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Q:
I am talking to a lot of Virginia hunters who are "ready to go crossbow" now that it is legal for all hunters. Obviously there is some feeling that less practice is required. But also they seem to think that they are more powerful and have better range than with compound bows. But I seem to remember people here say that is not true. Who has the facts?
Question by Elmer Fudd. Uploaded on August 03, 2009
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Answers (10)
The max range for a crossbow is 30 yards. After that you'll need a calculator to figure the arc of the bolt in flight. They are heavy, loud and no more accurate than a compound bow.
The advantage is that you do not have to draw back while the animal is in range but what you do not realize is that you still have to move the crossbow to aim it so what's the difference.
Crossbows are overrated. In a couple years after the hype wears off you'll find a bunch of used ones for sale.
In my experience the crossbow requires much practice. The mere act of cocking a crossbow can skew the string to one side or another and cause the arrow flight to vary. Power is a matter of perception. The crossbow needs more powerful limbs due to thier short length. Since crossbow arrows are shorter they have less mass and thus less kintitc energy. I do not consider them long range, as a matter of course I do not consider them acceptable for shots over 40 yards due to the rapid loss of kenetic energy. Hunter Ed sources recommend that 40 yards be the max range for shots with a crossbow also. My verticle bows have a flatter trajectory and more kenetic energy than the very good crossbow I own.
You hear of long shots on both sides. But crossbows do fly faster and harder and straighter. Not to mention that many of them are equipped with scopes. so I would say and a lot of research shows you can shoot a lot farther than 30 yards.
Crossbows are short-rangeweapns just like regular bows. The max effective range is about 30-40 yards. I think they are totally not worth the efforat of hauling them around. I would much rather just hunt with my regular compound bow.
But with that said. I have no problem with people using them for deer. If someone has the will to haul one around. Go right ahead. For me I like regular bows much better though. (But that's just me....)
Smokepole - where are you getting your information? You're way off.
I used to do demonstrations all over the Midwest and Northeast for Horton, and we did a shoot - compound vs. crossbow - at a deer target 60 and 80 yards out. The comounds made it out there better than the crossbows, and you had to aim very high.
None of us were even close to being able to make consistant clean kill shots with either, but if it had to be done, everyone agreed the compound was the way to go.
Mind you, this was years ago when compounds weren't what they are now, and crossbows haven't improved at nearly the same rate compounds have.
A crossbow has a higher draw weight, but the power stroke (the time the string is pushing the arrow) is much shorter, so you get about the same velocity.
The mass of a crossbow arrow is much lower than that of a compound arrow, so there is less energy (important for both range and penetration), and the velocity tapers off faster.
Any good compound shooter can keep up with a crossbow, even if a scope is mounted.
These are the facts.
compounds are a better for long range shooting
not to nock crossbows guys they have thier good points too but range isnt one of them check out the 3d archery clubs compounds can shoot 60 yards no problem but i wouldnt try taking a animal that far out with one but i no hunters that have .
best of luck this season everyone
im not dissagreeing with ne one. But i shoot compound recurve and crossbow.. Ill shoot a deer with a compound at 40 yards. ill shot the recuve to 25. My crossbow blows thru my blow 4x4 at 60 yards dead accurate. I believe they are a little more powerful. I personally dont hunt with them. i like compounds better. Like i said im not trying to argue.. just add my input
Some crossbows are more powerful than just about any practical compound, but they require some sort of unwieldy cocking device, and are illegal in many states. If there were enough people strong enough, there would be compounds that are even more powerful.
I hate to disagree with any one here but my experience with crossbows is that they simply do not range anywhere near as well as a regular length compound. I few years ago we used the only two crossbows that we could find and a bunch of compounds. The range was two hundred yards and the berm was all clay so no damage would come to the arrows. The results are certainly not very scientific but everyone involved will confirm the superior long range fight and accuracy of the compounds. The crossbows dropped visibly more as the range increased. I have always thought that the real difference was the length of the arrows compared to the bolts. For hunting ranges out to 50 yards or so there was no practical difference.
For a few years I owned a Barnett Panzer II crossbow. For shorter ranges, it sighted and worked just as well as a small-caliber rifle...
It has sights, some like a rifle, or as said, a scope.
There is no tension, or shaking, while holding it on target. So can wait as long as a rifle. Try that with a compound or recurve for longer range if you're not Arnie.
I've known people who shot very well with a crossbow, including kids. Since there is no recoil, there is no fear. A fun thing to do with family.
For the cons... People here are right. Based on the "weight" of the crossbow, the accuracy drops off severely. I mean like falling off a cliff.
Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but don't most bowhunters have those bizarre cage sights with 4 or 5 needles all adjusted for different ranges? Drop-off is not reserved just for crossbows. They're more extreme about it past a point, though.
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In my experience the crossbow requires much practice. The mere act of cocking a crossbow can skew the string to one side or another and cause the arrow flight to vary. Power is a matter of perception. The crossbow needs more powerful limbs due to thier short length. Since crossbow arrows are shorter they have less mass and thus less kintitc energy. I do not consider them long range, as a matter of course I do not consider them acceptable for shots over 40 yards due to the rapid loss of kenetic energy. Hunter Ed sources recommend that 40 yards be the max range for shots with a crossbow also. My verticle bows have a flatter trajectory and more kenetic energy than the very good crossbow I own.
Crossbows are short-rangeweapns just like regular bows. The max effective range is about 30-40 yards. I think they are totally not worth the efforat of hauling them around. I would much rather just hunt with my regular compound bow.
But with that said. I have no problem with people using them for deer. If someone has the will to haul one around. Go right ahead. For me I like regular bows much better though. (But that's just me....)
Smokepole - where are you getting your information? You're way off.
I used to do demonstrations all over the Midwest and Northeast for Horton, and we did a shoot - compound vs. crossbow - at a deer target 60 and 80 yards out. The comounds made it out there better than the crossbows, and you had to aim very high.
None of us were even close to being able to make consistant clean kill shots with either, but if it had to be done, everyone agreed the compound was the way to go.
Mind you, this was years ago when compounds weren't what they are now, and crossbows haven't improved at nearly the same rate compounds have.
A crossbow has a higher draw weight, but the power stroke (the time the string is pushing the arrow) is much shorter, so you get about the same velocity.
The mass of a crossbow arrow is much lower than that of a compound arrow, so there is less energy (important for both range and penetration), and the velocity tapers off faster.
Any good compound shooter can keep up with a crossbow, even if a scope is mounted.
These are the facts.
The max range for a crossbow is 30 yards. After that you'll need a calculator to figure the arc of the bolt in flight. They are heavy, loud and no more accurate than a compound bow.
The advantage is that you do not have to draw back while the animal is in range but what you do not realize is that you still have to move the crossbow to aim it so what's the difference.
Crossbows are overrated. In a couple years after the hype wears off you'll find a bunch of used ones for sale.
I hate to disagree with any one here but my experience with crossbows is that they simply do not range anywhere near as well as a regular length compound. I few years ago we used the only two crossbows that we could find and a bunch of compounds. The range was two hundred yards and the berm was all clay so no damage would come to the arrows. The results are certainly not very scientific but everyone involved will confirm the superior long range fight and accuracy of the compounds. The crossbows dropped visibly more as the range increased. I have always thought that the real difference was the length of the arrows compared to the bolts. For hunting ranges out to 50 yards or so there was no practical difference.
compounds are a better for long range shooting
not to nock crossbows guys they have thier good points too but range isnt one of them check out the 3d archery clubs compounds can shoot 60 yards no problem but i wouldnt try taking a animal that far out with one but i no hunters that have .
best of luck this season everyone
Some crossbows are more powerful than just about any practical compound, but they require some sort of unwieldy cocking device, and are illegal in many states. If there were enough people strong enough, there would be compounds that are even more powerful.
For a few years I owned a Barnett Panzer II crossbow. For shorter ranges, it sighted and worked just as well as a small-caliber rifle...
It has sights, some like a rifle, or as said, a scope.
There is no tension, or shaking, while holding it on target. So can wait as long as a rifle. Try that with a compound or recurve for longer range if you're not Arnie.
I've known people who shot very well with a crossbow, including kids. Since there is no recoil, there is no fear. A fun thing to do with family.
For the cons... People here are right. Based on the "weight" of the crossbow, the accuracy drops off severely. I mean like falling off a cliff.
Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but don't most bowhunters have those bizarre cage sights with 4 or 5 needles all adjusted for different ranges? Drop-off is not reserved just for crossbows. They're more extreme about it past a point, though.
You hear of long shots on both sides. But crossbows do fly faster and harder and straighter. Not to mention that many of them are equipped with scopes. so I would say and a lot of research shows you can shoot a lot farther than 30 yards.
im not dissagreeing with ne one. But i shoot compound recurve and crossbow.. Ill shoot a deer with a compound at 40 yards. ill shot the recuve to 25. My crossbow blows thru my blow 4x4 at 60 yards dead accurate. I believe they are a little more powerful. I personally dont hunt with them. i like compounds better. Like i said im not trying to argue.. just add my input
Post an Answer