Which crossbow for hunting

Two handed crossbows are the most common by far and are appropriate for the widest variety of situations such as hunting, fishing, scientific sample-collecting, target shooting, and even military use. They are generally the most powerful and accurate variation, their aiming is familiar to most, and their handling and operation are easily learned. Although less common, one-handed crossbows are popular for specialized purposes such as target shooting, small game hunting, and even self-defense.

They generally lack the power and accuracy of two-handed versions, but are lighter, more compact, easier to use, and less expensive. The main difference between a compound crossbow and a recurve crossbow is in the way the string is attached to the limbs or prod.

This, in fact, makes cocking a compound pretty straightforward once you reach that break-over point. However, this has nothing to do with being able to shoot accurately, as it locks into place at full draw. Moreover, a compound requires shorter limbs than a recurve.

This might be a great asset for you, depending on what your hunting area is like and whether or not you need to maneuver you crossbow through tight spots. The additional front weight may cause some slowness in bringing it up to aim and in holding it in a shooting position for an extended period of time. Another disadvantage is that in the unfortunate case the string breaks, you are done hunting for the day, as a trip to your local dealer or a bow press is required to replace it.

Replacing a bad string is a lot easier if you have it in hand, instead of trying to find, or worse yet, to order one! On top of that, if you were to break a steel cable, you could get injured. A compound is also louder at the point of release. There are a few things you can do to make them quieter, but never to the point where they would make less noise than a recurve. Another point against compounds is that the cams can sometimes be knocked out of sync, which in turn may cause the bow to shoot inaccurately.

This can also be fixed, of course, but not while you are hunting. Using a recurve crossbow instead of a compound comes with its advantages as well. The main disadvantage to using a recurve is that it is harder to cock. You are the one pulling the weight all the way until it is in the cocked position, which can be quite hard to do. Many hunters compensate for this by using a string cocker, which helps reducing the amount of strength needed to cock them.

Even when cocked, recurve limbs are longer than a compound, which can make it a bit harder to maneuver in tight areas, to make your shot. Numerous experienced bowhunters suggest that beginners should use a recurve crossbow. Take your time, look at, compare, and shoot a variety of bows and then make your decision. Reverse draw technology RDT is a recent innovation which essentially reverses the limbs of a conventional compound crossbow, giving RDT crossbows an unmistakable appearance and drastically altering their performance.

Some of their advantages include:. Although differentiating the best crossbows from a mediocre product may seem complicated, you can easily do this after checking the next points. Arrow Track: Also called flight track or barrel, the arrow track defines the physical structure that makes it possible for you to launch an arrow. The more precise the structure, the more accurate is the delivery of the arrow downrange.

Noise: The quietest crossbows you can find are the recurve models with parallel limbs. Weight: Weight is very essential when choosing a hunting crossbow. While light crossbows are easy to carry around woods, heavy crossbows are easier to keep steady when shooting. Since these two aspects give rise to a major contradiction, the best thing to do when buying a bow is to consider your own physical limitations. Draw Weight: Referring to the amount of pull necessary to flex the limbs of a bow into the fire position, the draw weight varies quite greatly among different types of crossbows.

Typically, the higher the draw weight value, the faster the arrow speed. Opting for a bow made of metal is the best purchase decision if you want to get a high-quality weapon. The crossbows that come with plastic parts can break down after only several uses. Additional Features: Although most crossbows follow the same basic design, some weapons are equipped with particular features that ensure greater dependability, accuracy, and safety.

Additional features include cocking aids, which help you to cock the bow correctly; scopes , which improve the accuracy of your shots; and noise-dampening devices, which reduce the noise and vibration after a shot is fired. If getting a crossbow with more than draw weight, consider getting a crank aid, which makes the cocking process pretty much effortless.

We went over this in much more detail in our hunting broadheads guide. The important thing to remember is the broadheads should be of the same grain as the field points that came with your hunting crossbow package.

Make sure to take a broadhead wrench with you, as it is easy to cut yourself in the field in the spur of the moment while manipulating the sharp edges, especially since you are likely to be distracted by all the things happening around you.

Please remember that, above all, hunting with your crossbow should be fun and exciting. I am looking in the price range of and under and need it to last for along time.

