I bet you have answered all of this before but I am new!

[Snook384]

I bought a lease for my father in law and I to hunt on. He has a degenerative nerve disease so his regular bow is out. I shoot a compund (Drenalin 08) and I feel very confident in it. But the reality is I am not taking a shot till he bags a deer this year so I want to set him and get it right. Now here are the list of questions cause I do not know jack crap about crossbows.

1: The salesman told him he will 375fps with a 445 grain bolt? Is this true? It sound like you could shoot through two bull moose at once with that setup.

2: The salesman said that the effective range of a crossbow is about 75 yards? With my compund I think long and hard at taking any shots over 30 yards. Are they really thataccurate at that distance?

3: Will he be able to cock his bow with that little crank without me? or is there a better method to loading one of these things. I think we are going to the range to practice.

4: Do these things use broadheads(mechanicals OR fixed: no need to argue) as well as a compund or with the extra speed are they a bit squirrley in flight.

5: Any tips you could give me is greatly appreciated. I have dropped over 8k in being able to take him out this year and sure would like to see him connect one last time.

Thanking you in advance,


Chris

[10ptCrossbow]

Chris,
What bow are you lookig at or did you buy? This will answer #1 and #3
The range is not more then 40 yards and 30 yards or in is better.
You can used fixed or mechanical broadheads. I use Spitfires and TenPoint has had great success with those. Most any good broadhead will do the trick.
Randy

[Mike Van Veghten]

Answers -

1. Not true. You are correct. many shoot with 300fps bows and do well. 425 grain arrows are somewhat a norm, that will work fine.

2. While that is true....the (Bowtech) Stryker will fairly accurately even farther....most people, normally,humainly shoot no more that 30 to 40 yards.

3. That's up to his strength. The Stryker might be a challange with its crank...but the others may well be fine.

4. Most better crossbows will shoot broadheads fine. BUT...each will have its own charectoristics of flight and must be practiced with before hand.

5. Practice. With the two of you out in the back yard...getting "ready"...he might enjoy that too.

For the most enjoyment....your dad MUST feel comfortable with the bow he's gonna use. Some he'll like and some he may not. Hit up a shop or two. Try a few out.
It's got to feel good at his trigger hand AND his shoulder.

Have fun.

Mike

[Snook384]

Ok with that in mind which shops seem to have better crossbows. I know it is hard to believe but I live in a very big city (St. Petersburg)and I have to drive an hour and a half to get to an archery store. It seems that Basspro, and Cabelas have a lot of choices but I do like supporting the little guy out there even if it costs me a few extra dollars. The little guys seem to just know more about their products than the schmoes in the big box shops. I would like to keep the price of the crossbow under 1,500 if at all possible. With that in mind are there any better crossbows out there you might suggest? Bear in mind he is getting weaker by the week and I can see him visibly fall apart. When deer season hits I need a lighter or lightest bow possible that will do a good job.

Once again thank you.

gl n gh

Chris

[Dnk]

Here is how accurate a bow can be at 100 meters. Very affective on paper!

Yesterday I done a shooting session with Exomax, 2219 21% FOC arrows and 36 threads Boo string, with my dyneema serving. The wheater conditions were perfect, absolutly no wind. I was shocked! I done many 4 arrows group of 1.5", with a constancy impressive! The string, perfectly in axis with the center arrow nock, allows to minimize every difference between arrows. And also the serving wear is very good. On my opinion this is the best string I ever used.

regards

Matthias
_________________
Exomax&Exocet200
Meopta Artemis 2000 3-12x50
Absorber V-BAR
Wolfszeit adjustable scope mount
Ultra-sensitive trigger
2219xx78 620grs 21% FOC
x7 eclipse 620grs 28% FOC
Nap Nitron

[Pydpiper]

