Helpful Information About buying a Crossbow

How To Choose The Right Crossbow For You?

When researching to find the best crossbow for you, consider the following aspects:

Purpose

Do you plan to use the bow often, such as weekly or more? If so, we’d recommend looking at bows at the $600 range and up. These bows will provide you with the features to keep you satisfied, as well as the durability to last a lot of outings.

If you’re planning to use the crossbow for backyard target practice, the need for a powerful, compact bow is probably less important.

Quality is a vital aspect to a bow when you’re hours from home and in the midst of a hunting trip. For example, you would never want your string to snap on a hunting trip, yet this is known to happen when you purchase a bow on the cheap side.

Specs:

The most important spectacles to examine when researching which crossbow to choose are the following:

• Brand
• Price
• Speed (Feet Per Second)
• Weight
• Length
• Width- cocked and uncocked
• Power stroke

Speed

It’s fun to go fast, and it feels great to shoot something fast. Contrary to what I read in some places on the internet, I do believe speed matters. It should be said, however, that speed matters most to hunters, and less for those on the archery field. 

The game we hunt is fast, and although in my own experience, it’s much more rare to shoot at a game while it’s running, every second counts.

Weight

Weight can be a big issue. Add two pounds or take off two pounds, and this is an aspect about the architecture of a bow that you will notice not long after carrying it around for a while. 

Width

Width, or the amount that a crossbow is compact or not is largely a personal preference to each individual shooter. I’m a huge fan of compact bows. Their mobility and a narrow design is all I personally like to shoot. On the other hand, I know hunters that like a wide bow because it facilitates a balanced shot.

Power Stroke

The length of a crossbow’s power stroke is the most significant factor that contributes to a bow’s arrow speed. Crossbows with a shorter power stroke produce slower arrow speeds, compared to crossbows with a longer power stroke.

A bow’s power stroke is the equivalent to a vertical bow’s draw length. It is the length that the crossbow’s string travels from a cocked position to an uncocked, shot position. A longer power stroke creates more kinetic energy.

What Are The Best Crossbow Brands?

Competition is fierce these days when it comes to quality crossbows. To ensure you purchase a high-end, brand-trusted company, we recommend the following:

• Excalibur
• Ravin
• TenPoint
• Barnett
• Scorpyd
• BearX
• CenterPoint
• Wicked Ridge
• SA Sports

Design Architecture: Compound vs. Reverse vs. Recurve

What Is A Compound Crossbow?

Compound crossbows, which are the most popular design in the United States these days, is a style of crossbow which uses a system of pulleys and cables to generate a powerful shot from the limbs of the bow. 

Compound crossbows are easily distinguished by the cams, or wheels, which pull the cables to cock the bow and ready the arrow.

An example can be viewed from the picture below, which is the Barnett HyperGhost.

What Is A Reverse Crossbow?

A reverse crossbow, also called a reverse-draw crossbow, is still a compound crossbow. The difference is that the riser on the bow is situated closer to the shooter’s body. 

A reverse-draw crossbow shifts the weight closer to the body. As a result, reverse-draw crossbows are easier to shoot from an off-hand position.

Reverse-draw crossbows’s power stroke is longer, which generates higher speeds without adding additional mass or length.

Below is an example of a reverse-draw crossbow. This is the Scorpyd Deathstalker 420.

What Is A Recurve Crossbow?

Recurve crossbows are known for the simple, minimalistic architecture. A recurve crossbow does not have wheels or the system of cables and pulleys. The bow is curved and wider to gain power in the shot from pulling the string back to cock the bow and ready the arrow.

Here is an example from the SA Sports Empire Muddy Girl Fever Pro:

How Much Of A Difference Does Price Make?

Like for many outdoor activities, the quality of the product you get depends a lot on the amount you are currently familiar with using these types of products.

Let me give you an example, I’m not much of a golfer. I might play a game a year. Give me a $100 driver or a $700 and although I’ll feel a difference, it won’t matter much to me. I’m going to slice it either way. 

Crossbows are like that too. There’s no need to get the top of the line product if you’re not ready to handle it. On the other hand, if you know how to shoot, you’re going to appreciate the higher-notch bow, and also use it appropriately as well.

Each bow enthusiast needs to find a medium between what they can afford, what they’re looking to use the bow for. Then, you’ll find a great match.

When Do 2020 Crossbows Come Out?

Each year, crossbow manufacturers first show off their newest flagship models at the Archery Trade Association’s trade show. The date and place are tentative, but happen roughly around the second week of January each year.

Can A Crossbow Kill You?

Yes, crossbows are lethal weapons designed to kill. They are dangerous and need to be handled carefully.

Is Using A Crossbow Cheating?

States in the U.S. have their own laws towards crossbow hunting, which can be found at the North American Crossbow Federation. For countries around the world, Wikipedia has a page titled, Laws on Crossbows.

Each hunter should abide by the laws of their land. Now, is using a crossbow cheating? The answer to this is a person question, and it revolves around your own hunting philosophy. Some hunters believe if the weapon they’re using is legal, it’s not cheating. Some purists might believe the only way is to hide in a tree and jump down on the game, but then you’ll have the critics saying that’s probably not an ethic kill. I’m joking, but the point is, weapons are tools to kill, and as long as you’re following the local laws, know that hunting with a vertical bow is going to be harder than a crossbow, and a crossbow is going to be harder than a rifle.