Maybe it's watching too much Walking Dead. Or, maybe it's the fact that they've started coming out with recurve versions. But...I broke down and bought a crossbow.
Honestly, I've always thought crossbows are really cool. But, all the modern version seem to be of the compound variety. I think we all know my abject hatred of bows with wheels on them. Okay...maybe not hatred. I have just always preferred traditional archery. Honestly, the bows just feel better in your hand. I have yet to pick up a compound bow that feels right. And I will argue 'til the end of time that compound bows are NOT suited for Prepping purposes. Too complicated...too many parts to break.
Anyway...I was flipping through a Natchez Shooters Supply catalog a little while ago and what should I find but recurve crossbows. I honestly did not know anyone was making a quality recurve crossbow. Which is why I hadn't really thought about them in a very long time. Sure, they're are some recurve crossbows of questionable origin out there on the market. I didn't give those much thought though. As it turns out, Horton, Ten Point, and Excalibur all make a recurve crossbow. Matter of fact...Excalibur makes nothing BUT recurve crossbows. Props to them for that!
Having the ability to restring a crossbow myself...in the field...is a HUGE advantage if you ask me. No cams or axles to wear out...don't even get me started.
So...long story, just a bit shorter than the full length story...after a bit of research I ended up buying a Ten Point GT Flex. http://www.tenpointcrossbows.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=397 What sold me on the GT Flex was the ability to set it up for three different draw weights. I'm all about flexibility. And this crossbow has it.
I'd had it a couple weeks by the time I decided I really should shoot the thing to get familiar with it. You know...in case of an ACTUAL spontaneous Zombie outbreak.
My first surprise was in how stout this thing was to draw. I had it set up for 185 lbs draw. And even with their AccuRope...this crossbow is freaking STOUT! I loaded up a bolt, scoped up my target block, squeezed the trigger, and I know for a fact I said it out loud, "HOLY CRAP!"
Now...my frame of reference is based squarely in the Traditional Longbow/Recurve world. Arrow speeds out of my bows tend to be...well...ridiculously slow compared to modern, or even not-so-modern compound bows. The bolts coming of of the crossbow are HOLY CRAP fast! And GREAT GOOGILY MOOGILY powerful. It buried the bolts to within an inch of the fletching. That's something like 16" of penetration. In my target block! I honestly didn't think I was going to be able to pull them out of the target.
And quiet. For something to throw a projectile this fast, it's weird how quiet it is. It's not silent by any stretch. But it's disconcertingly quiet. I think the arrow hitting the target makes more noise than the crossbow launching the bolt. Which, at ten yards, happens at exactly the same time. Did I mention this thing is HOLY CRAP fast?
I am looking forward to doing some serious playing with this thing. Once I get a new target that is.
PJ
Honestly, I've always thought crossbows are really cool. But, all the modern version seem to be of the compound variety. I think we all know my abject hatred of bows with wheels on them. Okay...maybe not hatred. I have just always preferred traditional archery. Honestly, the bows just feel better in your hand. I have yet to pick up a compound bow that feels right. And I will argue 'til the end of time that compound bows are NOT suited for Prepping purposes. Too complicated...too many parts to break.
Anyway...I was flipping through a Natchez Shooters Supply catalog a little while ago and what should I find but recurve crossbows. I honestly did not know anyone was making a quality recurve crossbow. Which is why I hadn't really thought about them in a very long time. Sure, they're are some recurve crossbows of questionable origin out there on the market. I didn't give those much thought though. As it turns out, Horton, Ten Point, and Excalibur all make a recurve crossbow. Matter of fact...Excalibur makes nothing BUT recurve crossbows. Props to them for that!
Having the ability to restring a crossbow myself...in the field...is a HUGE advantage if you ask me. No cams or axles to wear out...don't even get me started.
So...long story, just a bit shorter than the full length story...after a bit of research I ended up buying a Ten Point GT Flex. http://www.tenpointcrossbows.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=397 What sold me on the GT Flex was the ability to set it up for three different draw weights. I'm all about flexibility. And this crossbow has it.
I'd had it a couple weeks by the time I decided I really should shoot the thing to get familiar with it. You know...in case of an ACTUAL spontaneous Zombie outbreak.
My first surprise was in how stout this thing was to draw. I had it set up for 185 lbs draw. And even with their AccuRope...this crossbow is freaking STOUT! I loaded up a bolt, scoped up my target block, squeezed the trigger, and I know for a fact I said it out loud, "HOLY CRAP!"
Now...my frame of reference is based squarely in the Traditional Longbow/Recurve world. Arrow speeds out of my bows tend to be...well...ridiculously slow compared to modern, or even not-so-modern compound bows. The bolts coming of of the crossbow are HOLY CRAP fast! And GREAT GOOGILY MOOGILY powerful. It buried the bolts to within an inch of the fletching. That's something like 16" of penetration. In my target block! I honestly didn't think I was going to be able to pull them out of the target.
And quiet. For something to throw a projectile this fast, it's weird how quiet it is. It's not silent by any stretch. But it's disconcertingly quiet. I think the arrow hitting the target makes more noise than the crossbow launching the bolt. Which, at ten yards, happens at exactly the same time. Did I mention this thing is HOLY CRAP fast?
I am looking forward to doing some serious playing with this thing. Once I get a new target that is.
PJ
