Hello all from Pennsylvania. This past Friday morning, I picked up a 3 year old used Horton Explorer XL 150 crossbow ($130)in excellent condition for my father as a gift for his 65 birthday in early October. He has been mentioning getting a crossbow for the last several years, so I decided to buy a used one to see if he likes it. Now that he is retired, he has more time to enjoy what nature has to offer. He has never archery hunted or used a crossbow before. However hedoes hunt deer with a rifle, but thinks he wants to give a crossbow a try. I am a religious bow hunter, so Iobviously know that side of the sport. The used crossbow came with some rail lube, ten 20" Horton aluminum bolts, and a Horton quiver. I picked up 6 carbon expressbolt today at my local Bass Pro. I personally prefer shooting carbon arrows out of my bow as well over aluminum. I will probably eventually set him up with Muzzy broadheads to start, however I don't know if he will try to use it this year in the Pennsylvania archery season. He may just stick to practicing. The photo below is of crossbow I purchased. I think he will probably want a sling for this and maybe a cocking device?
Since I am new to this side of the sport and my dad is completely new to it. Can you recommend any must have or essentialitems or informational videos that may be beneficial? Any advice on anything would be greatly appreciated as I am new to this site and the sport of crossbow hunting/shooting.
Well you will be getting your feet wet just fine with that CB and your dad should be happy. There is lots of tips we can give but we will not think of most. A couple of the bigs ones that come to mind is make sure you or your dad pull the string back perfectly centered every time. If it is off just a little to the left or right it will change your POI alot. Most guys take a magic marker and mark the serving and then watch it as they pull back to make sure it is centered. Another biggie that some guys fight with is the Dial-A-Range on the side of it. Its just below the scope. It works but some times guys bump it and do not know it or forget which setting it is on and then miss deer. Make sure you know where it is set at and does not change. The carbons are a good choice too IMO and I shot the 100 grain Muzzys for most of my Horton days. Get your dad shooting and then come back with more questions and we will be glad to help. Unless your dad is bad off a simple Excalibur rope cocker or Horton's rope cocker is all he needs. Horton's cranks are not fun to use and are not worth the time and cranking unless he is bad off. Rope cocker's are good and reduce pull by 50% and they also keep the string centered. Good luck and keep us up to date.
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Hunting is like Marriage, you get out of it what you put in it. Sometimes you score and sometimes you don't, but its always fun going out!
My standard operating procedure when dealing with any used bow/crossbow is to replace the string/cables immediately. You have no idea how old the rigging is or how many shots it's got on it. It's a 'peace of mind' thing. You don't want to give your dad a crossbow that's going to bust a string the first time he pulls the trigger.
Well, I gave my father his crossbow this morning and he was very tickled. I told him he doesn't have any excuses for not using it since I bought it for him. I gave him the overview on it and printed out the Horton manual from Horton's Web Site.
The cocking device and new string replacement/tune-up are excellent recommendations. I will probably purchase the cocking device myself and let my brothers buy him some new gear as their birthday gifts to him. He will need another 6 carbon arrows, crossbow target, sling, crossbow hard case, rail lube, and possibly a tune-up in the very near future.
Obviously practice is the key, but would it take your average person much to get this dialed-in at the range? As I stated earlier in this post, I have an archery background, but not crossbow. My dad has never used used or shot a crossbow. He is however a very good shot with a rifle. I just wondered in your opinion if you thought for him to start hunting this year in early to mid October would be a stretch? Typically we hunt timbered area where you are limited to shots less than 30 yards. I personally would not see my dad ever shooting more than 30 yards with it. I would think he cound get pretty consistent out to 30 yards in short order. He will be using theHorton reddot scope which came with thecrossbow.Can anyone tell me thethinking behind the three red dots (fromlargest on top to smalleston the bottom)? I am assuming this is used as a guide to help you determine the distance of the game away from you.
ORIGINAL: Lumenoker
I gave him the overview on it and printed out the Horton manual from Horton's Web Site.
The Horton site has alot of good info in there. You will also find good info on using and setting up the Dial-A-Range and scopes.
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Obviously practice is the key, but would it take your average person much to get this dialed-in at the range? As I stated earlier in this post, I have an archery background, but not crossbow. My dad has never used used or shot a crossbow. He is however a very good shot with a rifle. I just wondered in your opinion if you thought for him to start hunting this year in early to mid October would be a stretch?
Well If your dad practices alot and you help him he should be good to go by sometime in mid October. Working on form is a advantage that is not as critical with a CB, but your dad will need to shoot alot at different ranges and learn his new toy. He will also need time to learn the ins and outs of archery hunting and the things that you know of to watch for and do. If he puts his nose to the road and you help him he should be good to go. If you are a experienced archery hunter you should be able to judge your dads ability come time.
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Typically we hunt timbered area where you are limited to shots less than 30 yards. I personally would not see my dad ever shooting more than 30 yards with it. I would think he could get pretty consistent out to 30 yards in short order.
Make sure he understands this is not a long range deer slayer. 30 to 35 is max in most guys opinion. You guys will find that it is very noisy and long range shots are a no no with how loud it is, string jump is much easier with a loud CB then a nice and quite vertical.
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He will be using theHorton reddot scope which came with thecrossbow.Can anyone tell me thethinking behind the three red dots (fromlargest on top to smalleston the bottom)? I am assuming this is used as a guide to help you determine the distance of the game away from you.
It is set for your 20, 30 and 40 yard measurements. The dots are to small IMO to help aid in size and range, at least I have never heard of anyone doing it. The top will be your 20, then the next is 30 and so on with forty. Those are pre set for an average CB speed by Horton on the distance between the dots. Some guys use them and set the top to 20 and then when they back up to the thirty and forty they are right on, most guys the 30 and 40 end up being just a tad high or low compared to the 20. Set up the top dot at 20 and then try the 30 and 40 and see where you end up. Good luck and keep us posted on how he does.
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Hunting is like Marriage, you get out of it what you put in it. Sometimes you score and sometimes you don't, but its always fun going out!
It depends on your CB..It could be 2 for twenty or it could be three or one. If you go to the Horton web site and find the manual for your CB there is pretty good instructions on how to set it up. I think I have it saved somewhere, not sure on which computer. But it depends on your CB and you need to find which is closest for you then you go up and down from that setting for your 10 and 30.
__________________
Hunting is like Marriage, you get out of it what you put in it. Sometimes you score and sometimes you don't, but its always fun going out!
New(used) Crossbow Gift for my Father
