What features do you deem important in a crossbow

[shogan]

Ok, I am weighing the options and putting aside brand and looks what options do you deem important.

SPEED how important is it to break the 300 fps or more compared to like the lower speeds of 260fps. Do you rank speed over anything else like is 345 a must have over 300?

Adjustable sigts. How important is having adjustable yardage dials (does that come into play more with red dot scopes).

What about cocking do you think Rope does a good job or is a pulley a must for perfect alignment every time.

What other features do you think need to be considered.

[Willie]

"SPEED how important is it to break the 300 fps or more compared to like the lower speeds of 260fps. Do you rank speed over anything else like is 345 a must have over 300?"

ALL IN MY OPINION.....

Willie - Speed is more important IF you are going to be shooting 40+ yards. The speed buys you a flatter trajectory and thus lessens yardage judgment errors.

For 30 yards and in it really doesn't matter a lot.

The faster a bow (crossbow or vertical) the more subject it is to damage.

300+ fps is what most people like.

"Adjustable sights. How important is having adjustable yardage dials (does that come into play more with red dot scopes)."

Willie - I consider that very important. I do not like to have to remember to hold a little low at 20 a little high at 30 and way high at 40. I definetely don't like "aiming at air" as in holding over a deer's back.

I want marks that are right on at the distance I am shooting.

I HIGHLY recommend a scope with 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50-yard marks. Excalibur sells a VariZone scope that is adjustable to the speed of the crossbow. Shoot your 20 yard mark in, adjust the speed dial to match your crossbow and the rest of marks will be right on.

"What about cocking do you think Rope does a good job or is a pulley a must for perfect alignment every time."

Willie - Either one will center the string each and every time. My opinion - Unless you have upper body problems that will not allow you to use a rope cocking aid I would not use a cranking device. It is very cumbersome. By all means use a rope cocking aid as it will center the string and it helps on accuracy.

"What other features do you think need to be considered."

Willie - Accuracy is the most important.

Buy quality and you will never be disappointed.

[Kansas]

Shogan,

Speed is certainly not the best asset a crossbow can have. It should be one of many factors. Here is my list of features that one should consider when looking at crossbows.

Accuracy- well made parts and good barrel to stock hook up. This generally means metal to metal. Plastic to metalisn't as solid and will eventually wear and flex. There is a lot of stress at this joint.

Trigger- well made or preferably machined parts. 3-5lb trigger pull. This will mean consistency and accuracy also.

Speed- as long as the bow shoots over about 275, it doesn't make much difference. At that speed, you are getting to the target quickly and you should have good kinetic energy.

Durability- do some research on how well the product holds up. (both 10Point and excalibur are very good)

Ease of use- does the bow fit comfortably for you. Regardless of the bows ability, if you are not comfortable holding it, you won't shoot it well or trust it.

Cocking- you need to be able to cock the bow-this will vary by personal ability. There are rope cockers and built in mechanisms. The most accurate and consistent will have a post down the middle of the barrel and the outside as well. This insures the bow gets pulled straight back. Most rope cockers are not super consistent, but they are less expensive. You will have to decide

Warranty service- I stress service ther. A lifetime warranty is great, but not if it breaks and takes 6 weeks to get fixed. Both 10Point and Excalibur lead the field here too, in my opinion.

Optics are personal preference. Most crossbow scopes have multiple dots or mutiple lines. Don't try and put a $40 rifle reddot on a crossbow because there is a good chance it won't hold up over time. The recoil is different from a firearm (shhh this is because it's archery equipment).

That my take, for what it is worth. You have to look at the big picture and not one piece. Get the best that you can afford.

Kansas

[Kansas]

Nice post Willie! Good points!

[plowboy]

The more I read on these posts the more I realize that I know less than squat about a xbow. Have always thought they were just a more efficient bow, obvously not. I have a lot to learn.

[Willie]

The more I read on these posts the more I realize that I know less than squat about a xbow. Have always thought they were just a more efficient bow, obvously not. I have a lot to learn.


http://www.excaliburcrossbow.com/video.html

[wabi]

I find #1 priority accuracy. If you can't shoot tight groups the type sight and speed really don't mean much. I'd have to rate speed as very important in determining your maximum range for hunting, especially with whitetails. I found 300 fps compared to 250 fps gave me a good 8-10 yard increase in the maximum ethical range. Shooting at 310 fps I feel safe with a 30 yard shot. With a 250 fps arrow I had a buck actually drop enough the arrow went over his back at 31 yards, with a 30 yards shot at 310 fps I used the wrong yardage mark in the scope (used 20 yard crosshair at 30 yards) and the arrow went harmlessly under a doe's belly (just where the correct yardage mark was aimed). She obviously didn't have time to react to the noise at 30 yards with a velocity of 310 fps., but she was as close to calm and relaxed as a whitetail ever gets (head down & feeding).

I used an Excalibur "vari-zone" scope for a long time and it's great for known yardages out to 50 yards - if you remember to use the correct mark! I've botched a few 3-D shots with the wrong mark, and missed the doe mentioned above because of the same reason. I switched to a 2X magnification red-dot sight just a few weeks ago to test for a while. I find with it sighted in at 25 yards and an arrow velocity of about 300 fps (290+) I hit 2 1/2" high at 10 yards, 1" high at 20, 1" low at 30, and about 10" low at 40. Any shot at a deer in the 0-30 yard range would be well within the vitals with a dead-on hold, and my mental lapses at which mark to use are taken out of the equation. If I adjust my hold to compensate for trajectory I'm usually able to whack a softball sized target out to 40 yards every shot! I may change my mind about which sight to use (I've thought about tenpoint's red-dot with only 3 dots for 20-30-40), but the single dot sure simplifies it for my feeble old mind.

Accessories:
Not really a part of the crossbow, but I wouldn't go hunting without a good range finder. Guessing at the yardage is not a good game plan in my opinion. I even go as far as to put out permanent yardage markers at my regular stands. I found a bunch of colored plastic softballs in a creek and salvaged them. From my stand I have green @ 10, yellow @ 20, red @ 30, and blue @ 40 yards. They make good targets for unloading when the hunting is over, too!:D

[shogan]

IF one mark at the right distance works for a red dot wouldn't it work for a typical scope as well. In other words in you found the correct sighting distance to be 25 yards to effectively cover all distances.

With that said do you want to sell the one scope you replaced.

[wabi]

IF one mark at the right distance works for a red dot wouldn't it work for a typical scope as well. In other words in you found the correct sighting distance to be 25 yards to effectively cover all distances.

With that said do you want to sell the one scope you replaced.



Yes, a scope would work as well, and I've already sold the vari-zone.