Author Topic: Need Help & Advice with 50's Vintage Crossbow (Read 3492 times)

BamBams · « **on:** March 13, 2004, 04:21:28 AM »

Someone just gave me an old "Whamo Powermaster" crossbow and it needs a string. I know nothing about crossbows, but I'd like to get it working and try it out. Also, whatever hardware is needed to connect the prod to the stock is missing. It looks like some type of bolt and nut are required to hold it in place? Anyway, if someone could help me out, I'd really appreciate it.

jh45gun · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2004, 09:23:34 PM »

BamBam saw your post on the Marlin site so I came here to answer. To be honest with you I know nothing about your wammo. I do have a crossbow that is a Barnett Ranger that I suppose would be a modern version of the type you have as it has a standard prod and is not a compound. Any good archery shop should be able to figure out what string to use and what you need for hardware. A word of advice from guys that I know that used to shoot older crossbows some where not that accurate or dependable so be forwarned. My Barnett is a entry level crossbow I bought it on sale at Dunham sports ( A chain sports store) for under 110 bucks. That covered Tax and every thing. It is a Barnett Ranger and is a 150# pull. It is a has a light composit stock and shoots great. It comes with a standard sight and either a cheap red dot that worked fine for last hunting season or a cheap scope. also included is rail lube a cable to string the prod and a quiver with 4 bolts. So it was a great deal for what you get. You may want to consider that kit instead of fixing up your old relic if you want a CB that is inexpensive but shoots well. I killed 2 deer with mine last season and look forward to using it again this season. Of course it all depends I suppose if it is legal for you to use one or not for hunting. IF you are serious about fixing your wammo up I would take it to a archery shop and have them look it over to see if it is worth repairing. Hope this helped. If you do want a entry level crossbow the Barnett Ranger is not a bad way to go. Jim

BamBams · « **Reply #2 on:** March 14, 2004, 08:57:14 AM »

Thanks for the advice Jim. I was thinking of doing exactly that -- taking it to an archery shop. I don't plan on using it an awful lot, but I'd like to see it functional again, and maybe shoot it a couple times just to see what it's like. I saw a couple of these on eBay and from what I've been able to gather so far, they have about an 80# pull. I would definitely like to have a nice crossbow, but that will have to wait until I can justify spending the money on one.

jh45gun · « **Reply #3 on:** March 14, 2004, 04:24:19 PM »

80# would be too weak to hunt with but I bet ok to shoot targets with. You may figure that a crossbow is more powerfull than a regular bow and yea it may be at close ranges but a reg bow shoots farther than a crossbow as the crossbow looses energy faster. But at Hunting ranges it is deadly. Figure what it will cost to get going and remember you can get a 150# Barnett Ranger for around a 100 dollar bill that has every thing you need right down to 4 bolts with the kit. Bolts can cost between 3 and 5 bucks apiece. Look for arrows at rummage sales and cut them down to size and re-knock them with crossbow knocks. You can have bolts for pocket change instead of dollars. Jim

BamBams · « **Reply #4 on:** March 20, 2004, 04:45:46 AM »

Hey Jim,

What do you think of the Barnett Revolution? I can get a good deal on a slightly used one. Oh, I'm left handed, do you think it's ambidexterous?