120 lb. crossbow as survival tool
 

Hi all first post here,

I'm thinking about getting a 120lb. Kantas (Taiwan)crossbow to have for emergencies, survival purposes.
http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Gear-120-Recurve-Crossbow/dp/B0018A3GJS, plastic stock, fiberglass bow, aluminum arrows.
My question is do you think this would take down a small deer? What might be effective range? Would I need broadheads? I am out of the US so I'm not asking about breaking any laws.

How would this do for smaller game, rabbits, ducks etc.?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

John

RE: 120 lb. crossbow as survival tool
 

120 lbs is very marginal for deer at any range. I wouldn't want to bet my life on a Ginzu xbow. Get a name brand for a few dollars more.

RE: 120 lb. crossbow as survival tool
 

Thanks for the input awshucks,

I'll search a some more for a real xbow, the price is the problem though.

RE: 120 lb. crossbow as survival tool
 

Not having the money, or if you're simply not wanting to part with the money, for a name brand crossbow doesn't mean you can't have a good crossbow. If you've got some basic woodworking skills, make your own. Once you make one, you'll figure out how to make it better then next time. And, if you're truly in a survival situation, you'll know how to make one from materials available when the chips are down and you really need one.

You can buy parts and/or look at basic crossbow plans here:

http://www.alcheminc.com/crossbow.html

Instructions on using a binding to fix the prod to the stock here:

http://www.cs.usu.edu/~watson/artemisiaca/bindinghowto.htm

You can buy the steel bow from Alchem or make a bow of wood. I've got some elm seasoning for a new bow for one of my crossbows right now, should be ready to go in another couple of weeks. Osage Orange (aka bois d'arc, bowdark, or horseapple tree) would be better, but I just happened across this wood that was going into a bonfire if I hadn't rescued it... ;)

Here are some plans for a more sophisticated crossbow by Chester Stevenson from December, 1953 issue of Mechanix Illustrated. Ignore that subtitle on the first page, the bit about "Old time weapon has the hitting power and accuracy of a modern rifle." That bit is pure myth, and myth that the crossbow world has been fighting ever since.

http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2006/08/01/build-a-hunters-crossbow/

RE: 120 lb. crossbow as survival tool
 

What about 150lb? 200+ fps

http://www.amazon.com/Wooden-Stock-1...567&sr=1-4

http://www.amazon.com/150lb-Crossbow...67&sr=1-21

http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Gear%C2%...67&sr=1-17


Anyway, i had this one;
http://www.amazon.com/150lb-Crossbow...67&sr=1-21

But those crossbows are made "very badly", especially the trigger, "release system"...oufcourse it has some power, but it's made like a "toy". Try to look for some used crossbows, or something...Just my thoughts.