Yes, it started out in the Technical forum for compound bows. I want to add that I have nothing against cross bows. I have even owned one before, but didn't hunt with it. I may get another one in the future just for the heck of it.

After having both, I actually prefer a compound bow to the cross bow. Sure it takes a bit longer and a bit more skill to use one well, but once you get the hang of it and practice I feel they have more potential. Just my opinion though, and I will admit I have not shot a high dollar X bow. I had a 150 lb Barnett back in the mid 80's.

Like I said before, there are plenty of people that shoot out to and beyond 100 yards with regular bows as well. It does impress me that you can do it with a cross bow being that there is really nothing you can tune like on a compound bow. Makes the compound a bit more forgiving in my opinion, even though the skill level may be higher in the start.

I'm not going to argue that you could get a cross bow and probably get good with it fairly quick. I could shoot mine ok after about a week of shooting, as long as I knew the distance. Granted mine was not one of these new super fast models, but still they don't have that much range.

I entered some specs into my archery software to simulate a crossbow. I went with 375 fps and a 425 grn 22 inch bolt (22/64's dia).

Zeroed at 30 yards you would be 1 inch high at 20 yards and about 3 inches low at 40 yards. So this would give you decent flat shooting weapon out about 40 yards. That is actually fairly impressive to me.

Now to say you could practice for a week or so and then go deer hunting at 100 yards? Lets take a look at that. At 50 yards you would be 10 inches low but still have PLENTY of power to kill almost any living creature on this continent. I guess if you were good enough to judge the difference between 40 and 50 yards and could hold over 10 inches accurately it could be an effective 50 yard weapon. Travel time would be near a half a second, it better be a relaxed deer because they react really fast if they are alert. And like said, Xbows are not the most stealthy weapon you can use in the woods.

Now at 100 yards you would be a bit over 80 inches low. If you can hold over a deer sized target 6 ft at 100 yards I will be VERY impressed. And you better know the yardage down to the yard because there is a 10 inche difference in drop from 95 to 100 yards. If you can do this with less than a month of practice with that weapon you are one of the best shots I have ever seen. Not to mention time in the air would be a full second. And wind drift with a 10 mile an hour cross wind would be almost 5 inches. Probably more with larger fletchings and a fixed blade broad head. Still plenty of energy to kill game though providing you could hit it.

I am a pretty decent archer and I think I would pass on the 100 yard shot at game. Heck I am pretty picky about 100 yard shots with my H&R ultra slug gun and it groups 2 inches and is dead on at 100 yards.

Paul