I’m from OK, considering some hunting in the Pacific NW or elsewhere. It would be my first crossbow. I was thinking about a bow but I want to eat for sure.

I am mostly concerned with ruggedness and reliability. Do crossbows fail often?

I haven’t hunted much except fishing. But, I grew up in the woods and have hiked, etc. often. I understand animals somewhat. I am plenty athletic. I think I will not have a problem finding them so I’m not concerned with distances beyond 40 yards.

Everyone seems to love Barnett. But, many of their models seem like overkill to me unless you are shooting far—which is also a safety hazard. But, there are also not many people where I’m considering hunting.

Centerpoint looks good too. What are your thoughts on reliability and serviceability for medium range crossbows?