Ditto the advise about heading to a dealer that has several X-Bow set-up to try out. I would think anther biggie right now ... because you mentioned that your dad might "like to try out hunting" with a X-Bow, is that the better ones fully rigged out are fairly expensive. If your dad is an avid hunter, he'll should get a kick out of hunting with a X-Bow, making the $$$ question pretty much moot anyway.

If you can swing it, I have a 3 year old, then top of the line Ten-Point with the hand-crank. It is a fine piece of equipment. I cannot imagine their new model being anything less. Good buddy of mine lost an arm in an industrial accident. He shoots a Horton and likes his. He's an avid archer and has killed many, many deer with his. I have no clue what model. Knowing him it was a top of the line, or nearly so, when he bought it.