I have several years experience with hunting with a cross-bow ... and transitioned to a one after 45+/- years of using a bow because of an injury. Scottycoyote and I agree on several points. No crossbow that I have come across is quiet. And not much is effective at truly reducing the "whap". I have yet to get more than one shot before the deer scattrer like a covey of flushed quail. I am not a fan of mechanical boradheads, but that is not for here to discuss. So I never tried them on my 2 cross bow set-ups. I have used 125 gr. , 3-blade Muzzy, 125 gr. Thunderhead and the 3-blade Montec broadheads with no issues as far as planing, penetration and good blood trails. I prefer the Montec ... mainly because they are about as simple as it comes. Accuracy? If you were an accurate bowman, you will find little or no improvement in your groups. The advantage of course is not having to hold a consistent and correct form at full draw. No doubt for some, the "long rifle" like handling leads to an easier time when it comes to shooting small groups. Frankly I have found no dramatic increase in effective distance. I am about a 45 yards limit guy anywya and the cross-bow I use no doubt lethl at that distence.

I did have to get used to making sure of the "all clear" along a horizontal axis so that I did not accidently whack a limb against a twig or tree branch, etc. For me personally that was the most difficult aspect to over come. As far ascocking, aiming and the use of a trigger ... no problem. Once I dialed in the sight, at 30-40 yards I could not shoot at the same spot for risk of damaging bolts. Very easy to become drop dead accurate compared to a compound bow with a sight.

I will caution. Keep that foregripping hand full of fingers and your thumb below the rail. Most cross bow designs are vey user friendly in this regard, but no design is fool proof. One of my best hunting buddies has the same set-up I have ... a Parker Tornado. He has ripped his left thumb on two occasions by defeating the "safety grip" that Parker has built into heir fore arm design. The first time was the first eyar he used a cross-bow. Just a bad bruise to the tip of his thumb and a busted up nail. The second time was last fall and a full joint down. It was quite an injury. Broke the thumb and slung the thumb's nail off into yonder land. So be careful.