He needs an Excalibur Phoenix or Vixen, either will do the job he is after and both are compatible with Excalibur's "Crankaroo", a noisy contraption to wheel the string in to position with minimal effort. Once that string is locked in place he will be holding a bow with the same advantages and disadvantages as yours, the range is the same, the broadheads are interchangeable but he will have less strain on the shoulder (more enjoyment) as he sits in wait.
375FPS is pretty high, most crossbows are around 300, as you increase that speed you are sacrificing dependability.
You mentioned your Father in law used to shoot a regular bow, I am assuming you mean a traditional bow, so he may be more comfortable with a recurve style crossbow, lots out there, so spend some time looking around. I own an Excalibur so my opinion is fairly biased, but I did a years worth or research before I made my choice.
Good luck in your decision.

[Hotburn76]

1: 372 fps means it must be a Stryker. They are pretty new and on the high side of the price scale. Their is not alot of feedback on them and the little there is is not the best. Some guys seam to like them, but I wander how much they shoot them. The few guys that I know of on other forums that have them and shoot alot have had problems with the limbs. But like with any new line they will improve in time. BigBirdVa from here is one guy that I know of that had problems with cracked limbs. The only reason his season was not ruined was because he had a great dealer and they gave him a new one while his was getting sent out. BowTech/Stryker was having a few customer service complaints. Also the Stryker line is on the heavy side. Any good CB that can send a arrow from 300 fps and you will be fine. More speed just means longer walks on finding a pass through arrow.

2: The salesman is either ignorant, or just trying to use a sales pitch to get you to buy that CB. Your bow with practice could shoot to 75 yards, but you would not do it, to many things to go wrong, why risk it. Most CB guys settle in on the 30 to 35 yard mark, some say forty, but thats to far for me. CB's are very loud compared to a vertical bow and string jump is a big issue with a long range shot. Can a CB shoot far? sure, anything can with practice.

3: If easy cocking is a thing you need to have then I think TenPoint has that crank market for CB's. Most all will agree that they have one of the best cranks around. Some of the other cranks work just fine, but alot of people like Tenpoints with the crank, I think they have two styles and most like the top model better. Also you should be able to get a Tenpoint set up with a crank for your price range. And one that is not to heavy.

4: I always used Muzzys for a long time with a slower Horton that I had. Then bought a faster CB and was having planing problems. Did not feel like playing research with my wallet and trying a bunch of heads so I bought the Tekan II's and have had no problems with them. Broadheads with CB's are just like the vertical crowd, you will never get a consistent answer.

5: Main thing I would say is if you are pretty new to a CB's, get a package and keep it simple at first. If you get a bare bow deal and then have to do a lot of trail and error you will have a long summer. I like Excal, I have a Vortex. You can put Tenpoint cranks on Excal's if you really like that CB. But Tenpoint and Excal sell great package deals that will get you and your dad on track. Only thing I could add is I like carbons better then aluminums, but you know, thats another long road!! LOL!!

[Dnk]

I guess I should have made a point. The post indicates that accuracy potential can be amazing with fixed heads. You just have to find what shaft and broadhead works for what you want. I don't think any crossbow would pass through a moose let alone two.
Danny Miller knows more that most and has been around crossbows longer. His number is 740 483 2312. Danny will not guide you wrong.

[Mike Van Veghten]

Hot -

I have a Stryker...and shoot it. There has been no problems with the Stryker that I am aware of.
Now there "was"...a 2 problems with the Desert Stryker...different bow.
As of the 08 models...all better now.

Snook -

This may verywell be a nice bow for your dad.
About $900 bucks. can be cocked easilly with a cocking aid. Virtually no vibration after the shot, very low string noise.
It's (the forend) somewhat adjustable.
As Hotburn notes, there was some problems...but I believe they've all been taken care of, if you get an 08 model.
Talk to David at Wyvern (or Wyvern Creations). He sells many bows and is familliar with all of them he sells. He does shoot, not just a salesman. He'll give good advice and stand behind what he sells.

Mike

[Dnk]

David is good too and he does stand behind what he says and sells.