiver and arrows are also available. The Storm is available in 150- or 175-pound draw weight and comes in Realtree APG. |
Community Feedback
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archery rage
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5 Stars
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Re: Cool Crossbows
"I sell crossbows @ Draves Archery and www.dravesarchery.com , I would strongly recommend the Parker Cyclone Crossbow. If you compare it to the Barnett Predator it is a little bit slower but the trigger pull is much nicer on it for sure. The physical weight is nice along with the consolable stock. I would give the Parker Cyclone my first choice in an hiproformance crossbow."
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