BigJ
I agree with you...............kinda.
A crossbow is a form of a bow yes, but come on, do you see how more simular it is to a gun, when used for harvesting an animal? I see both sides, it's effective range is the same as a bow. When you use the crossbow to hunt with, it is far more simular to a gun. Lifting, sighting, resting, not having to hold the force at all times, please tell me you guys see that as a differance in the two?
Yes I do see the similarities between the two and I believe a crossbow is as close to a rifle in the way that you hold, aim and shoot, as a bow could be. But that's where the similarities end do you not agree? Now compare a crossbow to a compound bow and you will find it is more similar to it than a firearm. The basic function of a crossbow is and always will be the same. It uses limbs that store the energy that propel an arrow/bolt by use of a string. A firearm uses ignited gunpowder to propel it's bullet. That will never change so it is more like a bow than a firearm.
Yes it's different that a compound bow anybody can see that, but if you want to split hairs and that's what I think many (not you) are doing you can say that compounds should not be classified the same as long bows or recurves because they are also very different no?
Where do you draw the line as to what is a bow and what is not? For me it's in the basic function.
A house cat and a lion are both feline. They are VERY different but both felines right, both in the "cat" family right?