Harry_Bucknuts ,
there isn' t much difference in knockdown power . More folks don' t use them because the opportunities in most states are extremely limited . Predjudice from the archery community is the principle reason for this . Most of what folks think they know about crossbows is actually second hand from other folks who don' t own one at all . Properly used , a crossbow can take any game that a compound or other bow can , and anyone who thinks they' re easy to hunt with has never tried it . If it' s legal where you hunt try one . You can get an entry level 150# for around $100 , which will satisfy any state' s minimum poundage requirement .
As with a vertical bow , practice , practice , practice !

Gryan ,
you can get scopes and red dot sights for vertical bows now too , check Cabelas . As for a crossbow having greater range and being quiet(silencer) , don' t make me laugh ! The longest shot that I would try with my 150# Barnett would be 30 yards , the drop on a bolt can be breath taking . Quiet ? Even with string whiskers it sounds like somebody thumping a drum compared to a tricked out compound , and you can' t find much else to quiet them down other than string leeches . More accurate ? If you add a scope and sight it properly maybe , but don' t bet on it . If your string isn' t centered when drawn that bolt can go crazy . Crossbows also don' t shoot as accurately offhand as compounds from my personal experience .

Also , most of the manufacturers don' t reccomend leaving one " cocked and locked" for long , 3-4 hours tops in my case , because it can damage the prod(bow) . That means that I have to draw too or risk having a highly tentioned prod snap in my face . Try drawing 150# while the deer is looking , and then loading your noisy bolt , now that' s challenging ! One of the biggest objections to them from the archery community is that you don' t have to hold them at full draw , which is also why you can' t hunt with them in many states during archery seasons . What a friggin' crock ! How many of you bow hunters use a bow with 70% let off ? 80% , 90% ? Still think that you' re holding at full draw ? Better do some math , you' re probably holding no more than 6-8 lbs . The " hold at full draw" argument is pure crap . Try increasing the weight of your compound too , my crossbow with quiver weighs over 6 lbs , most of that forward of center .

Misinformation like that is why crossbows get no respect , try one for yourself and make your own judgement . Most of the folks who hate crossbows have never even fired one at a target , so what the hell do they know anyway ?

My compound bow has a draw weight of 74 pounds with a let off of 65%. That equates to 25.9 pounds at full draw! Long way from 6 pounds!!! Even if I had the let off adjusted to 80% it would be 14.8 pounds.


You need to do the math.

Thank you Kevin. the first time I shot my crossbow the noise made me jump.I thought I broke it. " Wake" . Plus those cranks for them are 150.00

No offense VAhunter but 14.8# is still a very long way from 150# , and I hand draw . Trust me , I' m no he-man , it' s real work . The 6-8 lb figure I stated was a general average of all compounds/let offs in all draw weights , sorry if I understated on yours . I may not have to hold it after the draw , but I still have to pull 10 times the draw weight you do and then load a metal bolt onto a metal rail while threading a broadhead through the metal front sight mount . Talk about noise ! If I don' t hear the deer coming before seeing them I can pretty well forget about taking a shot . Unlike many crossbow shooters I also don' t use a scope , just the stock sights , so I don' t have any advantage over a vert shooter .

I know what you mean Cardeer , the first time I shot one it sounded like I was gonna get slapped by the prod . I couldn' t believe how noisy it was , even with string whiskers . Noise is the primary reason I don' t try for shots over 30 yards , far too much time for that buck to duck . The recurve that I' ve been shooting lately has only string whiskers too , and it' s much quieter than the crossbow .

You' re an experienced crossbow shooter , and well respected here , why don' t you tell the fellas what else they could expect from one , both positive and negative . As you may have noticed , there are a lot of misconceptions about them .

No offense taken, as I stated on my current setup the holding weight is 25.9 pounds not 14.8 pounds. The 14.8 pounds is what the weight would be IF I set the let off to its highest point, which is 80%. I am not aware of a compound being made today with a let off over 80%. There may be one but I have never seen one. As for a hunting setup, I do not personally know of an adult who shoots less than 55 lbs draw weight. At this weight, even with 80% let off, they are still holding 11 pounds. Not 6 or 8 lbs as you stated in your post. I just felt that you were throwing out some misconceptions concerning let off % and holding weights for compound bows.

