New to this Xbow

[Bob_VT]

Hello.  My right shoulder has had the radish and I can no longer use my compound bow.  With that in mind I spoke with my Dr and the Game Warden and got a permanent cross bow permit.  I have just started to research the X bows and it has been quite an education so far.  I will buy one here soon enough so I am ready for the deer season in the fall.

I have read just about every post here so far and even many on other forums.  I have figured out that you get what you pay for applies. 

So here is where I am at...... overwhelmed!  So hopefully I can pick a few brains here and gain more insight ....... I will get a cross bow and even hope to get so meat in the freezer this year.

Thanks,
Bob

BTW..... ihuntbucks FYI:   Rutland Lodge 79 dual with Hiram 101, Killington Commandry, & Cairo Temple 

[Digger]

Best bet is go to your local pro shop and try as many xbows as you can. Get one that you are comfortable with.
don't buy a cheap xbow, you only get what you pay for, go for an Excalibur in a recurve, Tenpoint, Darton or Horton in a compound. Wait a couple of months, many new bows are coming out.

[rickyp]

digger is right on with what he is telling you.


stay away from the walmart and kmart bows you should consider a middle line bow as the bottom line.

once you start shooting them you will soon see what you can and can not do, then you will go from there.
I found I had a very hard time pulling back most of them even with a rope cocker. my left shoulder would not let me pull back evenly, so this left em with really only one option for factory ready crossbow and that was the ten point with accudraw.

[ihuntbucks]

Bob-Vt glad you are getting into xbow.I think you will love it.There's a bunch of fellows here that know a whole bunch about it.Have fun.FYI: Talladega #261 F.&A.M.;Anniston #105 R.A.M.;Brundidge Council #69 R.&S.M.;Anniston Commandery #23 K.T.

[Bob_VT]

Okay.... I am near crossed eyed with all the reading I have been doing but I am learning.  I received a very nice offer of a complete outfit of a Barnett 300 with Scope, quiver, bolts, broadheads for a reasonable price.  I am thinking of picking this up just to get me started.  I just can not find out to much info on the 300 (not sure if it is a quad).  I am haveing some more info sent to me about it.  I am thinking of starting slow and working my way up.

[rickyp]

I would stay away for the barnett bows.

Check this out, it is a ok deal. BTW I have nothing to do with this person or bow Just saw it.

http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=616533

You can order an acccudraw for about $250 and put it on your self.

[ihuntbucks]

I own a Barnett Rhino Mag and have never had any problems with it whatsoever.I can stack 'em in a 6" circle at 35 yrds. all-day-long with no problem.Brands of xbows is just like guns;everybody has his or her favorites..............Rick

[awshucks]

Here's a second vote to avoid Bnetts.  Had a Quad 400 go off like a hand grenade in my face which may cloud my judgement some, lol.  Had a Commando in the 80's, neat lil bow.  I keep hoping Bnett will get their act together, but am doubtful.  I recently read a review of their new Revolution AVI.  This is after they were shut down for a few months in receivership or whatever.  The review was very favorable, have no clue why, because the following observations were posted in it.  #1 Rings too tall to use the adj cheek piece stock.  Bnett will replace them.  Bow was 20 fps below advertised fps due to cams.  Bnett will replace them.  Bow has plasric trigger.  Bnett is replacing that w/ metal one.  Trigger has too much travel, common to Bnetts.  Still has flimsy 3/8 dovetail mount for scope.  Advertised as 345 fps for $469 at Cabela's and needs to go back to Bnett for upgrades.  Not a good way to win friends and influence people imho.  Some guys have had them for years and never had a problem, go figure.  Both of my xbows will take out a poker chip at 35 yds.

[Bob_VT]

I have an older Barnett coming my way..... I realize it may not be the best however, this is in my beginner budget.  I have to start somewhere..... I just might feel very comfortable with the one I am getting.

I continue to read about all the others on the market and I am drawing some conclusions......  I have shot compounds for better than 30 years..... the recurve (non-wheeled) crossbows are starting to get my attention due to simplicity.  It's just like a car...... speed cost money and I guess it depends on how fast I want to go.

I do have a few confusions and questions.....

Does a crossbow have to be tuned up like my compounds?
Is there any paper tuning with a bare shaft?

Here is the big question....... Crossbows of equal draw weight, equal bolts...... why is the speed varied so much?  I see MANY advertised speeds for 150 lb bows?

[rickyp]

"Here is the big question....... Crossbows of equal draw weight, equal bolts...... why is the speed varied so much?  I see MANY advertised speeds for 150 lb bows?

a few reasons: different cams and or limb styles/ materials as well as draw length (I forget the proper term) strings and or cables will play a role



BTW A bolt has treads on it and you get it from the hardware store, You use an arrow on a crossbow unless you are talking about the bolts that hold the crossbow together.

