Author Topic: crossbow scope? (Read 1457 times)

ratherbefishin · « **on:** February 14, 2005, 04:27:53 AM »

for hunting, how neccesary is a scope?I am thinking of ranges within 30-40 yards,which I gather is about the effective range of a crossbow

GaryL · « **Reply #1 on:** February 14, 2005, 11:33:52 AM »

ratherbefishin I feel a scope will help make sure your shooting is right on..the advantages of a scope would be excellent light gathering properties, a wide field of view and if using a multiplex scope you would have a range compensating system, ie: 10,20.30.40 & 50 yard markers.

I myself love mine and one of the best for crossbows is a Vari Zone by Excalibur and can be adjusted to handle bolt/arrow speeds from 250 FPS to 350 FPS.

luredaddy · « **Reply #2 on:** February 14, 2005, 11:43:31 AM »

I cannot imagine anything better than an ULTRADOT on a crossbow. I had a scope many years, but an ULTRADOT, is hands down the best.

GaryL · « **Reply #3 on:** February 14, 2005, 12:50:37 PM »

luredaddy where can one see a ULTRADOT ? I have a TenPoint 3 dot I like real well, but would like to see the ultradot.

luredaddy · « **Reply #4 on:** February 14, 2005, 01:09:26 PM »

Link to ultradot is here. http://www.ultradotusa.com/ Almost all gunshops will have them or get them in a few days. I have one on my 44 Mag Contender pistol and my Horton crossbow. They will take alot of abuse. If you are older and have problems with bifocals or your vision, they are great when magnification is not an issue.

ratherbefishin · « **Reply #5 on:** February 14, 2005, 03:54:54 PM »

if typical crossbow range is under 50 yards, then quite possably an aimpoint type sight would be ideal.
What sort of tragectory would there be to say an exomag over 50 yards?

Digger · « **Reply #6 on:** February 15, 2005, 06:54:46 AM »

Check here click on your speed

http://www.excaliburcrossbow.com/arrow.html

mrlizzzard · « **Reply #7 on:** February 15, 2005, 09:45:31 AM »

I have a red dot 1x on mine but I'm switching to a Mueller 2x7 shot gun scope.It has a lifetime guarentee and really lights up your deer much better than any red dot.I swear I could hit anything with it on a dark night at 30 yds.In a deep woods at sunset you can set it on 1 or 2 and that little red dot is so tiny but your eye sure catches it,and you can see your game clearly.Most other scopes are not guarenteed for the forward recoil of a muzzle gun or a crossbow.

lizzzard

Rick Teal · « **Reply #8 on:** February 17, 2005, 03:45:12 PM »

I have red dots on both of my crossbows (as well as all my hunting rifles).

I don't like magnification and, at crossbow ranges, its hardly necessary.

The crossbow scopes sold by Excalibur have you making adjustments to your point of hold, depending on the range of the target. The last thing I want to have to do (or FEEL I have to do) when confronting a game animal is precisely estimate a range and calculate hold over (or under) based on that range.

With my red dots I establish a point-blank range, and make myself adept at determining if an animal is within that range. I then just point and shoot. No nerves to mess up my "calculations".

GaryL · « **Reply #9 on:** February 18, 2005, 03:39:04 AM »

Rick in a way your right, however with a multi scope the way you apply it is to have your yardage some what pre- determined such as at one of your tree stands. Or on the other hand if you are good it yardage judging the multi markers are great.

On the other hand you can just use the crosshair and do as you state you do! pull up and shoot!! :shock:

"quote""The crossbow scopes sold by Excalibur have you making adjustments to your point of hold, depending on the range of the target. The last thing I want to have to do (or FEEL I have to do) when confronting a game animal is precisely estimate a range and calculate hold over (or under) based on that range. " If you don't calculate the range in your mind how do you figure where too put the dot??? :wink:

ratherbefishin · « **Reply #10 on:** February 18, 2005, 04:26:31 AM »

assuming you are using an excaliber,what is the point blank effective target range, assuming you had the crossbow sighted in for 20 yards?

Digger · « **Reply #11 on:** February 18, 2005, 11:22:53 PM »

check arrow drop with Excalibur chart below at different speeds.

http://www.excaliburcrossbow.com/arrow.html

Digger

Rick Teal · « **Reply #12 on:** February 20, 2005, 11:01:40 AM »

ratherbefishin:

I think a lot depends on the height of your sight above the plane of the bolt. On my Exomag I'm using an ancient Weaver Quick Point which is a little higher than some other sights.

I'm using a 5 inch height/drop limit, and I'm using 35 yards as my range. I think it zeros at around 28 or 29 yds. I'll be shooting it in again next year, so I don't focus too much on these things (plus I'm not a precision shooter).

GaryL · « **Reply #13 on:** February 20, 2005, 03:22:23 PM »

:? Shucks you guys have me at a little disadvantage here as I am not sure what ya mean.

With that being stated I have my xbow sighted in on the 20 yard crosshair, the point above gives me 10 yard shot, the three below the crosshair gives me 30, 40 and 50 yards.

As I was pointing out at my stands or blinds I have spots that I know the range of and judge my shot by the markers.

If I was using my xbow with the red dot then I had better know distance and how much to hold over or under the target. Comes naturally.. :wink:

Rick Teal · « **Reply #14 on:** February 21, 2005, 08:55:35 AM »

GaryL:

What I do with my set-up is hold "on" at any range out to 35 yds. If I decide to chance a longer shot, I'd have to hold a little higher on the side of the animal. If I were shooting something tiny at under 15 yds, I'd have a slight "hold-over" situation as well, but I don't do that.

jh45gun · « **Reply #15 on:** June 05, 2005, 07:41:31 PM »

I just bought a used 3 dot red dot sight by Gander Mountain I suppose it is the same sight that 10 point sells as this is marked Gander Mountain but was on a 10 point xbow. The guys that had it bought a regular scope after the batteries went dead because they forgot to turn off the sight. Plus they wanted a scope anyway. Myself I am happy with the dot sytem on my crossbow but I do not like them on guns I just cannot shoot them as tight as regular scopes or peep sights. This sight worked well on the 10 point it was on so that is why I bought it and mounted it on my Barnett. jim