So it’s a gun that shoots arrows

[Rusty]

We had friends over this weekend and they had never shot anything, so we broke out a bunch of different toys.   After they shot the crossbow the father says,  “So this is a gun that shoots arrows, cool”.

Out of the mouth of babes!      

 

Edited June 13 by Rusty

[mowin]

3 minutes ago, Rusty said:

We had friends over this weekend and they had never shot anything, so we broke out a bunch of different toys.   After they shot the crossbow the father says,  “So this is a gun that shoots arrows “.

Out of the mouth of babes!      

Unfortunately, lots of experienced hunters think the same thing. 

[maddie]

and rightfully so!

[Phantom]

[G-man]

Shoot a target with one is much differnt than hunting with  one especailly if your  not in a blind using a rest.  As for the arrow gun it does exist and is considered a firearm...

Crossbows are still bows

[Buckmaster7600]

He wasn’t wrong.

[Larry]

Here is what I have found with the crossbow I have. The only real averages I see with the one I have is when sighting in you can put it on a rest, it can be pre-cocked and it's easier to use in a gound blind. The draw backs are also pretty substantial first there front end heavy and noisy my buddy was 300yds away and could hear it and I don't know if I could cock it in a tree stand. Is it a bow yes is it better than my bow no will I replace my bow with a crossbow if you could use one all season no. To me it's just another tool in the toolbox.

[Rusty]

5 hours ago, Larry said:

Here is what I have found with the crossbow I have. The only real averages I see with the one I have is when sighting in you can put it on a rest, it can be pre-cocked and it's easier to use in a gound blind. The draw backs are also pretty substantial first there front end heavy and noisy my buddy was 300yds away and could hear it and I don't know if I could cock it in a tree stand. Is it a bow yes is it better than my bow no will I replace my bow with a crossbow if you could use one all season no. To me it's just another tool in the toolbox.

That sums it up well.   

[LET EM GROW]

I love these posts lol.     

[Robhuntandfish]

To me I think the crossbow isnt either a gun or a bow and I don't see the need to lump it into one or the other.  I like the transitioning of weapons during the season, it breaks it up a bit and offers something different.  My favorite season is the xbow season for two reasons - I really like my xbow its my favorite weapon and its also the best time of the year to hunt.  If they went to full inclusion I would probably use the xbow the whole time as it's my favorite weapon to hunt with but I actually like the seasons the way they are setup a lot.  I like to take the last day of bow season off every year to take that last try and then the next day onto the xbow opener.  Then for gun season there is nothing like opening weekend of course. I enjoy it all and my only issue is that I will not want to miss out on hunting if I was unable to draw a bow anymore, as i know several people that just cant pull that bow in older age, but still have the desire and drive to hunt.   Its a shame they cant.   I can see myself in the near future only hunting with the Xbow and Muzzleloader as they are my two favorite weapons to use and I can cover most of the seasons with them.  

[Wolc123]

15 minutes ago, Robhuntandfish said:

To me I think the crossbow isnt either a gun or a bow and I don't see the need to lump it into one or the other.  I like the transitioning of weapons during the season, it breaks it up a bit and offers something different.  My favorite season is the xbow season for two reasons - I really like my xbow its my favorite weapon and its also the best time of the year to hunt.  If they went to full inclusion I would probably use the xbow the whole time as it's my favorite weapon to hunt with but I actually like the seasons the way they are setup a lot.  I like to take the last day of bow season off every year to take that last try and then the next day onto the xbow opener.  Then for gun season there is nothing like opening weekend of course. I enjoy it all and my only issue is that I will not want to miss out on hunting if I was unable to draw a bow anymore, as i know several people that just cant pull that bow in older age, but still have the desire and drive to hunt.   Its a shame they cant.   I can see myself in the near future only hunting with the Xbow and Muzzleloader as they are my two favorite weapons to use and I can cover most of the seasons with them.  

The biggest problem with a vertical bow, is that it loads the body asymmetrically.  That leads to joint problems as one gets older.  Back when I used one, I did my best to practice regularly, drawing both right handed and left handed. Thankfully, I gave that up in my 40’s, and my shoulders are still in good shape, now pushing 60.    
 

The vast majority of folks only draw with their favored side and that catches up with them as they get older.

The crossbow, by contrast, loads the arms and shoulders symmetrically, during the draw when using the standard rope pulley device.   My smaller crossbow (Barnett Recruit) is low enough poundage, that I can easily do a direct draw, with just chain hooks and no pulley force multiplier.

[mowin]

29 minutes ago, Wolc123 said:

The biggest problem with a vertical bow, is that it loads the body asymmetrically.  That leads to joint problems as one gets older.  Back when I used one, I did my best to practice regularly, drawing both right handed and left handed. Thankfully, I gave that up in my 40’s, and my shoulders are still in good shape, now pushing 60.    
 

The vast majority of folks only draw with their favored side and that catches up with them as they get older.

The crossbow, by contrast, loads the arms and shoulders symmetrically, during the draw when using the standard rope pulley device.   My smaller crossbow (Barnett Recruit) is low enough poundage, that I can easily do a direct draw, with just chain hooks and no pulley force multiplier.

I get what you're saying, but I don't know a single person that has shoulder problems caused by pulling back a bow, myself included.  Most shoulder issues happened from the type of work or a injury that occurred during a accident, not from shooting their bow. 

[Robhuntandfish]

12 minutes ago, mowin said:

I get what you're saying, but I don't know a single person that has shoulder problems caused by pulling back a bow, myself included.  Most shoulder issues happened from the type of work or a injury that occurred during a accident, not from shooting their bow. 

def agree.  All the guys i know are injured from manual labor all their lives.  Just wore out those shoulders and knees..... 

[2BuckBizCT]

8 hours ago, Larry said:

Here is what I have found with the crossbow I have. The only real averages I see with the one I have is when sighting in you can put it on a rest, it can be pre-cocked and it's easier to use in a gound blind. The draw backs are also pretty substantial first there front end heavy and noisy my buddy was 300yds away and could hear it and I don't know if I could cock it in a tree stand. Is it a bow yes is it better than my bow no will I replace my bow with a crossbow if you could use one all season no. To me it's just another tool in the toolbox.

Agree. I can hold my compound bow at full draw on the vitals of a deer much longer than I can holding an xbow off-hand.

[Robhuntandfish]

6 minutes ago, 2BuckBizCT said:

Agree. I can hold my compound bow at full draw on the vitals of a deer much longer than I can holding an xbow off-hand.

if its in range and your on the vitals why are you holding it for long periods of time?  Send it !