Decent pistol crossbow?

[Night Errant]

Is there one?

[MaconCJ7]

For doing what with?

[Night Errant]

Sniping small game was my vague idea.

[MaconCJ7]

I'm guessing this would work fine for rabbits.

If cost is the reason, you can find full size crossbows for under $100. I can't make comments on quality, but aiming would surely be easier.

[Night Errant]

I'm guessing this would work fine for rabbits.

If cost is the reason, you can find full size crossbows for under $100. I can't make comments on quality, but aiming would surely be easier.

Actually, I had limiting size and weight more in mind.

That one looks neat.

[Rev]

Rabbit hunting? Use a snare. http://www.snare-trap-survive.com/

If you still want something a little more proactive a modern slingshot would probably work just as well, or a primitive one with a lot of practice.

A rabbit stick is always popular. http://ronsprimitiveskills.blogspot.com/2009/08/rabbit-sticks.html

[KentsOkay]

I bought my little sisters the 50lbs Bud K crossbow, when it was on sale for $10. I thought it would be a cool cheap toy. It's actually a cool cheap deadly weapon. It fully penetrates watermelon, punches through 1/4 inch sheetrock... Yeah it's a bad little bow.

Wouldn't rely on it though, seems you use them then one day they snap, but it makes a fantastic toy.

[BigDaddyTX]

Yeah, if the cheap crossbow doesn't just break, the string will come apart, but they're awesome fun for <$20, just don't count on them.

http://www.amazon.com/Cocking-Crossbow- ... B001E11HH4

That's the same one linked above but with 66 reviews on Amazon w/ an average of 4 stars and for $20 less. Interesting for sure, I might have to pick one up. If you get one, make sure and post a review.

[Ryder358]

[quote="MaconCJ7"]I'm guessing this would work fine for rabbits.

Do Want!

But you can find it here for under $30 Amazon

[JoergS]

I have that one too. Not a bad product for the price.

Serious drawback ist that you can't shoot regular broadheads as the "muzzle" is quite narrow. Hunting even small game with just the field tip seems rather cruel.

Further on, the design does not allow three bladed fletchings, just two. This limits the accuracy. But that is not so bad, anything beyond 15 yards is irrelevant anyway - not enough power for longer distances.

[JesterODX]

Yeah, what they said. I've had two of them, the 50 pounders. They deffinetly aint a toy. I shot an ink pen into a wall. Its deffinetly a deadly weapon. A rabbit would have a very bad day.

I've not done any real accuracy shooting with the two I've had. So I'm not sure how good the 50 with iron site would do against a target the size of a rabbit. You know, how close would you have to get. Now the 80 with the red dot might work out pretty well.

[Night Errant]

I have that one too. Not a bad product for the price.

Serious drawback ist that you can't shoot regular broadheads as the "muzzle" is quite narrow. Hunting even small game with just the field tip seems rather cruel.

What if you modded bolts to be long enough to hang just off the front end with broadheads? Say, screw two shafts together, weight them and add hunting tips. You could end up with a very nasty little weapon.

[MaconCJ7]

What if you modded bolts to be long enough to hang just off the front end with broadheads? Say, screw two shafts together, weight them and add hunting tips. You could end up with a very nasty little weapon.

You'll lose effective range due to the longer bolt and added weight. In order to fire a longer bolt, you'll need a higher draw weight.

[Night Errant]

What if you modded bolts to be long enough to hang just off the front end with broadheads? Say, screw two shafts together, weight them and add hunting tips. You could end up with a very nasty little weapon.

You'll lose effective range due to the longer bolt and added weight. In order to fire a longer bolt, you'll need a higher draw weight.

Aw c'mon, eighty pounds, really? I'll bet an eighty pound draw would throw a hell of a bolt.

[MaconCJ7]

Aw c'mon, eighty pounds, really? I'll bet an eighty pound draw would throw a hell of a bolt.

