Compound vs crossbow

[74MOPAR]

2 part question- 1)how many have made the switch to a crossbow and what are your thoughts? I'm still pretty young (46)
But my neck and shoulder stay jacked up half the time. Just not sure I'm ready to give up my pse. Might be nice to have another option and also my wife could shoot it. Not crazy about having to chocolate chip cookie it and shoot it every time though .

2) pse has a good looking coalition crossbow for $270 and you can get a center point sniper for $230. Any input on these?

 

[Snake]

I have a cross bow but bought for my grandson , I hunted with it once down @ the plant and I actually killed a decent eight point with it but I'm a compound bow man . I really like my Matthews ! I've got a bad shoulder that gives me fits @ times and I'm 66 so in the future I may have to go to one .

 

[Midnight rider]

I have a very bad back and was forced to use a crossbow for a little over 10 years. It was a great option for me and I truly enjoyed it. Last year I picked up a compound bow again and man did I enjoy going back. These newer bows are awesome and I am going to stick with the compound for as long as I can but I am sure I will eventually have to switch back to the crossbow.

 

[EastTNHunter]

Pros and cons to both. I'm about to turn 40 and don't have any real trouble drawing a bow, but have some really poor muscle memory that messes with my mechanics that come from years of construction work. If I don't practice regularly with my compound bow then I tend to really flub up shots and have wounded several deer because of it. July, August and September are my busiest months at work so I can't find the time to practice right before season, but the crossbow isn't as bad about mechanics. I've gone back to the crossbow this year and am looking forward to using it.

Crossbows are harder to reload for a second shot, and are more cumbersome in the woods for sure

 

[larry ipock]

If not for my back an shoulder, I'd still hunt with a compound. Been hunting with xbow since "05. They are cumbersome and noisy. Don't have to worry about getting caught pulling it back. And it feels a little like cheating every time I kill a deer with one. But it's still a bow.

 

[tahtah]

It's probably been 12-15 years ago, but I went from a compound to a crossbow. My compound bow was old and it was time to upgrade, so I went the crossbow route. As mentioned, there are pros and cons to both. The pros are pretty obvious.

The biggest cons for me were:

* They are bulky and hard to carry. Mine was actually heavy.
* They are dangerous. A hunting buddy said this about his, "it's the most dangerous weapon I've ever carried". He wasn't referring to the intended prey. I'm sure you've seen the pics of fingers that got in the way of the string. And the limbs have so much pressure on them, it's scary to think of what might happen should something break. Also keep in mind that once you chocolate chip cookie it, it has to be fired or uncocked somehow. That's another opportunity for something to go wrong.

I've gone back to a compound and the new bows are really nice. Again, the new crossbows are much improved too and they have some advantages. For me, I'd only go to a crossbow if I couldn't use a compound. That's just my 2 cents.

 

[Mr.Bro]

For you guys that are hurting when you pull your compound. When you get to the point where you cannt pull it back. Well your at the point of needing a shoulder replacement.
My orthopedic doc says quit now or replace the shoulder in a couple years. I still have my compound. Its hard to give up after 50 years of hunting with it.
Crossbow s heavy? Yeah a little heavier. Lighten up on everything else you carry in. Yep you got to reload them but with very little practice you should not have to in a hunting situation .Crossbows very accurate? You bet they are. Dangerous? Not any more than a compound. Ever see a compound string or limb break? I have . It aint pretty.
Try a crossbow. You just may like it.

 

[fairchaser]

A crossbow will get you back into the woods. I was having trouble seeing in low light and wounding deer. That's unacceptable to me, so I switched and never regretted it. I am deadly out to 40 yards. But, it takes some practice getting through the woods and manipulating it up in a tree. Shooting one is pretty easy.

As far as unloading one, if you shoot an Excalibur, you can safely uncock it, no problem.

 

[Shanman]

I'm glad you guys that have medical conditions have an option that keeps you in the woods during Archery season. The thought of not being able to use a compound again would really crush me. But, if I had to switch over, I would definitely be looking into the Hickory Creek Mini. It just looks tons lighter and more maneuverable than a regular Xbow.

 

[Rob-HC Hunter]

I switched last season to a Ravin crossbow. I found that I didn't have time to practice and stay sharp with my compound.

The accuracy and kinetic energy are undeniable with a crossbow. The technology has made huge advancements in the last few years.

I shot a decent deer last year that was quartered toward me in the shoulder that was about to spook. The bolt passed throw and came out on the opposite hind quarter. I would have never considered taking that shot with my compound.


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[philsanchez76]

I'm glad you guys that have medical conditions have an option that keeps you in the woods during Archery season. The thought of not being able to use a compound again would really crush me. But, if I had to switch over, I would definitely be looking into the Hickory Creek Mini. It just looks tons lighter and more maneuverable than a regular Xbow.

Yes! I just picked up a Hickory Creek Mini and it only weighs 5 pounds. It shoots regular arrows, not bolts. And you can decock it yourself without shooting into a bag. I love this thing.