[Digger]

Definition of a bolt


BOLT - Short projectile for crossbow resembling arrow.

 
bolt: 1) The projectile that a crossbow shoots. 2) An arrow, esp. a short, heavy one for a crossbow. 3) To shoot or discharge (a missile), as from a crossbow or catapult.

[coyote170]

The old saying of"Different strokes for different folks",having shot Barnett for two years,no problems,
then Parkers ,one year,have decided to go with Ten Points new curve bow,like the idea of working
on it myself.After seeing all the negative feed back on Barnetts I always checked limbs with a cotton
ball after every shot as did not want to happen to me what happened to awshucks.My wife was
worried about my safety as I shoot daily and put a lot of arrows thru a xbow weekly.A friend of mine
owns a crossbow shop and is leary of Barnett with their new one year warrinty and wont be selling
them any more,be careful when shooting this bow it could hurt you,good luck on your search!

[rickyp]

Definition of a bolt


BOLT - Short projectile for crossbow resembling arrow.

 
bolt: 1) The projectile that a crossbow shoots. 2) An arrow, esp. a short, heavy one for a crossbow. 3) To shoot or discharge (a missile), as from a crossbow or catapult.

The term bolt is way outdated and has nothing to to with modern crossbow arrows. A "bolt" was used in medieval times and had no fletchings and was not intended to be reused and good at very short ranges. Back in the late 80's and early 90's people where using something called an overdraw it let archers shoot a much shorter and lighter arrow. most of them where around 22" long very much like a crossbow arrow.   The only difference between an arrow fired from a crossbow and a horizontal bow is the knock.


definitions do change over time and no longer apply anymore

[Digger]

I guess I'm old and set in my ways. I've called them bolts for over thirty years of shooting xbows. Dont matter what you call them, I know what you mean.

[Bob_VT]

"Here is the big question....... Crossbows of equal draw weight, equal bolts...... why is the speed varied so much?  I see MANY advertised speeds for 150 lb bows?

a few reasons: different cams and or limb styles/ materials as well as draw length (I forget the proper term) strings and or cables will play a role



BTW A bolt has treads on it and you get it from the hardware store, You use an arrow on a crossbow unless you are talking about the bolts that hold the crossbow together.

Okay..... so I will join the modern world and call them arrows.......

All things being equal I am interested in the physics part of this.  150 lbs of stored energy is delivered to the arrow via the draw string.  150 lbs of force is a constant regardless of the "let off" on a wheeled or a recurve limb.... the same force is delivered.  If friction was removed there must be a standard velocity based on the 150 lb draw and the "advertised velocity is actually how efficient the delivery is.  I am going to study this..... there must be a pure speed achieved.  This would permit equal evaluation of delivery systems.  In a cam wheel system there is an acceleration factor depending on the cam design.....  Still confusing.

What about bare shaft tuning? Is that still a step?  Is there a varied adjustment on one limb versus the other such as on a compound bow there is an adjustment difference between the top and bottom limbs.

[awshucks]

"Here is the big question....... Crossbows of equal draw weight, equal bolts...... why is the speed varied so much?  I see MANY advertised speeds for 150 lb bows?

a few reasons: different cams and or limb styles/ materials as well as draw length (I forget the proper term) strings and or cables will play a role



BTW A bolt has treads on it and you get it from the hardware store, You use an arrow on a crossbow unless you are talking about the bolts that hold the crossbow together.

Okay..... so I will join the modern world and call them arrows.......

All things being equal I am interested in the physics part of this.  150 lbs of stored energy is delivered to the arrow via the draw string.  150 lbs of force is a constant regardless of the "let off" on a wheeled or a recurve limb.... the same force is delivered.  If friction was removed there must be a standard velocity based on the 150 lb draw and the "advertised velocity is actually how efficient the delivery is.  I am going to study this..... there must be a pure speed achieved.  This would permit equal evaluation of delivery systems.  In a cam wheel system there is an acceleration factor depending on the cam design.....  Still confusing.

What about bare shaft tuning? Is that still a step?  Is there a varied adjustment on one limb versus the other such as on a compound bow there is an adjustment difference between the top and bottom limbs.

Good luck!  You have your work cut out for you, there are alot of things that determine speed w/ compound xbows besides the poundage.   I shoot Excal recurves, and can tell you a little about them.  They all use the same limbs from 150# to 225# and achieve their velocities by increasing the rail length, which in turn increases the draw length.  I've had several of them and shot alot of others and have never seen a problem w/ tiller.  There's no bare shaft tuning involved that I'm aware of.  Guys experiment w/ these things like you wouldn't believe and alot of them post their results on Excals forum.  About the only tuning you do w/ them is adj brace height and string choices.  Have fun!