New to Crossbows - Help
#1
Thread Starter
Spike
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Hi all, I am looking at getting a crossbow for hunting and looking for some info based on actual experience and factual comparisons. I have been using a compound bow for a while now but am thinking that the crossbow is more accurate (easier) and therefore capable of harvesting more animals in the same time-frame usually a weekend?
• Are Reverse Draw Crossbows better than the traditional compound type?
• Broadhead tuning on both types of crossbows?
• Fastest Hunting Crossbow?
• Most silent hunting crossbow?
• Longest effective range of a crossbow?
Thanking you in advance for responding
Thanks
Mujahid
• Are Reverse Draw Crossbows better than the traditional compound type?
• Broadhead tuning on both types of crossbows?
• Fastest Hunting Crossbow?
• Most silent hunting crossbow?
• Longest effective range of a crossbow?
Thanking you in advance for responding
Thanks
Mujahid
#2
Typical Buck
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 753
Likes: 0
From: southwestern va
if you do some searches i think youll find a lot of answers on here already but i do have a little experience with them.
i dont think the reverse draw are any better except that they take up a little less room, so depending on how you hunt they may be something you want to look at.
all your crossbows launch arrows the same way, so the tuning is really going to come down to your arrow, broadhead and speed. Some broadhead/arrow combos are just more susceptible to wind planing than others, all you can do is try out a couple of different ones. Mechanicals are an easier route if you are comfortable with them.
some crossbows are quieter than others, but none of them are "quiet" really. You can play around with them though (limb savers, different strings, surgical tubing) and make them better.
good luck
i dont think the reverse draw are any better except that they take up a little less room, so depending on how you hunt they may be something you want to look at.
all your crossbows launch arrows the same way, so the tuning is really going to come down to your arrow, broadhead and speed. Some broadhead/arrow combos are just more susceptible to wind planing than others, all you can do is try out a couple of different ones. Mechanicals are an easier route if you are comfortable with them.
some crossbows are quieter than others, but none of them are "quiet" really. You can play around with them though (limb savers, different strings, surgical tubing) and make them better.
good luck
#3
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,186
Likes: 0
From:
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.
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.



