Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Crossbow recommendation

remingtonoaks
I have an opportunity to go to Texas to hunt some Hogs this fall, and then on to Louisiana to hunt alligator. Both of which I've never Hunted.

Now my uncle has a property in Texas where my cousin and I going to hunk the Hogs, he was describing the land. It is surrounded my dwellings on every side, somewhat in the distance, but still surrounded by dwellings. He says that I'm more than welcome to bring my firearms to hunt with, but he says he uses a crossbow for safety reasons, Which makes complete sense to me. He said I would probably be perfectly safe with a pistol. But I make sure and not use a pistol

Anyway I asked him about just using a compound bow and he said it would work but I may be limited in shots. Then suggested that I get a good crossbow to use if I don't want to use a firearm.

I asked him what He suggests for a crossbow and he said he is at his since the 90s and wouldn't know which way to point me.

My question is that I want a fairly good crossbow, but it will only be used once maybe twice, I'm not planning on going down there every year just maybe a few times. so I don't want to get into I really expensive one. Just one that'll do the job, what are you guys recommend

All recommendations will be greatly appreciated
0

Comments

17 comments

Date Votes
  • hillbille
    I would see if any of your friends or relatives has a good one you could borrow for the week, maybe buy em a few new arrows/bolts when you return it, unless you just want one to hang on wall and get dusty.
    0
  • gearheaddad
    My friend own s a pretty high end archery shop.
    He says only the Mathews is the way to go, everything else well.....not so much.
    Apparently Ravin used to be "it", but they were sold and now made in China. Now junk.
    For once or twice?
    Rent or borrow? Or?
    Let us know what you learn!
    0
  • remingtonoaks
    hillbille wrote:
    I would see if any of your friends or relatives has a good one you could borrow for the week, maybe buy em a few new arrows/bolts when you return it, unless you just want one to hang on wall and get dusty.

    Thank you hillbilly, but I've never been fond of borrowing anything. The way I figure it is if I mess it up I am I obligated to pay for it it. And if I'm going to pay something, I wouldn't mind keeping it. So instead of borrowing something I always buy it for myself. But thank you for your response
    0
  • remingtonoaks
    gearheaddad wrote:
    My friend own s a pretty high end archery shop.
    He says only the Mathews is the way to go, everything else well.....not so much.
    Apparently Ravin used to be "it", but they were sold and now made in China. Now junk.
    For once or twice?
    Rent or borrow? Or?
    Let us know what you learn!

    I never thought of renting one, I'll have to check into that. If something happens to it at least I wouldn't have to buy it. They have insurances that I can cover it with. Thanks again I'll check into that
    0
  • wpageabc
    It really depends on what you have to spend. When I bought my barnet crossbow my funds were limited. But satisfaction with it is high. My buddy has a ten point moded that fires at a higher rate of fps, (feet per second). They come with scopes with hash marks that are handy for calculating your arrow drops at certain ranges.

    What you do is calculate your expected distance for range and practice with whatever bow you choose and get a haybale and practice at measured distances to see what your drops are at say 30 40 meters etc in relation to your scope and hash marks on the scope your useing.

    Cabellas has a nice display of crossbows and highly recommend going there and kicking the tires and speaking with a salesman. Then shop around for a good price on what you like.

    Leave yourself some time to practice b4 you go. There are some things you need to figure out with crossbows. like loading arrows. Discarging arrows. Cocking the bow etc.
    0
  • lt496
    wpageabc wrote:
    It really depends on what you have to spend. When I bought my barnet crossbow my funds were limited. But satisfaction with it is high. My buddy has a ten point moded that fires at a higher rate of fps, (feet per second). They come with scopes with hash marks that are handy for calculating your arrow drops at certain ranges.

    What you do is calculate your expected distance for range and practice with whatever bow you choose and get a haybale and practice at measured distances to see what your drops are at say 30 40 meters etc in relation to your scope and hash marks on the scope your useing.

    Cabellas has a nice display of crossbows and highly recommend going there and kicking the tires and speaking with a salesman. Then shop around for a good price on what you like.

    Leave yourself some time to practice b4 you go. There are some things you need to figure out with crossbows. like loading arrows. Discarging arrows. Cocking the bow etc.

    Umm...you don't shoot modern crossbow bolts at hay-bales, they will pass completely through.

    Modern crossbows shoot bolts at sufficient velocity to pass through even standard archery targets for recurve and compound bows, or sink a bolt deeply enough in them to damage the bolt's fletching .

    One should get a target rated for crossbow bolts.
    0
  • lt496
    I have an opportunity to go to Texas to hunt some Hogs this fall, and then on to Louisiana to hunt alligator. Both of which I've never Hunted.