Google tells me that 80lb draw weight only fires a bolt at 160fps (on that model). That's the bolts that come with it. I'm guessing you won't get the same results when you apply a heavier bolt.

I'm not knocking your idea, it's great in theory. If you can figure out how to make a longer bolt that's similar in weight, you'd be in business.

[JesterODX]

You might be able to make your own, two bladed broad head and afix it over top the field tip on the bolt. Or take off the field tip and glue the other head on the shaft... Something smaller then the normal and light weight that wouldnt throw off weight and balistics much.

[JoergS]

It is possible to make a better arrow for the little pistol for sure. A thin CF arrow shaft, sawed into 6 inch pieces, with a narrow, flat 2D broadhead (three or four blades won't work) and slightly angled fletching (for rotation). But remember the shot is slow. Does it have 80 lb? I think so. But the power stroke is rather short.

[Night Errant]

Well, I'll let you all know how it turns out. I have an 80lb crossbow and assorted bolts on order.

[PackLemming]

I believe Dave Canterbury has a 'sling bow' on offer these days. Basically its a sling shot which will take full length hunting arrows making crossbows look behind the times considering the form factor they use.

[JoergS]

The problem with this kind of slingbow is the low power. I think it is cruel to hunt "big game" with an arrow that slow. In an emergency, OK, but not for fun.

But even if the power would be sufficient, a slingbow compares more to a recurve bow than to a crossbow. It is really easy to hit with the crossbow, you have normal sights and the trigger is OK. It takes a lot of practice to hit that well with a bow. Remember no peep sights on a sling bow.

[PackLemming]

The problem with this kind of slingbow is the low power. I think it is cruel to hunt "big game" with an arrow that slow. In an emergency, OK, but not for fun.

But even if the power would be sufficient, a slingbow compares more to a recurve bow than to a crossbow. It is really easy to hit with the crossbow, you have normal sights and the trigger is OK. It takes a lot of practice to hit that well with a bow. Remember no peep sights on a sling bow.

Well 10" of arrow penetration is not going to wound and wind large game, it'll just about skewer a lung and heart on small deer if the shot is placed correctly.

[JFlagg]

If the arrow length doesn't allow for for a FIXED blade broadhead, why not use a mechanical that has the blades collapsed enough to fit? Or, make your own bolts out of graphite or carbon fiber to reduce weight? With todays archery tech, the sky is the limit really.

[JoergS]

Mechanical broadheads don't work very well when the arrow mass is low and at low speeds.

The pathfinder arrow was probably shot into a very soft target block. I have tested such slingbows, the shot is lame. Under 150 fps for sure. Inadequate.

[PackLemming]

Mechanical broadheads don't work very well when the arrow mass is low and at low speeds.

The pathfinder arrow was probably shot into a very soft target block. I have tested such slingbows, the shot is lame. Under 150 fps for sure. Inadequate.

Crossbow 150 pound draw weight for hunting. (Actual examples)

Recurve crossbow, 150 lb. draw weight, 11" powerstroke, 400 grain arrow = 205 f.p.s. velocity = 37 ft.lbs. arrow energy, good for hunting up to deer size animals.


Recurve crossbow, 150 lb. draw weight, 12.5" powerstroke, 400 grain arrow = 235 f.p.s. velocity = 49 ft.lbs. arrow energy, good for hunting up to short range black bear and elk.


Compound crossbow, 150 lb. draw weight, 9.5" powerstroke, 400 grain arrow = 252 f.p.s. velocity = 56 ft.lbs. arrow energy, good for hunting up to black bear, elk and wild boar.


Compound crossbow, 150 lb. draw weight, 13" powerstroke, 400 grain arrow = 302 f.p.s. velocity = 81 ft.lbs. arrow energy, good for hunting up to cape buffalo and grizzly bears.
As you can see in the above examples all of the crossbows have a draw weight of 150lbs. yet they can be used to hunt many species of game animals effectively, so choosing a crossbow by its draw weight alone is not enough information.

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Taken from http://www.crossbowmen.com/index.htm.draw-weight.html