Crossbow

[Mikeg175]

I did a search and found a few mentions of crossbow's but nothing with enough information . I was hoping for some input on what to look for and what items to buy to keep in stock for them . Thanks

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I have only used one it was a Barnett and it was awesome. My state has only recently started allowing the use of crossbows during archery season because the general view of Game LEOs, hunters and the GP that watches tv is that crossbows gave an unfair advantage, "they arent real archery". "why should i compete against someone using a crossbow when i use traditional" etc etc. These were things that came up during wildlife department meetings. Before just a couple of years ago you had to be "handicapped" to get a crossbow permit. Now that deer populations have risen to levels that are becoming hard to control things have let up and crossbows are becoming the "in" thing especially with our new season on archery black bears.
I did notice that they are becoming lighter and more compact and easier to **** which IMO is a big sticking point when looking for one. Back in the day there were some absolute beasts to get cocked back. Also it was possible to get them cocked unlevel with one side catching a longer string than another which would throw the shot off. My friend tells me that is somewhat solved now. I would ask the salesperson about this stuff.
Sorry i dont have more to add but with rising costs and dwindling pay I have had to give big game archery hunting up for the past few years except for just a few outings. Fuel cost to much for a maybe or as the norm thye were 10 yds too far.

[EX121]

I have been interested for several years, but my sate doesn't allow them for hunting unless 'handicapped'. The same arguments like Matt mentioned. I have also been put off by the price. I have recently been looking on youtube for various DIY crossbows, but I'm still looking. I can see them as a great benifit for silent hunting.

[Mikeg175]

Im looking for something to shoot in my backyard , I only have 12 acres atm and Im nervous about unloading any weapons in fear of the local pd showing up .

[JUSTIFIED]

Mike you need to move to Oklahoma. For a while we lived in a small town called Hunter on about 1/4 acre. Occasionally armadillos would try to plow our gardens at night and I'd finish them with my .410. My neighbor's house was about 50 ft from ours and nobody complained. If I'd tried that in Camp Springs, MD.(where I grew up)they'd have put me in the pokey! LOL

[old guy]

I chose a Ten Point Flex recurve and am very pleased with it. Modern compound xbows are becoming way too complicated. If you can afford one, check out an Excalibur.

[bushrat]

It was several years before I moved to a state where crossbows were legal for hunting. It was so much
fun I wish now I had done it sooner. I shoot a Barnett Jackal with a 150 lb draw weight, and about a 3.5 lb
trigger that is fast and accurate. At 30 yds I can group three bolts in the size of a quarter, and I have actually
split one down the middle. Even if you don't want to hunt with it they are a lot of fun. Crossbows can be a bit
pricey, but Cabelas has the Barnett Jackal for $299.99 and it comes with four 20" bolts, a quiver, and a red dot
scope. Not a bad deal. There are several good brands out there so check out a couple and dive in. Enjoy!

http://http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/search.cmd?form_state=searchForm&N=0&fsch=true&Ntk =AllProducts&Ntt=crossbows&x=17&y=3&WTz_l=Header%3 BSearch-All+Products

[MustangGal]

I used to use a Barnett Demon. It had a 150 lb draw and was rather difficult for me to ****, so I used a stupid contraption - until one day - in an adrenaline rush - I managed t0 get it cocked by myself. It was amazingly fast and accurate. I really enjoyed shooting it.

I sold it after my back surgery in '05.

[tarheelsman71]

I have a horton vision 175 and it is awesome. very accurate out to 50 yards, lightweight, and compact. Buy some good bow wax, and keep the crossbow in a case to keep the dust out. Buy some extra bolts, Broadheads, practice tips. Dont worry about extra bow strings for a crossbow unless you are going to spring for the money on a bow press. I watched two cornfed country strong guys trying to restring a bow and it was laughable. I am sure there is a way to do it without me laughing at you, but I dont know what it is. I also purchased a Wicked River crossbow. $349 bucks. For the money it was a really great cross bow. Accuracy was great as well. 50 yards no problem, but this crossbow was quite loud. My horton xbow is the quietest crossbow I have ever heard, but it is still loud compared to a decent compound bow. I can only imagine sitting on OP duty in the retreat out in the sticks, and a nice deer walks by. You want to keep your noise discipline, but that is a lot of food walking by and your kids could use some fresh protein. Horton lets me keep the noise down, and my kids get to eat bambi. My 9 yr old son is able to **** the horton (couldnt budge the wicked river) so a woman would have no trouble with it.

[hellhound]

I Mostly hunt with traditional bows over the last few years, but that has been a personal choice. I took every large game animal in N America with a rifle, and went back through most of the list with a compound. Now I want to do it all with a recurve and longbow.
That being said, I have a few crossbows on hand just because I like to shoot them and I like to have a wide diversity of things on hand to take game with if needed.

These suggestions are based on if you are looking to be able to be fairly sufficient with a crossbow if you don't have a store to run to when you need something-

I would recommend keeping an extra string or two on hand for it, plus a way to press it so you can change a string.
If you aren't already a bow hunter I would I would suggest buying a fletching jig as well as a few bags of arrow components.
Practice tips as well as broadheads. I am also a huge fan of the turkey guillotine, but don't know if you can use them with a crossbow

I would suggest looking on ebay using your zipcode. I have bought a couple of the crossbows I have this way for cheap because people don't bid on them because of shipping costs. Craigslist is also a good place to look as well.

[onebigelf]

To restring a crossbow, take a length of 3/8" rope about 5" too short to pass over the butt when tied at the recurve below the tips. Pull the string back until it'll go over the butt, partially cocking the bow. Adjust the length as necessary if it doesn't pull the tips back enough by tying knots in the rope between the loops. Slip the string on and then uncock the "cheater".

John

[hellhound]

To restring a crossbow, take a length of 3/8" rope about 5" too short to pass over the butt when tied at the recurve below the tips. Pull the string back until it'll go over the butt, partially cocking the bow. Adjust the length as necessary if it doesn't pull the tips back enough by tying knots in the rope between the loops. Slip the string on and then uncock the "cheater".

John

Thanks for the tip. I have a bow press at home, but will definitely remember this as you are usually in the woods when things like this happen.

[Spero]

Sorry to revive an old thread but i was curious does anyone purchase cheap bows or crossbows for barter? I see cheap ones at yard sales all the time. I own several bows and 1 crossbow all cheap ones. I ask because I was at the Gun shop in my nearest larger town and they had to old crossbow from early eighties late 70's for 65 dollars each. they were very similar but only one came with a bolt. Good barter?