Crossbow anyone?

Crossbows are good weapons.  I've killed dozens of big game with them.  Including Whitetail, Mule deer, and antelope.

I prefer a recurve bow but health doesn't let me use on; blind in my right eye, open heart surgery (avoid guys in white coats with saws ), arthritis, and other shit in my life.  My state requires a handicap.

I have been hunting with a Horton Legend SL, could not be happier.  I try to tell folks that crossbow should not be used to shoot further than a compound.  Most guys want to shoot 50-75 yards.

A crossbow of 120 # is only the equivalent of a compound of 65# and recurve of 55#.  The limbs are small and can't store the energy of a compound.  If you use an arrow extension rest and shoot short arrows the velocity of a 65# compound is faster than the #120# crossbow.

Interesting is the louse trigger pull on all crossbows, poor; 10x were the worse in my opinion...Horton the best.  Also the crossbow has negative recoil!!!!!  Yea, it jumps away from you...so hold it tight to your shoulder to increase accuracy.  My kills range from 5 yds on whitetails to 62 yards on Mule deer.  I use a variable scope with a Command post.  Works great.  I also use a string-tracker with mechanical heads for big game.

BEAR

Yea, they are noisy.  On the short shots I usually take I've had some jump the string.  But the short distance works in my favor at the arrow is close to the sound hitting their ears.  By the time they move the arrow is thru them and sticking in the ground.  I don't think they actually feel the penetration, but they run from the sound.  So it is usually straight away from me.

I had some laser surgery on my right eye; hope to get enough sight back to shoot the recurve next year.

BEAR

Whoa max,

Lots of questions...I'll try.

Does keeping a xbow cocked for a long time change it's point of impact any?  Yes keeping it fully strung tends to weaken the limbs.  You would not notice 3-5 days.  But I believe a year would reduce you "pull".  Leaving it strung but not cocked doesn't seem to change POI.

How long does a string last? Most crossbows are not shot in competition so longevity isn't important.  I inspect the cable and the string each year and the 8 years I've hunted it shows no wear.

 Does it take some attention when cocking the thing to get the string's nock point(?) in the center of the track? Is that important?  Absolutely, I always use a stringing tool that has a index that fits into the track to get perfect alignment.  Before my open heart surgery I could easily hand cock the bow in a tree stand without the stringer.  You are correct if you cock it off center it will increase your group.

Any advantage of compound over recurve? Same as regular bows.  Compounds need more max weight to equal the power of a conventional.  But the trigger forces on the compound x-bow is better (lower) just like a regular bow.  Most archers don't understand this about their coup mound regular bows; but they are slower than a conventional bow of equal max weight.

 Does limb composition mean anything?  No big deal.  Same as in conventional bows.  I prefer a high tech glass bow as the limbs are short and you need lots of limb strength to get the energy in to it.

How do you uncock? Once loaded, can the arrow/bolt be taken back out easily?  You can only safely uncock by shooting the x-bow.  I carry a junk arrow with a field point and a block of foam for "uncocking".  I do it at the car or cabin.  the arrow is easily removed from the cocked bow.  It is held in place by a small flat spring.  It can actually fall out.  I cock my bow at camp or the trails end...but no not put an arrow into it until I am on stand.  I have a sling on my bow as it is quite heavy and carries 'like' a rifle but upside down.  Arrows are easily removed before climbing down from a stand.

 What advantages are with aluminum or other shafts?  Same as with conventional gear.  I shoot Easton Aluminum arrows in the x-bows and have found them to be great.  I've also shot the carbon arrows and they are ok more expensive, like "premium bullets".

  With conventional gear I've All other things being equal, would longer limbs be better?  Longer limbs 'can' hold more energy and deliver it smoother.  Doesn't mean that merely having longer limbs is per se better.

 Must the xbow be held flat, with both limb tips parallel to the ground, without sideways cant?  Cant is greatly over rated in rifle hunting.  In an x-bow the scope is usually higher (on mine) so the cant is greater variation.  In hunting it is of no importance at usual ranges, 35 yds.

 How long a shaft is considered normal? Must you make your own?  Shaft are about 22 inches and are pretty much standard.m  You could make your own; I've done it.  But bolts, as they are called, are available every where; Walmart, Gander, Cabelas, Dick's, Spots Authority, etc.  the local Dick's sells them for $19 per 6, Easton Camo XX75s.  Actually the broadheads I shoot are $10 each..arrows are $3.  Everything is easily available

BEAR

 Hay Red Wool

  Welcome to the BSB.

  Yep shot a regular bow for years and yes I do miss it but as with alot of us that are now using X-Bows it's because of physical reasons. I actually quite my favorite sport for a few years (bowhunting) because I didn't think there was much sport in an X-Bow and heck no wouldn't catch me with no X-Bow so because of surgury I quit. One more hunter down and thats what the anti-hunters want. Then a buddy finally got me to try one and now I'm back in the field.

  In my adventures most folk ,myself too,all say X-Bows are not a callange,hunt with one then talk.

You got it figured right Gary.

BEAR

even for natives?  Did natives traditionally use the bow or crossbow in Australia?

I thought that native Aborigines used the two piece spear woomeria(spelling?)? what we would call an alatla.

Interesting thing is that in Pennsylvania there is a movement to legalize alatla for hunting deer (crossbows are illegal in archery season, but just made legal for rifle season).

BEAR

Sh%t,  I wanted to hunt roos with a dagger.

BEAR