Advice for crossbows

[halfrack VIII]

what are crossbows like I have never used them personally, but i think i will purchase one for my father due to his left shoulder. what kind of speeds do they shoot, distances and any other information

[DaGriz]

ORIGINAL: halfrack VIII

what are crossbows like I have never used them personally, but i think i will purchase one for my father due to his left shoulder. what kind of speeds do they shoot, distances and any other information

Oh Boy, prepare yourself for more information than you will be able to digest! There is a wealth of it here.
Don't know how to explain "what crossbows are like" There are too many different ones and, for the most part the all feel slightly different. Depending on your budget you can buy a cross bow form under $400 toover $2000 and everything inbetween. They will shoot an arrow anywhere from 250fps to 415fps.The draw weight can range fron 100lbs to 220lbs. The heavier the draw weight the more uncomfortable they are to load and shoot.Using a cocking devise is almost mandatory to u-insure a even string draw and ease on the shoulders and back. A good draw weight for hunting use at normal shot distances would be 150 or 175lbs. Shooting distances require comfort and confidence in your cross bow and a lot of common sense. Most every crossbow hunter will not shoot at a deer over 40yds and most try to stay under 30yds. Good , well made crossbows like, Ten Point, Excalibur, Parker, Stryker, etc will keep all arrows in under a 2" circle or lessat 30-40yds, depending on the arrow and broadhead used!
Compound crossbows require a bit more care and maintainance then conventional crossbows.Compounds are are narrower but usually weight more. Accuracy and speed are about the same for the same draw weight; between coventional and compounds. Sights are whatever you choose from pins and peepsights to ranging scopes to mutiple red dots.

I'm sure other learned peole here will chme in with moreinfo for you to digest.

[grndhntr]

There basically the same as a compound bow in speed, accuracy, and effective hunting range comparing a 60-70# compound to a 150# crossbow. Most experienced hunters (compound or crossbow) like to keep their shots under 40 yds.

[sproulman]

ORIGINAL: halfrack VIII

what are crossbows like I have never used them personally, but i think i will purchase one for my father due to his left shoulder. what kind of speeds do they shoot, distances and any other information

if you buy one second hand, have the limbs checked for splits.
they are not what a lot of us think they are,they are not like a rifle that shoots out to 50 yds etc.

max i would use one on deer is 30 yds..

a lot of people i know buy them ,thinking they can shoot out to 50 yds or more..

they are surprised when they cant shoot well at 30 yds,let alone 50 yds.

[Lower Forty Boy]

They are a real pain to carry around

[coyote170]

Work great out of a groundblind tho,love that Penthouse!

[Hotburn76]

From a hunting standpoint they are archery equipment and the same rules apply to hunting with a CB that apply to hunting with vertical equipment. What I mean by this is do not think that a CB can do some magic that a vertical bow cannot not. Not saying this as a debate, but some guys think the CB has massive power and abilities compared to a vertical. No matter what you usethe mastering of the 20 yard game is what it takes. As far as the CBto hunt with, well sometimes I think it just plain sucks! I have a Martin Dreamcast that I like to shoot from time to time. It is as light as a feather. I could carry that thing all day and never flinch a bit. When I walk to my stand that CB is pretty heavy and I am ready to hang it on the tree. It is kinda bulky and I have to always worry about the limbs of trees and stuff like that. Do I like it, yes, I love it. But A CB has some disadvantages that you need to learn to accept. I wish I had the confidence to take my recurve out, but I do enjoy my CB and have taken plenty of deer with it. You dad will succeed with a CB if he puts time into it and takes it seriously. Speed is all over the place, like some said, most all IMO are 250 to 350, a few rare ones that kill the back are faster. Seems like most are 300 to 320 as an average. Your wallet will determine if you get one slower or faster. A CB that is much faster over 320 only makes it harder to find a pass through shot arrow IMO. Get your Dad one, you will have a blast.