I realize this is an old topic but being new to crossbows it's of interest to me. The main things I looked at when I purchased my first crossbow was balance, weight, shootability, cocking weight, and speed. There's my two cents. I'd like to hear others opinions. Blessings.......Pastorjim
pastorjimo8, your going about it the right way. My first crossbow was a real cheap one. Like a chunk of fake wood with a stick across one end with string between the ends. A month of that was enough. Bought a Jackal. Like it real well, shoots nice and accurate but little front end heavy and wide trying to get through door, brush, etc. Now a couple seasons later I picked up a nice used Vengeance. Haven't seen it yet but from what I have read (day late and dollars short) they get real good reviews. Will see how this works out for spring turkey season. Good luck.
Over the last 6 or 7 seasons some of the things I thought about that could use some change 1) User friendly? How hard is the bow to cock? can it be De-cocked or does it need a discharge bag at the end of the hunt? Can you cock it in a stand? 2)Accuracy is somewhat of a moot point as all modern crossbows can be made to shoot lights out. Repeatability or shot to shot POI change? Is the bow "Hold Sensitive"? 3) Balance( something to check after you install your optics of choice) 4)weight( every crossbow is heavy) 5)Maintenance Free? or maintenance prone? Shelling out a chunk a change for a new toy is one thing but, continue to pay for idle repairs can get old.
all perfect points cottontop I would ad 1 item--- carry ability I use a sling and carry on my back some of the older xbows limbs were so wide it was still hard to walk through woods, and a newer one I tried dug into my back just an add on thought
Agreed, I have one old excaliber that can be a little awkward as the limbs are well past the width of my shoulders! I have got into the habit of carrying by hand as most times I have a tree stand on my back.
I feel sorry for you. Going through life close minded and ignorant will only rob you of opportunity........
I shoot an Excalibur crossbow. and have taken my share of wild game. It’s a very simple recurve Xbow. 1) it’s always dependable 2) i can change a string in the field 3) I tune it like any recurve or long bow shooter does 4) it’s accuracy is superb 5) I don’t need to shoot a bolt to uncock the bow It’s apleaure to shoot, but the limbs are longer than a compound xbow.
Some people think if they does't use it or doesn't like it then it's incorrect. If it's legal then it's OK.
One item that has only been slightly mentioned. Draw length. I shoot a crossbow due to bad shoulders and back. Had a Jackel that was easy to cock with rope and 150 lb draw. Went to Vengeance for a little more speed, more KE and narrower. Found out the draw length was more than the Jackel and the end of the cocking action had to be done with the arms & shoulders after stand straight up. 4 or 5 times and it starts to get hard to do. Next time I will try cocking it first. I suggest anyone buying a bow do the same.
I too had to go to a crossbow because of shoulder problems. When I picked out a crossbow I went and shot several and one of the things I was interested in was ease of cocking. I probably would have bought a Scorpyd but there was just something funny about it when I tried to cock it. I ended up with the Horton Storm RDX that came with a crank cocker. You made very good points. Blessings........Pastorjim
I also bought a Horton Storm RDX with crank cocker last year and wouldn't consider anything else in the future. But because of the string sharp angle on the trigger it can't be uncocker using your hands. So I bought the Ten Point decocking arrow they sell for $10 and when received there is warning instruction to only use it 1 time. No where in the item write up does Ten point state this. I sent them a steaming email that I felt ripped off and they never replied to it.
Yeah. I have a question for you. I AM one of your cripples. Why am I and others who have a physical handicap a "black eye" to the bow hunting world? **** you, you god damned mother ******. YOU and YOUR ATTITUDE is what gives a black eye on hunting and society as a whole. FYI Ambushing the game from a tree stand or a ground blind is not "hunting". Hunting is spot and stalk. Those who shoot from a tree stand give hunting a black eye and bad name. Mods, if you want to ban me for this post, so be it. I won't be back to this forum anyway.
Calm down man... That guy had been gone since 2016. No point in leaving because of a tool that isn't even here
