Comparing Crossbows To Archery Bows

Long-established archery members have debated that crossbows are more like a gun than a bow because they require little practice and it doesn't have the same challenging skills to tag the hunt as compared to traditional archery equipment.  This is one of the reasons why crossbows have gained favoritism among hunters.

What was once an ancient weapon during the medieval times or a bow of choice for those that couldn't draw a common bow is becoming a new option for conventional and new hunters?  States are relaxing the restrictions on crossbows in which standard archery equipment is used and some states changed the age and physical requirements for hunters who want to use a crossbow.  We have a complete list of all the Department of Natural Resources by State so you can check on your state's regulations.

Another reason crossbows attract new hunters is because a crossbow can remain in the drawn to shoot position or cocked and anyone that can lift a crossbow can surely hunt with it.  Crossbows are light and may also be used in conjunction with stands, monopods or equipment to help find a target and steadily hold the line of shot.

Crossbows don't have much in common with a compound bow or a recurve – longbow.  Compound bows and crossbows rely on the energy that is stored from the use of wheels or cams that increase arrow speed.  A traditional bow hunter uses a bow with a draw weight of about 70 lbs, but a crossbow draw weights can be up to 175 lbs.  It might seem like a bullet compared to a bowling ball, but both of them shoot arrows (bolts) at about the same speed because the limbs on a crossbow are much shorter.  High quality compounds can thrust an arrow at 300 fps (feet per second).  A crossbow that shoots in the same 300 fps range will also shoot up to 350, but the extra speed doesn't give any advantages in the field.

Advancements in speed and accuracy have been helped by tech advancements, but what hasn't changed much is the weight.  They usually weigh 7 to 10 pounds, which is as much as a standard rifle or more, but they can also be an encumbrance because of the limbs.  But you don't really want a light crossbow because it is less accurate and has a kick.  More energy is transferred backwards with a light crossbow.

Are expensive crossbows worth the price?

A crossbow can cost upwards of $1,000 but will include a lot of accessories in a packaged deal.  The package usually includes a scope, quiver, arrows and an assortment of other accessories.  A cocking device comes with the crossbow and it aids in drawing the string back into the cocked position.  They are not required but it is a feature that is well worth the money spent.  Although you don't need to spend more than a grand to buy a nice crossbow, cheaper bows from notable manufacturers will tag a deer just as good as an expensive crossbow.

One downfall to a crossbow is that it isn't too quiet, because the short limbs and high speeds create as surprising vibration that may spook a deer.  It is just something that we can't get away from and no manufacturer can change it because that is just the dynamics on how they are made.  Even the most high end quality crossbows have a loud twanging noise when they are shot.

Although all the crossbows have the same basics, each crossbow manufacturer, model and brand have something just a bit different and some may feel better than others.