 

[timberjack86]

I hunt on the ground mostly and a crossbow just makes sense for that type of hunting.

 

[reloadxx]

I am 39 and I switched to a crossbow this year do to many reason I bought a tenppint turbo m1 and I love it.

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[Bone Collector]

I found that I didn't have time to practice and stay sharp with my compound.

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This^^^ Once that happened, I switched. It is easier to sight in and hit your target consistently. i have killed deer with a compound, and for the most part, if I'm being honest, most people that hunt with compounds and refuse to switch do so out of pride. Either they think it is more challenging (it is, but just a little more challenging) or they feel like it is less manly to use a CB. Again I have killed with a compound, I have nothing to prove. I say shoot what gives you the best chance to ETHICALLY kill a deer.

They are heavier, but they are accurate and super fast. They will punch a hole straight through a deer.

Rob, I want a Ravin, but I do not have the money to get one...... Yet.

 

[double browtine]

I still shoot a compound but I would not hesitate to switch to a crossbow. I have an old school pse recurve crossbow that I bought from Sportsman's Warehouse years ago. I killed a turkey with it and shot a decent buck with it about 10 years ago, but I never found him. I think it was a high hit and he blend internally. Never found by bolt or any blood.
Any way, I know some people are compound bow only hunters, and some hunt each season, archery, muzzy, and gun. I just enjoy hunting deer and I don't care about the weapon I am using to harvest them. I would really like to get a Ravin, but I can't justify the cost.

My Dad has an Excalibur Exomax. I will probably hunt with it one day when he stops hunting. He is 82 and still enjoys going, but he hasn't killed a deer in quite a few years. He enjoys taking my son's hunting when I can't get them in the woods due to work.

 

[Andy S.]

Still shooting/hunting with my Switchback from 2006. It's been restrung several times but I still think it shoots better than me.

 

[Rakkin6]

I made the switch to a crossbow last year due to some shoulder and elbow issues. The wife bought me the Tenpoint Stealth NXT last year and I love it. It shoots great, it is a little heavy bought I bought a sling and it is not to bad to carry at all.

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[medwc]

I made the switch to a crossbow last year due to some shoulder and elbow issues. The wife bought me the Tenpoint Stealth NXT last year and I love it. It shoots great, it is a little heavy bought I bought a sling and it is not to bad to carry at all.

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And it cost a ton of $$$!!!

Tenpoint that is, I have the Shadow NXT.

 

[Rakkin6]

Lol it was my retirement and Christmas present. But yes they do cost a ton of money.

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[41Magnum]

Shot a compound for years till my shoulder started giving me fits a few years ago and I purchased a cross bow last year ( used) but didn't get to hunt with it. I've been shooting it this year and I feel confident enough to hit the woods with it this fall. All those years swinging on and off rail cars going way to fast has caught up with me.
It's a Hoyt with a sling and a red dot sight. Shoots really well.

 

[megalomaniac]

I hunted with a crossbow for the first time last year. For some reason to me, the method of take doesn't mean squat. I only kill mature bucks, and my encounters with them are so infrequent, that I want to be holding the most efficient legal weapon for that season if i get an encounter, as i probably won't get a second chance.

I prefer my compound for ease of carrying (mine is 4lbs fully tricked out), confidence with the weapon (ive killed a pile of deer and 3 elk with compound bows... zero with crossbow), and quietness of the compound vs the crossbow.

I prefer the crossbow for decreased movement (dont need to draw), increased utility in hunting situations (small ground blind or spot and stalk), and less practice needed to achieve the same proficiency compared to a compound.

I'll be carrying my crossbow again this velvet hunt, mostly because I won't be hunting from a treestand, but hunting spot and stalk around the bean fields again.

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[Andy S.]

But yes they do cost a ton of money.

New higher end crossbows (Tenpoint, Ravin, etc), electric bikes and side by sides are out of this world. Not directed at you, or anyone else, just stating their prices are climbing like nobody's business.

 

[Rakkin6]

Yeah I am going to get a 4 wheeler next to help me drag deer out. Just looking at a Honda Rancher 4x4. Side by side are great but I am not paying that much just to haul some gear and a deer out.

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[redblood]

I went and bought a new bow and i am excited. I havent hunted with a bow in a decade. But want to take advmatge of late october and early november movement. Man is this bow fast. A lot had changed. But im excited

 

[dsa5455]

I have no experience or opinions about the two weapons you mentioned. I have an old Matthews MQ1 and always enjoyed the heck out of practicing and hunting with it. My crossbow is much more heavy, cumbersome, and louder than my Matthews but it will kill deer and that is what is important.

 

[bds240]

I made the switch to a crossbow last year due to some shoulder and elbow issues. The wife bought me the Tenpoint Stealth NXT last year and I love it. It shoots great, it is a little heavy bought I bought a sling and it is not to bad to carry at all.

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And it cost a ton of $$$!!!

Tenpoint that is, I have the Shadow NXT.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/tenpoint-stealth-nxt-crossbow-package-with-acudraw-50

Its on clearance