Crossbow guidance...total noob

teratos · Jul 12, 2020

So...now that there is no bag limit on antlerless deer during bow season, I need a crossbow. What’s good? I have no clue.

Batt816 · Jul 12, 2020

Tenpoint

gwchem · Jul 12, 2020

Get a Ravin r20 and don't look back.

teratos · Jul 12, 2020

gwchem said:
Get a Ravin r20 and don't look back.

Damn. 3” groups at 100 yards is no joke.

kstone803 · Jul 12, 2020

Ten point was the go to for years. But with crossbow popularity surging the last 5 years or so more companies have gotten in the game. PSE, center point, Barnett, etc have some very nice bows for the price. I've shot a $1500 ten point and while it was very very nice, I don't think it's worth 4 of the others. I have a center point sniper 370 and a Barnett. Both great complete packages for someone looking to get into it. Buy a good shooting block as bolts will go through some cheaper targets made for slower compound bows. Rogers sporting goods had some on sale a few weeks ago.

So I guess it depends how much you wanna spend but you can get a ready to kill deer package for $500 and whack Bambi out to 50 yards all day.

Art3 · Jul 12, 2020

I don't know much about them either, but the first time I shot it, my Ravin did this at 40yds :eek:

:

I also like the fact that the Ravin can easily be "decocked." Apparently, they all don't do that. :shrug:

Speed3 · Jul 12, 2020

I have an excalibur matrix and mystepson has wicked ridge. His feels cheap but shoots as well as mine for 1/3 the price. If I hunted open fields and could shoot 100 yards, I'd go ravin. For most, 40 yards is a stretch and the lower priced xbows will work fine.

Don't forget usually the faster xbows destroy bolts, likely to spend $30 a shot lol

ohen cepel · Jul 12, 2020

I like the simplicity of an Excalibur recurve. Nice to be able to take it apart if you like for travel and to change your own string if you like.

budman93 · Jul 12, 2020

Too bad you missed the 60 dollar amazon deal last fall. I found it posted on here bought one and it actually came. Should have been about a 400 dollar crossbow. It was a barnett whitetail hunter str. Got it for under 70 bucks.

kstone803 · Jul 12, 2020

budman93 said:
Too bad you missed the 60 dollar amazon deal last fall. I found it posted on here bought one and it actually came. Should have been about a 400 dollar crossbow. It was a barnett whitetail hunter str. Got it for under 70 bucks.

Lol that's how I ended up with my Barnett. Had like 4 buddies get in on it too. Steal of the year.

teratos · Jul 12, 2020

budman93 said:
Too bad you missed the 60 dollar amazon deal last fall. I found it posted on here bought one and it actually came. Should have been about a 400 dollar crossbow. It was a barnett whitetail hunter str. Got it for under 70 bucks.

I’ll give you $85 for it....

budman93 · Jul 12, 2020

teratos said:
I’ll give you $85 for it....

No thanks haha. I actually gave it to my dad for christmas.

Pale Ryder · Jul 13, 2020

teratos said:
So...now that there is no bag limit on antlerless deer during bow season, I need a crossbow. What’s good? I have no clue.

What, 15 wasn’t enough for you?

J/K.

Ten point or Excalibur have plenty of good models. Decide how much you want to spend and what your needs are. Ie, Uncocking maybe nice but at what cost is it not worth it vs using either a special bolt or target point and bag. You can pretty much go from $400- $2000.

willtill · Jul 13, 2020

ohen cepel said:
I like the simplicity of an Excalibur recurve. Nice to be able to take it apart if you like for travel and to change your own string if you like.

I have an Excaliber Vortex. Went back to fiber sights on it since the scope was acting up. As deadly accurate as ever.

mdunphyjr · Jul 13, 2020

I have had a Parker for many years and love it! They recently shut down shop.... but my next purchase will be a raven!!!

Inigoes · Jul 13, 2020

Anything from the Ten Point family

To include Horton Crossbow Innovations and Wicked Ridge

Make sure the quiver is InLine with the barrel, and not perpendicular to the barrel of the crossbow. That will allow you to walk normally threw thick brush. Otherwise with a perpendicular quiver, you will be walking sideways alot.

Pale Ryder · Jul 13, 2020

Inigoes said:
Anything from the Ten Point family

To include Horton Crossbow Innovations and Wicked Ridge

Make sure the quiver is InLine with the barrel, and not perpendicular to the barrel of the crossbow. That will allow you to walk normally threw thick brush. Otherwise with a perpendicular quiver, you will be walking sideways alot.

I must not be seeing the problem correctly. As long as the quiver is shorter than the limbs why not rotate the bow instead of your body?

Inigoes · Jul 13, 2020

Pale Ryder said:
I must not be seeing the problem correctly. As long as the quiver is shorter than the limbs why not rotate the bow instead of your body?

There in lies the issue. Most crossbows have attachment points for a sling.

Bolts say 20 to 24 inches in length, are wider than the cocked arms of the crossbow. The quiver mounted perpendicularly is offset, say 6 inches of a bolt is on one side of the barrel, leaving the remainder of the bolt to poke out the other side. Even the older crossbows limbs are not that wide when cocked.

Pale Ryder · Jul 13, 2020

Gotcha, I never used a sling on mine. Have one, but just like rifles usually never have it slung when in the woods.

Slackdaddy · Jul 14, 2020

I will add that, what cross bow you "need",, should match your skill level as a hunter and hunting environment on a few levels.

How many deer have you taken with a compound (or any vertical bow).
Do you actively hunt? What type of stands do you hunt from, how high?
Public land? private?

A lot of variables, no need to over buy for your situation.

In my case, I am 20-30 up, close quarters shooting in thick cover. I am shooting an Excalibur Micro, very heavy bolts, "Bolt cutter" fixed blades.
I need something small, light and powerful, shooting a bolt that will go through "odd situations", but do not need any distance.

Let us know your situation and we can help you narrow it down.

teratos said:
So...now that there is no bag limit on antlerless deer during bow season, I need a crossbow. What’s good? I have no clue.

Crossbow guidance...total noob

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