    Now my uncle has a property in Texas where my cousin and I going to hunk the Hogs, he was describing the land. It is surrounded my dwellings on every side, somewhat in the distance, but still surrounded by dwellings. He says that I'm more than welcome to bring my firearms to hunt with, but he says he uses a crossbow for safety reasons, Which makes complete sense to me. He said I would probably be perfectly safe with a pistol. But I make sure and not use a pistol

    Anyway I asked him about just using a compound bow and he said it would work but I may be limited in shots. Then suggested that I get a good crossbow to use if I don't want to use a firearm.

    I asked him what He suggests for a crossbow and he said he is at his since the 90s and wouldn't know which way to point me.

    My question is that I want a fairly good crossbow, but it will only be used once maybe twice, I'm not planning on going down there every year just maybe a few times. so I don't want to get into I really expensive one. Just one that'll do the job, what are you guys recommend

    All recommendations will be greatly appreciated

    This is an excellent resource for evaluating and selecting the right crossbow for one's needs. http://www.bestcrossbowsource.com/

    I have a Carbon Express Covert CX-3 SL and am happy with it. https://www.grandviewoutdoors.com/gear/outdoors/carbon-express-covert-cx-3-sl
    0
  • Mobuck
    I have a Barnett that I've used off and on for 10 years. It's no longer the fastest but it's as accurate as a rifle out to 50 yards. Get a rangefinder and find your drop out to the limit you can make good hits. Be mindful of cross winds. The longer the power stroke(and bolt) the more "power" the cross bow can impart to the bolt.
    0
  • mstrblaster
    I got a cross bow last fall. I asked everyone I knew, and even salespeople what the difference between the various ones really was. Price and speed, along with how quiet and or smoothly they shoot.
    I went to Cabelas on a slow night. They have a range in house (Kansas city store). The salesman picked up several and let me shoot them. I picked out the one I thought shot the best/smoothest and was in my price range. I ended up with a wicked ridge warrior by ten point. Made in America and lifetime warranty for around $400. I shot 2 deer with it. Meat in the freezer!! And fun to shoot!!
    0
  • BikerBob
    I also bought a wicked ridge by 10 points. Very happy with it. Deer seem to drop faster with that than the muzzle loader. Accurate as can be.

    As was mentioned above, get a crossbow target and a de-cocking bolt, they have a large flat head, so it doesn?t penetrate.
    0
  • Gregor62
    Another vote for the Wicked Ridge. Their Warrior models are an excellent quality out of the box bow. The trigger is exceptional for an intro level unit. My wife has had great success with the one I bought her 3 years ago, with 5 whitetail kills.

    As mentioned, the bow is only part of your investment. A good quality target will run nearly a hundred bucks, and then you get to make a decision on which broad head to buy, and they are around 30-40 bucks for a pack of three, depending on brand. Make sure when you practice, your field tip weight is matched with the broad head.

    I shoot a Barnett Ghost 420, and can't unload at less than 20 yards without damaging bolt vanes, an expensive lesson learned.
    0
  • RobOz
    Excalibur Micro
    0
  • remingtonoaks
    Thanks for the response is guys. I'll have to check into what you guys are recommending.
    0
  • Chief Shaway
    Check your local C list and paper for used ones.

    Some people will get one, use it a couple years, then upgrade.

    Since your use with it will be limited, it might be the way to go.
    0
  • remingtonoaks
    Chief Shaway wrote:
    Check your local C list and paper for used ones.

    Some people will get one, use it a couple years, then upgrade.

    Since your use with it will be limited, it might be the way to go.

    Excellent idea. That is exactly what I plan on doing. I was just wondering what people here recommend to look for
    0
  • Chief Shaway
    Please keep us posted on your hunt.

    Sounds like a great time to me.

    Enjoy.
    0
  • remingtonoaks
    Chief Shaway wrote:
    Please keep us posted on your hunt.

    Sounds like a great time to me.

    Enjoy.

    Absolutely I will, I don't know when I'm going to be going. My cousin invited myself, my son and his girlfriend. And I'm not for sure when they can get time off from work to go, they both work for USPS, and their vacations have already been decided for this year. But there is always personal and sick leave that they can use. But my cousin says it's an open invitation. so if not this year, for sure next year. Apparently where he's taking us alligator hunting is in Alabama, and their alligator hunting season is in September.

    I will enjoy the hog hunting, I've never been. But I'm really looking forward to go hunting alligators. That's something that I thought I would never have an opportunity to do so. Least wise without paying an arm and a leg for a guide
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity