Crossbow recommendations

[Arty]

I'm looking for a good crossbow. Doesn't have to be to be tip top of the line, but I do want a good one.
I have absolutely no clue where to start. Help a brother out and give me some suggestions.

[Booger]

My son is the archery guy at our Basspro shop and he says Tenpoint is hands down the best. But god they are proud of em.

[Booger]

Just got off the phone and he still stands behind Tenpoint but said the new Barnetts are best VALUE. Cheaper but good.

[Buckrub]

TenPoints are great. But heavy.

I have a Barnett Predator. I've killed, like........um.......zero stuff with it. But it hits the bullseye at 80 yards every time. Have a scope with five "lines" on it. Rather than setting it so that each 'line' is whatever in the reticle, I took the target and moved it over and over, one 'line' at a time, and moved to where that particular line hit the bullseye. There were 5 'lines' on the reticle, and the 5th one hit at 80 yards. They were at 20, 35, 50, 60, 80 yards..............

First time I shot it at a deer, it literally came apart in my hands. Barnett said they'd never seen such a thing, and fixed it 100% at no charge, including shipping. New one works flawlessly.

Purists, however, do like the Excalibur, because it has no cams. But it's also heavy.

[Arty]

I've looked at Barnett. Excalibur is priiiicey. Tenpoint I'll have to look in to.

[Arty]

Heck even Barnett's run from 300 to 1000.

[Buckrub]

So?

I charge $100 an hour to provide my expertise, and I don't even know nuthin'. You want Chinese junk? Here:

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/sa-sports-175-lb-fever-crossbow-package.aspx?a=959330

[Captain]

I have an antique Barnett. And I mean OLD! But I have never failed to pick up a dead animal when I've shot it. Two years ago I had about 10 to 12 little young pigs in at the feeder and waited till two of them lined up right and actually shot two pigs with one bolt. Little 40 pounders.
I need a new crossbow but this old one has a hand crank that I can cock and uncock with. That is something hard to find now adays.... Most of the guys at the hunt club all are carrying 10 Points and I'll probably lean that way when and if I get around to replacing it.
The trigger on my crossbow would have to improve a lot to get up to "awful" it's about 30 pounds (seems like) with massive creep. Several years ago one of the limbs broke and I called Barnett and they laughed and said they had not made parts for that bow in years. They did give me a fellers name and phone number in Pa that purchased all remaining stock years ago. I called him and shipped the crossbow to him and he fixed it good as new.
I do have a couple of AR-15's and there is a company that makes a crossbow that uses your lower receiver from an AR-15 and converts it to a crossbow. I might go that route.
My issue with spending that kind of money on the AR route is Gun season in SC runs the same time Bow season in NC is in and more and more I'm hunting with a rifle in SC instead of bow hunting.
Take Care, Captain

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[Booger]

Jezus keerist alert the media. It looks like we all agree!!!

[Buckrub]

I couldn't cock mine if I had two weeks...................

Unless I have this thing. Then it's a snap:

http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_30027_-1__?N=297525498&affcode=42&kwid=ps_cse&cid=PLA_0016252694&gclid=CMmU3OfelbwCFZRr7Aod4EQAtQ

[Arty]

So?

I charge $100 an hour to provide my expertise, and I don't even know nuthin'. You want Chinese junk? Here:

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/sa-sports-175-lb-fever-crossbow-package.aspx?a=959330

SO do I spend 300 or 1000. That's what I meant.

[Buckrub]

Neither. Get this. It's what I have, it's much lighter than Ten Point or Excalibur, it works like a champ, and it's half of a thou'. No shipping or sales tax here.

http://www.amazon.com/Barnett-Predator-Crossbow-Package-Scope/dp/B00149TTBW

[Booger]

Barnett Quad 400 package is only 400 bucks at BP

[Buckrub]

The foot through stirrup is a neat feature, worth some bucks. IMHO.

[Booger]

All of the barnett models have a stirrurp or a boot slot

[Captain]

Bucky, how do you un-cock the bow with that rope thingy?

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[Captain]

PSE makes the AR-15 crossbow.

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[Buckrub]

Uncock? I shoot a blank bolt into the ground. Pick it up and go home.

Cocking is a breeze with it.

[Buckrub]

Um............yeah, Boog.......but I meant as an integral part of the bow part. It lengthens the power stroke considerably.

[Booger]

I looked at crossbow upper. Cool idea and if you have a decent trigger on your AR it solves one of the biggest crossbow problems.

[Booger]

Got ya Bucky.

[Buckrub]

I hate my trigger too. I also hate the 'safety' on the trigger. But apparently, no crossbows are any better at this.

[Captain]

I don't want to have to shoot a bolt to uncock. What I have is a built in crank that will allow you in cock or uncock. Read no noise from shooting it in the ground. Much, much better system that shooting to uncock. And you don't have to carry around a bolt just to shoot in the ground.
This is/will be a requirement when I replace my crossbow.

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[Buckrub]

I can see that.

But it's never been a real issue to just carry one blank bolt and shoot it. Just don't shoot it dry!!!! But I can see the advantage of the crank cocker. I just don't have it, so the rope cocker really is a great compromise. It lets me go from "I can't do that" to "I can do that fine".

[Arty]

I like that one Bucky.
I'm gonna look at that quad 400 package too.

[Buckrub]

I don't know that I'd shoot a deer at 80 yards...........but I can hit the bullseye at 80 all day with that setup.

Len cannot comment on this thread.

That is all.

[Trav]

I have the quad 400 and have been really happy with it.

[Niner]

Ain't it funny how not all that many years ago...before crossbows were legalized for deer hunting....they were considered a "novelty", and you couldn't hardly give one away???

Nowadays, you'll spend as much or more than the cost of a nice rifle on one!!!!

Bow season here in GA is toooo hot and buggy for me to get out into the woods. Dad always said one of the best things about his bow was he could hold it out in front of him to catch spider webs as he walked through the woods. :)

[Chicken Dinner]

I've got an Excaliber and absolutely love it. Like others have mentioned, it's heavy and cumbersome. But, I think most of them are. I like the fact that's a recurve and has a lot less moving parts. I've never shot a deer with it, but it kills bears dead.

[Buckrub]

Barnett Predator........$500 in latest Natchez catalog.

[Arty]

I am going to bass pro tomorrow so I can put my hands on some and figure out what I like and don't like.

[Buckrub]

I made my decision about 65% on weight. And cumbersomeness, if that's a word. Speed mattered some, and for sure the Barnett shoots to 75 yards easily. How many do that, I don't know. Everyone said 10 points were the best, but they were 5 lbs heavier than the Barnett.

Problem is, unless you go to an archery store, you can't shoot 'em to try 'em out. If you have a buddy with one, try that first.

[Thumper]

Bucky quote;


Problem is, unless you go to an archery store, you can't shoot 'em to try 'em out. If you have a buddy with one, try that first.

I bought mine at BPS and shot it in their indoor range before purchasing it.

[Buckrub]

Oh. Well, we just got our FIRST BPS in this state last month, and it's been a while since I have been in one. I don't care much for them, they are the Walmart of sporting goods, and prices weren't great last time I went. But they're ok. I didn't know they had ranges. My bad.

[Thumper]

I don't know if they all do or not. A very good buddy (and hunting partner) of mine managed the BPS in Orlando and that's where I bought it. I seldom go into any other store so I don't know if the range is the norm or not. I also bought my compound bow there ... same deal, shot it before I bought it. BTW ... the "range" is simply a single-lane deal (for bows) ... not a full-fledged shooting range.