Crossbow recommendations

Currently have a compound bow that I've never really liked-I'm much more of a gun guy. I do not have a hunting license yet, but I'd like to get into it. My county only allows bows, crossbows and flintlock. A crossbow seems much more versatile to me.

I'm completely new to them and have never shot one and don't know what is important about them except for the obvious, like FPS and trigger weight. Would like to keep it $600 or less and get something that i will be able to use for a long time as opposed to a super cheap beginner model. The Centerpoint Centerpoint Wraith 430 has caught my eye for its compact size. Any other suggestions or pointers?

 

Crossbows are like anything else. Everyone will tell you something different when it comes to brand names. How are you planning to hunt with it meaning from a ground blind or climbing stand or what ever. I hunt from climbing stands and use a Barnett Raptor that's only 330 fps but its only 6 pounds and 16" axel to axel so I can set facing the tree and still shoot without the tree in the way. Being only 330 fps it is easy to cock from my climber if I need a second shot. Speed is nice but with speed comes more weight and bulk and more effort to cock. I have killed 12 bucks with mine in the 6 years I have had it and from 30 yards in by the time they heard me shoot the bolt was stuck in the ground on the other side of them after a complete pass through. A range finder and good optics are more important than speed in my opinion. Good luck and have fun with it.

 

Yep.
This was how one of mine ended up after a pass thru.
Went in one shoulder high and exited the other shoulder low, nailing the heart on it's journey.
I walked out with the piece of wood and I have it in my house the way I found it. Blood, hair and a torn vane included.

 

How long did you wait before you started looking for it. To soon and you will push them away before they have a chance to die. If the shot was as you said he was laying somewhere dead. I see white hair on the head. Is it possible the shot was lower than you thought. We tend to get nervous before the shot. Damn I'm a poet and didn't know it. lol

 

Nah, He dropped about 50 feet away.
Finished my coffee before I climbed down.
OP,
Harpoon Guns are cool.

 

Thank you, lots of info I did not know. I do not have any kind of blind or tree stand, so will jut be on the ground

 

Nothing wrong with that. Check out some of the Turkey chairs out there today. Very low profile and a hell of a lot better than setting on the ground. Your ass wont fall asleep and make you have to re position yourself. When I hunt the ground I just kind a set my chair halfway in a bush or fallen tree. I keep mine in my Taco year round. Beach, Baseball game, Bullshitting around a camp fire. Whatever. Good luck this season.

 

You don't "need" to be in a tree.
I have a couple of the compact roll up blinds I use for gun hunting as well as turkeys.
Rolls up compact and takes seconds to set up anywhere.

As far as crossbows, shop around and read up. Compound or recurve?
Lots of options now within your budget.

 

Chester county, PA allows in-lines as well as shotguns for deer. Both can be scoped and are quite accurate.

 

Thanks, will check the laws. I'm going off what I remember a game Warden telling me a few years ago. Still interested in a crossbow though.

 

Remember if you use a crossbow. Keep your thumbs down or you’ll lose it. Modern crossbows have a safety feature but the older models don’t. Trust me me I know. Here’s my thumb in another pic - took the tip almost off. 11 stitches under the nail & it was saved in the ER.

 

I still like 10 point. May be biased being from NE Ohio

 

Excalibur : no wheels or cams to break . All you ever have to do is change the string !

 

how much do you want to spend?

 

I've got to agree with Excalibur crossbow recommendation. I have an older Equinox but still more than effective. Hunt with others that have newer models. I keep spare strings with me should something happen.

 

buy a Ravin. the bolt rides on a drop away rest like a bow, so there is speed robbing friction. my elderly neighbor has one. he was shooting it in his backyard. it went thru the target, thru a door, thru a shed and buried into a fence behind the shed. he let me shoot it, and the arrow just appears at the target. no elegant arch like i get with my bow. just appears. you cannot track it with an eye. i couldnt.

i know other companies have copied the design. i'm waiting for him to sell me his. it scares him.

 

For simplicity it’s really hard to beat an Excalibur.

 

Wicked ridge m370 its a amazing crossbow that shoots 370 fps you can pick it up around $600. Ive shot multiple deer with it and its light and packs plenty of power to blow through a deers shoulders

 

don't discredit the Centerpoint crossbows, I own three now, sold my first one......The 430 Wrath has been getting great reviews, I purchased one without the silent crank, but I ordered the crank and should be here today. I can afford anyone one the market, but for hunting, I don't see myself taking a shot over 40 yards in the woods, and no matter the price/brand they all do the same