More people shoot their compounds at the 65% let off than you might think. This may be due in part to Pope & Young regulations and accuracy issues related to light holding weights. I tried my setup at 80% and did indeed find that I was able to steady the bow better with the 65% let off versus 80%.

My post was in no way slamming someone who hunts with a crossbow. If it is legal where you hunt its ok with me.

Thanks for understanding VaHunter , I' ll freely admit that my knowledge of compounds is nowhere near yours , but I' m learning more every day . I apologize if I caused any misconceptions with my post . I' ve seen compounds advertised with a 90% let off , and for reference my recurve is 40 #at present . I' ll be looking for a 50#+ recurve shortly as I consider the poundage of my current one too light for anything but target shooting , even though DNR says that I could use a 35# .

I shoot a crossbow because of a disabillity I have.

that being said,if they are legal in your state,I see no reason for anyone that bow hunts to slam another hunter as long as they stay legal!!!we are slamed enough now by the anti' s.if we jump on one another,that just gives the more ammo to use.

I shoot a Barrnett quad 300.a mid range bow;in price and in quality.xbows are heavy,loud,hard to carry through the woods,and in my opinion does not have the range of a good compound.they loose a lot of the flatness after 30 yards.they drop pretty fast after that.

I thank Kevin 1 said most of what needed saying about other hunters not knowning about the cross bow. get with someone that has one and try it and you will see what we are talking about.

you can get scope' s,red dots,and a lot of other sights and equipment to go on one.you still have to cocke and shoot it at a living animal.

I have never understood why someone would want to slam a person that can' t shoot just like they can.if I am in the woods hunting,I am doing what I love,if someone doesn' t like the way I do it I' m sorry.

cross bows are just another means of taking game.be it your way or my way.
JMHO

Well said Tree Climber .
BTW , I just got an invite to hunt a farm and a HUGE lease during Kentucky' s crossbow season , over 1,700 acres thick with farmland bucks and does at no charge ! [8D] Boy I love my job sometimes !

Anyone living near enough to me can try mine anytime , I live in Southern Indiana 35 miles NW of Louisville , Ky. E-mail if interested , and bring your bow of choice to compare .

We have a guy this year that wrote a letter and asked the club if he could hunt during bow season with his crossbow. In VA I believe that he had to get a Dr. order and apply for a crossbow permit. He was accepted and he was also approved by the club.

I aint going to argue the x-bow is not a bow ,all Iknow it aint no gun either.To call it a croosgun is as dumb as calling it a bow. Maybe it is hollywood,but dont all them movies from the mideval < ( spelling) times are shooting crossbows.Aint that primitive??? Anyway ,what dont make sense they are for the disabled in Pa. Yet they weigh a ton. There so inconvenient to get around the brush, They hang up on everything. If your limbs hit a branch while shooting you better duck.The bolt can slip forward and if it aint seated against the back,you better duck. To pull one back is harder then a regular bow,so the special cranking device is needed at a extra 150.00. Dont forget to lube the rails or you will burn the string up real quick. Better wax the strings or they fray real quick. I shoot a 150 lb horton Sight it in a 20 yards.If you want to shoot to 30 yards it is low 5 inches already. You better know the distance your shooting real good. I wont shoot over 25 yards. When I hosted the first North East get together the guys brought there bows. We shot some 3 d. I' m good with my x=bow and they could shoot there compounds and place the arrow right next to mine.Then the 40 yard shot came. They shot.I said I' m out ,cant hit that, to far. They laughed. Oh go ahead try. So I aimed 12 " above the target. Got lucky it hit the vitals and barely stuck fast. What we gain from not having to draw back we loose cause we have to be so close when the loud thing vibrates the atmosphere. Plus as a disabled person trees are out of the question.So for me anyway they aint no advantage over a high tech compound. I believe in the best and a good set up can cost you 700.00.That certainly aint no advantage.