ORIGINAL: Spearchucker
Pro's, deadly accurate, no movement, less practice required to maintain tight groups, higher speeds relate to further ethical kills, and less errors in judging distance, scopes have luminated reticles allowing for easier shooting right till end of legal shooting light.
Con, its not a "true" compound, and some people prefer having to pull back to draw. A compound makes hunting more challenging, but really, I don't see any Con's to a crossbow as a tool for hunting, and I personally feel that they are more lethal of a weapon for "most" hunters, esp those who don't practice enough. But a modern day compound in the right hands, is as deadly as any crossbow.
They seem to have gained a lot of popularity in my area, and I deffinatly know why.
I have been hunting fore 27 years. Last year I switched a crossbow due to a spinal injury. In my first hand opinion this is what I have seen:
"Deadly Accurate" actually I was more accurate with my Hoyt Reflex than shooting off hand
withmy xbow at ranges of 30 yards plus. ( I used to practice a lot with my Hoyt)
"No movement" Definitely less movement.
"Less practice required to maintain tight groups" Off of a rest beyond 30 yards true, off hand
beyond30 yards still requires the practice.
"Higher speeds relate to further ethical kills" Simply not true. Arrow speeds between the high
endvertical bows and the average crossbow are equivalent, as the performance over distance.
My crossbow shoots an arrow at 308 fps, many vertical bows are faster.My Hoyt shot at 286 fps.
"Less errors judging distance" Judging distance is judging distance and it still matters.I used a
range finder with my Hoyt and I still use it with my xbow.
"Scopes have illuminated reticles allowing for easier shooting right till the end of legal
shootinglight." My vertical bow had lighted pins. No appreciable difference, though the scope on
my xbow does not have a lighted reticle.
"Its not a "true" compound, and some people prefer having to pull back to draw." I guess,
there was a day when a compound bow was not considered a "true" bow. Mine is actually a
recurve.
"A compound makes hunting more challenging." IMO bow hunting is bow hunting. They have
thesame ethical killing range. I know that many disagree.
"
I don't see any Con's to a crossbow as a tool for hunting" Having actually carried one in the
field I can mention a few. They are significantly heavier, and a real bear to carry in the woods.
Picture walking in the woods carrying a crowbar in the shape of a large T-square and you will get
the picture.
I am not trying to start an argument or slam Spearchucker. I am simply trying to answer 2Robinhood's question based on my personal experiences.
Given everything I said I love to bow hunt and using the xbow allows me to do that. If I didn't have my back injury to contend with I would still be shooting my Hoyt Reflex, even if the xbow was considered legal equipment during the archery season here.
Bob