Getting into Crossbows/Crossbow Rifles?

[Bender]

Just curious if anyone owns one. Any experiences. I was thinking about getting into it. Ammo would be cheaper and I'm pretty sure you could reuse your arrows. Not to mention you could practice in your backyard unlike a firearm.

[AdMech]

You can reuse your bolts within reason. Don't reuse any obviously broken or bent ones, or you could end up shooting a hole in yourself like I did. They will all get fucked up eventually. I think you'd have a lot of fun with it, although I enjoy archery more than... crossbowing.

If your backyard isn't very large, it's probably not suitable for a crossbow either, though.

[Bender]

Originally Posted by AdMech

although I enjoy archery more than... crossbowing.

An archers bow I mean. I forgot there hunters bows and archer bows.

[AdMech]

Then I say go for it even more. I like shooting most weapons, but my longbow is my most prized possession. It's also what I ended up shooting myself with (a split arrow caught the limb and drove itself into my hand), but that was my fault. Arrows will last you much longer than crossbow bolts, too.

They go really far, though. Even a 25-lb pull kid's bow can stick an arrow in someone. Be careful with backyard archery.

[The Savage]

Your basic kinds of bow are:

Longbow - Which English archers put to good use centuries ago.
Recurve - A more modern kind of longbow (still 100's of year old)
Compound - Modern ones that use pullies, which are what hunters typically use.
Recurve Crossbow - A high draw weight recurve strapped to a gun stock
Compound Crossbow - Compound bow strapped to a gun stock.

Groundhog whacka might be able to help you more.

[Bender]

Originally Posted by The Savage

Your basic kinds of bow are:

Longbow - Which English archers put to good use centuries ago.
Recurve - A more modern kind of longbow (still 100's of year old)
Compound - Modern ones that use pullies, which are what hunters typically use.
Recurve Crossbow - A high draw weight recurve strapped to a gun stock
Compound Crossbow - Compound bow strapped to a gun stock.

Groundhog whacka might be able to help you more.

Thanks alot.

What do you think would be good for a beginner? I've only shot a bow once, and I used a Compound, which I enjoyed.

[ilovechronic]

Originally Posted by Pandoras Assassin

Thanks alot.

What do you think would be good for a beginner? I've only shot a bow once, and I used a Compound, which I enjoyed.

compound. There really are not many advantages of a crossbow over a compound bow.

[AdMech]

Originally Posted by Pandoras Assassin

Thanks alot.

What do you think would be good for a beginner? I've only shot a bow once, and I used a Compound, which I enjoyed.

Compounds can be a little easier to aim at first, depending on the bow, but really one is as good as another. Crossbows, of course, are easiest of all in terms of hitting your target.

My longbow is more unwieldy to haul around than a recurve or compound, due to its size, but I got into archery specifically because of the English longbow*, so it was a good choice for me. Recurve bows have just as illustrious of a history, though.

I don't like compound bows, partly because I'm a history buff and partly because they just look ugly to me, but they're definitely good for hunting purposes.

*Look up the battle of Agincourt... or look up the Mongols, for some recurve action.

[ilovechronic]

Originally Posted by AdMech

Compounds can be a little easier to aim at first, depending on the bow, but really one is as good as another. Crossbows, of course, are easiest of all in terms of hitting your target.

My longbow is more unwieldy to haul around than a recurve or compound, due to its size, but I got into archery specifically because of the English longbow*, so it was a good choice for me. Recurve bows have just as illustrious of a history, though.

I don't like compound bows, partly because I'm a history buff and partly because they just look ugly to me, but they're definitely good for hunting purposes.

*Look up the battle of Agincourt... or look up the Mongols, for some recurve action.

That is VERY arguable.

[AdMech]

Originally Posted by ilovechronic

That is VERY arguable.

Maybe so; I've only shot crossbows a couple times, borrowing them from others at the range. I actually performed worse with them, but I assumed for a beginner the "point and click" nature of a crossbow would be easier. Not that you don't have to learn to aim at more distant targets.

[ilovechronic]

Originally Posted by AdMech

Maybe so; I've only shot crossbows a couple times, borrowing them from others at the range. I actually performed worse with them, but I assumed for a beginner the "point and click" nature of a crossbow would be easier. Not that you don't have to learn to aim at more distant targets.

Compound bow+release is like a rifle.