I cannot tell you how many hours I spent looking for the perfect crossbow for myself before I purchased my Carbon Express Intercept. Everyone has different needs and there is a crossbow on the market to meet those needs. Here is an article I wrote on some of the basics to look for when purchasing a crossbow.
Rule number one when it comes to purchasing a crossbow is
that they are not quiet. Doesn't matter what brand or how new. Some are quieter
but they are all loud. But most are so fast it doesn't matter how loud they
are. You will be surprised if you have never been around crossbows before and
you go shoot some just how loud crossbows are. Even the brand-new ones right
off the line are noisy.
Another key factor is weight and length. They can get
heavy and long. The lightest you will find is around 8 pounds. That is with
everything detached, quiver etc. You also find them to be real long. They can
be somewhat cumbersome, especially for someone who has never shot one before.
But you will get used to it.
Price is always an object. But I would suggest buying the
best you can afford. To fully package out everything that you need to shoot/hunt,
you can expect to pay around $800-$1500. For just the bare crossbow expect to
pay around $300-$1000. This might seem like a lot to pay for but it will last
you a lifetime if you take care of your equipment and follow the maintenance
recommendations.
There are two main kinds of crossbows, recurve and
compound. Recurve crossbows are more user-friendly for the first timer. Just
like everything, less parts equals less breakdowns and it is no different with
crossbows. I would suggest recurve if I were a beginner. Some have lifetime
warranty on their lines of recurve crossbows. Companies that make compound
crossbows offer warranties but most of them are limited. Compound crossbows are
not that complicated, they just need more attention and maintenance.
There are also options on how to cock your crossbow. Most
if not all come with some type of rope cocking or pulley system to cock the bow.
Some come with a hand crank built-in to the crossbow. Others come with
detachable hand cranks. Built-in are real nice just because they are handy and
you're never looking for your cocker.
There are also options on which type of sights you would
like to use. There are open sights, dot sights and scopes. There are many
different brands available that are made specifically for crossbows. Make sure
to check your state regulations on what magnifications are allowed in your
state while hunting. Familiarity, good field of view, durability and light
gathering are also factors when considering which type of sight to put on your
crossbow.
When you start looking for arrows for your crossbow you
will be amazed at how many are available. It all depends on what you want to
spend. But I will say this, you get what you pay for. There are some companies
out there that will spine test every arrow before they send it to you. Others
are just mass-produced. But they all have their place. The most important thing
is to get the right weight and arrow length that is recommended by your
crossbow manufacture.
When you have picked out your arrow the next thing to
look at is which broadhead you are going to use. Fixed or mechanical is your
first decision. This is like a Chevy versus Ford deal. Everyone has their
favorite. But every crossbow has their favorite also. It is just going to take
time and patience to figure out which broadhead shoots best with the arrow you
choose for your crossbow. The combinations of these three things are endless. Remember
to check your state regulations for which broadheads are legal.
Every year there seems to be more and more companies
coming out with their own line of crossbows. Some companies have been around
for years while others are just jumping in the market. So there are tons of
options out there. You can spend as little or as much as you want. The one good
thing about all of these companies getting into the crossbow business is all of
the new technology and innovations that have been made specifically for crossbows.
And just like everything, there are good companies to deal with and there are
not so good companies to deal with. You will find out which ones are the good
ones very early.
Remember, nothing is better than getting out and shooting
as many brands as you can. Each is different, and each has their pros and cons.
The old adage is true, shoot more… shoot more often.
Thanks for reading, Clint.
