Crossbow Questions, Help Please!

[Skeezix]

Had reconstructive surgery on my right shoulder last month due to a fall off a ladder that broke with me on it. Collar bone was broken into at least three parts, ligaments ripped, rotator cuff torn to shreds. Because of amount of damage, repair is much more fragile than usual, according to surgeon.

His orders: NO hunting this year (DRAT!), NO climbing into stands, NO walking the hills and hollers, stay on flat ground. NO bow hunting for at least the next two years.

He wrote me a prescription for a crossbow, which is required here is Missouri to get a permit to use a crossbow during bow season. But I'm dubious. Wife took me to BPS last week. I was surprised how pricey they were: cheapest was $467 and they went up to over $1100. Quite a variation in technology too. Some were recurves, some compounds. Of course, asking questions of the sales staff was about as useful as mudflaps on a sledge hammer. I get more intelligent responses talking to my German Shepherd.

Now the questions:
What particular brands or models of crossbow do you have first-hand experience with (under say $750) that you can recommend or NOT recommend?

How important is a scope on a crossbow?

Is there much accuracy variation between brands, in this price range?

Can crossbows in this price range be as accurate in the field, under hunting conditions, as a bow? (I don't care about theory here, or shooting off of a rest. The short length of the bolts, the relatively small size of the fletching when compared to the plane area of the broadhead, lack of spiral fletching, and other issues make me wonder if the flight characteristics of the bolts are accurate enough for humane kills out to 30-40yds.)

I have only met one person who has ever actually used one for hunting, and he says all he knows about is the Horton that he has, so any advice and experience you can give me will be greatly appreciated.

[rickyp]

the price difference reflects in quality and customer service.
I have a ten point phantom and love it very accurate and reliable. the customer service can't be beat.

Most of the crossbows will be good enough for hunting but get a higher end model even if you have to go used.

as to how important is the scope: well how important is the scope to a rifle or handgun? with out some sighting device it would be useless for hunting

A crossbow is just as accurate as a vertical bow and works in the same ranges.

you can get several good models from ten point for around 750 but you should look at the accudraw. it helps cock the bow with little effort it has a cranking system.

[bilmac]

I just bought a Barnet Wildcat C-5 from Cabela's myself for about $350, and can answer some of your questions, but I don't have a lot of experience with it yet. I feel that if I do my part any deer within 40 yds is as good as in the pot. The bow is very accurate, with field tips, at 30 yds when I put a regular rifle scope on it. The rifle scopes I've tried won't work for hunting, can't get the eye relief right, but they let me test the bow, because the red dot sight that came on it isn't working right for me. Maybe I don't know how to use it or maybe it is faulty.

The bow has plenty of power. I brought home some hay bales to shoot into, but that was a waste of time. The bolts bury the fletching when I shoot them crosswise, and when I shoot them end on the bolts end up inside the bale.

The bow isn't easy to cock. Are you going to be able to manage that with a screwed up arm. Most places that sell them have a little range that you can shoot them. There are probably leverage aids to help you cock them, but I would try one before I bought. Cabela's had a little range in their Sidney Nebr. store.

I prefer to sneak and peek when I hunt, but this crossbow is not going to be at all fun to carry in the bushes. Things sticking out in three different planes. I guess I may have to learn to sit.

[PeashooterJoe]

I'm pretty much sold on Horton, good Customer service with a fast turn around. You can get a copy of their DVD Crossbow Chronicles and judge for yourself.I have the Legend Pro 175 3 dot sight about 310 fps.Talked to Horton rep at Buckmasters  last weekend and at 40 yds shot clean thru a Zebra he was hunting in Africa. PeashooterJoe.

[ihuntbucks]

I would also have to go with a Barnett.I have a Rhino Mag.Never had any problems out of it,so I can't say how good customer service is.Like the other post,cocking may be a problem.Mine has a 150 # pull.I'm sure there are cocking rigs for it as well as other brands.I would say get the most you can afford with some kind of cocking setup.Can't help you on scope cuz they are a no-no in Alabama.Mine has pins.The Rhino is very,very accurate at 40 yrds but as someone else said they are not a joy to carry thru brush and such..............Rick

[awshucks]

I'm an Excal fan.  Like the recurve style and the fact I can do all my own maintenance.  They come w/ peep and pin, lot's of deer taken via that method. I have one set up that way sighted dead on at 25 yds, it's good to go from as close as possible to 30 w/ little hold over or under.  Truth be told, any bow BPS carries will be adequate for deer.  Down side to the recurves for some, is the width.  I have a Y25 that benches arrows into 1-1.5" at 50 yds [w/ scope].  No matter which bow you get, be sure to do plenty of testing when you switch to bheads, they can change things in a hurry.

[coyote170]

Call David Wilkens at Wyvern Creations(603-659-0575)it will be worth the price of the call
to get accurate non biased help and the best prices that can be found.Mainly his customer
service is second to none!He stocks a great selection of cross bows and has access to just
about anything you could want,good luck on your search!

[Skeezix]

Thanks to all of y'all that responded.  You gave me some great info to think about and lots of stuff to look at. 

[sevenmmstalker]

 My 2 cents worth for your bow is the Excalibar. Depending on your ability to cock the bow with a stringer aid, I like the Exomax. It is a 225 lb bow and allows you to shoot heavier (450gr) arrows and still get over 300 ft/sec. The energy production (penetration) is massive. You can go to a lighter arrow(350gr) and get 350 ft/sec.
 Their accuracy is unmatched , the customer service cannot be beat. Lifetime warranty on limbs, it is simple to operate. Recurves have less parts to go wrong and are historically more quiet.
 Next to the Excal, the 12 point is hard to beat too. Good luck!

[coyote170]

My 2 cents worth for your bow is the Excalibar. Depending on your ability to cock the bow with a stringer aid, I like the Exomax. It is a 225 lb bow and allows you to shoot heavier (450gr) arrows and still get over 300 ft/sec. The energy production (penetration) is massive. You can go to a lighter arrow(350gr) and get 350 ft/sec.
 Their accuracy is unmatched , the customer service cannot be beat. Lifetime warranty on limbs, it is simple to operate. Recurves have less parts to go wrong and are historically more quiet.
 Next to the Excal, the 12 point is hard to beat too. Good luck!
I have a Ten Point GT Curve that can put them in there,very sweet shooting bow,easy to cock and would say
that its as acurate as your Excal,to each his own,I guess!

[Jal5]

I don't think you can go wrong with a Horton and their prices aren't too bad. They are accurate, but as others have said make sure with any xbow you site in with the field points then check again with hunting points as the POI will change needing adjustments. You can use a scope to great advantage if allowable in your state, mine is a cheap Bushnell 4x fixed but it is more than enough at 30-40 yds which is my personal maximum range. I know I can be accurate at that range and it will kill deer all day if I do my part!  My biggest buck to date a 10 pt was taken with this set up a couple of yrs. ago. Complete pass through with exandable broadheads and a blood trail you would not believe, on every deer I have taken with this set up. I would suggest a cocking aid to assist you with your injuries and check them out at the sporting goods store if you can to see how that feels to you. You might use a ground blind since you cannot climb this season. I missed two good deer using the teepee style ground blind one during bow season and the other during gun season because I chose a poor spot not because of the blind itself.

good luck and good hunting,

Joe