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Post by jmarriott on Feb 19, 2009 8:23:40 GMT -5
I need some Crossbow info for my father.
He has had both rotator cuff's redone in the hospital and one was done twice. I would like to do some archery hunts with him while the weather is nicer than thanksgiving in Indiana. A compound of any type is out of the question. He already has the letter to get a handicap xbow permit to hunt with them during normal bow season. He never turned it in since he is to frugal to buy a crossbow. He birthday is in may.
I need some info on good crossbows as I have heard some real horror stories about triggers going south quick, string breaking, load noise when shot?
I think I need one that does 300 FPS and a 20 inch bolt.
I think i need one without cams.
I think i need one that is rather small.
he likes open sights but I think it needs a scope.
I would like it to weight about 6-7- pounds.
I would like it to be USA made or at least USA designed as all manufacturing jobs are outside the untied states.
I have a few store's to check out locally but this is something I think I can get on the web cheaper. It is also one of the hardest things to randomly buy of the web like shoes it has to fit and I am the same size as dad.
I went to the brands I saw years ago like Horton, Barnett. Need some random sites like this. The old ones get bad marks for quality. Seems there not made to shoot a lot of arrows. They last 300 or few shoots and go south. The Ten Points gets great reviews but if I spent 1000-2000 on a crossbow I would give it good reviews also.
Anybody have so real world experience with one of these?
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Feb 19, 2009 10:16:19 GMT -5
Red dots are nice (the single dot) but I guess a scope will be just as good. Of course there is no eye relief issues on the red dot. You just have to keep it turned off until you see a deer. Strings do not last very long The short carbon bolts are quite strong. Dad and I have killed at least 6 deer with the same one ! Of course avoiding the shoulder is the biggest reason for that. The Vortex 100gr 2 1/2" mechanical broadhead --- It will slice, dice, and kill real nice ;D They are loud but the fps makes up for it. Under 30 yards, I would not be too worried about jumping the string. When you fire it, you'll see just how fast it is. If you're worried about it, aim a smidge low. I forget the poundage on the cam versions. I think the common ones are 150 and 175 pounds. Double check this, I think the 150 pound pull is all you need for deer and you will get the 300fps. Try to get one with an anti-dryfire. Most are now made with them. If their is no bolt or the bolt is slid up a little bit on the guide, the bow will not fire. If you fall, it's less likely to fire. Different brand bolts shoot different. If you get the bow, I'll ask my dad which brand bolts he uses. These bows are very delicate - more so than even a regular bow. There's lots of plastic pieces. Don't drop it, don't fall on it. For gods sake keep you fingers away from that string and on that stock! Dad's friend lost a digit last fall !!!  Barnett is junk If you need a recurve (no cams), you're going to be buying an Excaliber. Recurves are louder a compound crossbow and you are pulling the full weight in order to cock it. One of dad's hunting buddies has this bow and it's quite accurate. I agree, Ten Points are a little out of reach for most people ;D Horton and Parker seem to be the best compound based bow. Dad's got the Parker which has more of a gun stock look to it. He's shot 5-6 deer and I've shot one on a special hunt too. Very accurate with a red dot. Last point
I can appreciate saving money ;D ;D ;D
I'll buy a gun where ever it is cheapest. I'll get an arguement here, but guns do not need to go to gun smiths. They either aren't going to give you a problem at all or else it's something the factory needs to take care of.
But a bow is different. You constantly tinker with the thing. You find yourself changing rests, peep site tubing, whiskers, strings, buying arrows, broadheads, etc.
Having someone that can fix your problems cheaply is a good thing to have. I bought my bow from our local shop who is a dealer for bass pro so I had him order it. He got the bow for wholesale and sold it for the bass pro catalog price.
I'll buy my broadheads and have him make my arrows.
If I ever need anything fixed, it's free or just the cost of the item.
Crossbows are a little different but still requires a bit of attention by a professional. |
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Post by Jack on Feb 19, 2009 12:22:48 GMT -5
Can't help with crossbows- never used one.
I will take issue with the statement that you have to leave your red dot sight turned off until you see a deer. Red dot sights use very little power. If you turn your sight on when you pick up your crossbow (or whatever) in the morning, and turn it off at the end of the day, the battery will last a couple years. At least, that's been my experience.