Thank u for the help Chris. I have chosen the Carbon Express Intercept Axon as my first conversion to a crossbow, I have not only been very pleased with the power and extreme accuracy, but it is awesome in the field and even as exciting at the range. I did a lot of research before I made my purchase and being just a good ole boy from Georgia who has hunted with a wide range of weapons and game over the years and really have come not only to appreciate but love a good challenge with more primitive weapons, I never thought I would gravitate away from my firearms or my Matthews bow and spend as much time shooting my Intercept Axon as I have, I truly give it or any high quality crossbow a thumbs up.

I am not trying to promote for the company in any way, I just want to share my experience and how pleased I am with a crossbow. I am looking to buy my first crossbow for hunting. Which one would you choose, if you were my size? Hello, great site! We are in NJ and they just approved a bow season for black bear so I want to get it right. Do you have such a guide or, if not, could you create one to post here on your site? What can you tell me about the Stryker Offspring?

Hey I am looking to buy my first crossbow. I am a short woman and want something I can use in a climber or on the ground. I hunt deer but occasionally see hogs from my stand and they are always in season so I need something that will take one OUT!!!

Thank you. Another option is the Wildcat C5. I read a bad review on the raptor where they had string and crossbow problems. I was leaning that way until I read it. I am looking at a parker enforcer It is brand new , Is the barnett jackal a better hunting crossbow than the parker?

It is rated higher by some people. I like the axiom a few. It rockets arrows at speeds of fps, and the accuracy is legendary. Each year crossbows improve, and with that crossbow buyers get more performance for their money.

If you want to start hunting with the best crossbow this fall, any of the above models will serve you well. Choose one that best fits your budget and then spend plenty of time shooting it before the season starts. A survival expert breaks down how to start a fire for efficient cooking and heating.

Save big this week on your next favorite piece of outdoor gear. How much should I spend on the best crossbow for the money? What is the best crossbow for the money as a beginner? An American-made budget crossbow Check Price. An entry-level crossbow that shoots fps Check Price. The best budget recurve crossbow Check Price. A compact budget crossbow Check Price. The best trigger on a budget crossbow Check Price. When ranking the best crossbows for beginners, the crossbow must be very cheap, comfortable to handle, easy to use and safe, durable, adjustable, and able to take out the small or medium-sized game.

CenterPoint Sniper has all these features! Within the 4x32mm crossbow scope, you will be able to hit your target dead-center at a distance of 50 yards! CenterPoint adopts the anti-dry fire and auto engaging mechanisms, making it a safe crossbow for beginners or seasoned bow hunters.

It is also a very comfortable crossbow to hold because of the adjustable stock and foregrip. It is very cost-effective for those who have not enough money. The CenterPoint Sniper is a cheap crossbow, and it is fully adjustable. Excalibur Assassin TD is currently the quietest crossbow on the market. We first listed CamX A4 as the quietest crossbow, but unfortunately, CamX announced that they have decided to discontinue the CamX brand. The design of this hunting crossbow is quieter, and the noise reduction system reduces noise and vibrations to a minimum.

Once found, you should not encounter any problems within the distance of yard. In general, the Excalibur Assassin TD is a powerful, precise, and affordable crossbow. The quiet is its key feature. The Excalibur crossbow is very durable and easy to maintain.

For beginners, it is easy to replace a string in the field with a recurve crossbow. When searching for the best adjustable crossbow for money, we finally rated the Killer Instinct Speed as No. To complete the adjustability, it is also compatible with the Dead Silent Crank. These features make it the best bow for hunting and target shooting. The Killer Instinct Crossbow has become known to release high-quality and high-speed crossbows at an affordable price. The stock length can be adjusted from 32 inches to The width of the bow is In order to reduce noise and vibration, the Killer Instinct crossbow is equipped with a string suppressor.

This is a fully adjustable hunting crossbow, very accurate, shoots arrows at a speed of FPS, and is equipped with a string suppressor for a stealthy shot. After using and testing the crossbow for a couple of days, we rated the TenPoint Viper S as the best crossbow with a built-in cocking device. I have to say it is pretty good. The TenPoint Viper S is a compact crossbow that is 32 inches long, 11 inches wide when uncocked, and only 7. With a draw weight of pounds, this crossbow can reach a speed of fps.

The safe and silent crank-cocking device is not the only high-quality feature of the TenPoint Viper S This crossbow is also equipped with an S1 trigger, a Tec-X stock, a micro-trac barrel, and a RangeMaster Pro crossbow scope.

The S1 trigger is one of the best triggers featured on this crossbow. A 2-stage zero-creep trigger with a smooth break looks great.