Looking into a crossbow
 

Hi all as the title says I am looking into getting into crossbow hunting. This will only be my second year deer hunting though. I grew up hunting small game and shooting upland game birds. Never wanted to try deer hunting until about two years ago. Last year I was working overseas. I am an LEO so I am plenty good with firearms. But this is an area that I know nothing about.

I know a lot of traditional bow hunter but not anyone that shoots a crossbow. I tore my rotator cuff several years back and I have a hard time trying to hold a bow at full draw. I was looking through sportmans guide and cam across this crossbow and was wondering if it was any good for a beginner like me.

http://shop.sportsmansguide.com/net/....aspx?a=764343

Any thoughts on this one? If it is any good I will probably be getting my daughter one also since she is wanting to start hunting also. I am on a fairly tight budget if that makes any difference.

Frankly? Looks like a cheap Chinese nock-off with no warranty and for which parts may not be available. Do yourself a favor and call Dave Wilkins at Wyvern creations http://www.wyverncreations.com/index...index&cPath=87
He's a standup kind of guy that knows crossbows and tells it like it is. He'll consider your situation in recommending an appropriate bow.

personally id be scared of that bow....either it being a waste of money or blowing up on me. Id go somewhere on the net like crossbownation and do some research and pick up a nice used crossbow for about the same price (i see them all the time on craigslist, parkers and hortons and even some tenpoint and excaliburs, 250 to 450$). My advice is stick to one of the better known/trusted manufacturers.

Another suggestion to stay away from non-name brand X-bows. you will be well served to go to a reatailer of X-Bows and take a look see. As it is with everybody, value is the issue. I think that in the $400-$700 range you will be able to buy a good crossbow, bolts and broadheads. Nothing wrong with a used one either, as long as it was well taken care of. Lot of folks upgrade, or buy the latest-greatest, or simply discover crossbow hunting is not for them. Might find a bargain.

Thank you all for the advice. There are a lot of bow shops around this part of OK. but none of them have any crossbows. Just another question. Is PSE a decent brand of crossbow? I know they make a pretty decent compound bow.

No experience with PSE crossbow, they are at best a second tier player in terms of sales. Brands with best reputation for warranty and customer support, IMO: Excalibur, Parker, Ten Point.

The best name brands. Excalibur Parker and 10 point I have all 3 and would recommend any of them. My friend has a Horton and it is an excellent crossbow so their top of the line is good. For a starter I would recommend a light weight [physical weight] because of the rotator cuff and depending on how much trouble it gives you maybe consider a crank type ****er, a rope ****er is what most of us use but a crank type may be indicated for your problem the best crank type is made by 10 point and is called the accura draw. They are expensive but if that's what you need the price don't change the facts. other wise the excellent low maintenance Excalibur in on of the light weight models with a 150 or what ever you can handle would be great. Remember the rope ****er cuts the pull weight in half. These of brand Chinese xbows are mostly junk that breaks down has a horrible trigger and you can not get parts for.

Best advise you will ever get Dave is the best there is.:barmy:

Best advise you will ever get Dave is the best there is.:barmy:

I would stay away from the sportsmans guide junk. Like the other guys said, go with one of the big names and you will be buying a quality xbow. I bought my wife a parker stinger (pink camo) that was a demo for under 300 bucks and it came with the bow, quiver and sight. She has R.A. and can **** it herself with the rope ****er. 150# draw weight. I talked her dad into going bowhunting for his first time last week and he used her xbow since he has never bowhunted. He got a nice doe was really happy with how accurate a shot he made and how he watched her run off then lay down within 50 yards. I have never used another brand of xbow but I was looking at them last night at Gander Mountain and they had some tenpoints and a horton that I really liked there. Who knows, I might trade my Mathews in for a tenpoint next year.