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Post by jimiowa on Feb 19, 2009 14:55:39 GMT -5
I too have no experience with a Crossbow.
Since I know nothing I would avoid mailorder or places like Bass Proshop, Scheels, Cabelas (unless you know someone there with lots of experience with crossbows)and go to a local archery shop that has experience with crossbows.
Since your dealing with the heavy poundage and complication of the unit along with a physical disability, I suspect the cocking mechanism/Method might be the most important part of the selection?
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Feb 20, 2009 10:24:30 GMT -5
I think you're going to have a hard time finding a local shop (actually any shop including the box box retailers who sell them) that knows what they're doing with a crossbow. I think they can figure it out, but I doubt you're going to find someone who says "yeah, I work on quite a few".
As far as cocking
For a "healthy disabled" person (those that can use a compound if they really wanted too but happen to have a doctor that will sign off on anything), they won't have any trouble pulling it back. Yes it takes a good deal of effort because it's a hard pull.
If your dad is getting weaker (or it's anticipated that he will in the comming years), then the crank version would almost have to be a must --- unless you cock it for him in the parking lot but then he's got only one shot. I have no idea what the quality is like on those though.
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Post by jmarriott on Feb 20, 2009 12:27:31 GMT -5
, I suspect the cocking mechanism/Method might be the most important part of the selection? Ok very valid point I think he would have trouble cocking the Xbow. Anything that puts pressure on dad's shoulder like handing a heavy drill up to me on a ladder causes the shoulder to get sore. First hand up is fine second or third one I have to start having to come down steps. I even bought him a 44 mag marlin to use instead of his smoothbore Auto-5 to reduce recoil and reduce weight in the field. I see that 10-point comes with a cool crank to cock. It seems getting it cocked straight is a accuracy nessisity. Had a 3d guy that lives down the lane tell me i can come shoot his Parker Xbow. He said now he would look at something called the parker tornado. He also stated the Gurt's archery shot is now a parker dealer and repair center allong woth PSE and Hoyt. He said the doug knows Xbows well and is competition shooting them. He is not selling his Xbow. He normally buy's a new bow each year. He is selling a 2 year old parker target bow and getting a new hoyt target bow. Gurts is expensive, but local and knowledgable. I bought my old PSE from him in 1996 when he worked for Jack's archery. |
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Feb 20, 2009 12:44:03 GMT -5
Yes, you need to pull it back the same in order for it to be accurate. It's not as hard as you think --- it's just a matter of getting used to it and pulling back straight. When you cock it -You put your foot in the "foot rest thing" -Bend over where the butt of the bow is in your gut (short people may have a problem reaching it) -In the same motion you stand up (still keeping the stock in your gut), and pull kinda pinching your shoulder blades together. This is sort of an example. but imagine your legs being straight as your come up health.msn.com/fitness/fit-zone/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100168427&imageindex=2 |
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Post by jmarriott on Feb 20, 2009 13:19:22 GMT -5
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Feb 20, 2009 13:33:22 GMT -5
I'll take a look this weekend at home since I can't get on those sites now.
There was one advantage of the recurve style and I can't remember what it was --- perhaps the strings lasted longer or something. I don't remember.
Something else to think about though:
The advantage of the cammed bows is a shorter width (and quieter). There may be instances where you might have tree limbs or something in the way. You don't want the bow to smack up against something. The width of the bow will expand when the bow is shot. So you think you might have room and all of a sudden the thing might explode !
Of course you have the same potential problem with the cammed bow as well.
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Post by jmarriott on Feb 20, 2009 15:07:02 GMT -5
From the info you got for me I see that the recurves don't require a bow press to change the string.
The advantage at this point goes to parker, They state made in USA. Looks like the smaller limbs and a bit shorter for use in hedge rows and creek edges.
The excaliber I like but the company is in Canada and it does not state where the bow is made.
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Feb 20, 2009 15:36:42 GMT -5
Check out if the parts were made in the US, it was assembled in the US, or both
If the Excaliber was made in Canada, I'd be satisfied with that as well.
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