Crossbows are hunting tools that have been present for a very long time but now they have developed into something more powerful and precise. If you’re new to hunting, choosing a crossbow that fits your needs might be a little tricky. There are so many things to consider when choosing the best crossbow for beginners, which includes speed, design, and features.
I have made this guide to help those beginners who don’t know where to start when it comes to crossbow hunting. As this guide is made for beginners, I’ll cover everything from choosing the right crossbow to how to use it. Please continue reading and enjoy.
Choosing The Best Crossbow
There are many crossbows available on the market today. This is why it’s hard to select the best one if you’re a beginner. If your aim is to use the crossbow for hunting, decide the size of the animals you’ll be targeting.
Although there may be modern crossbows that can take down a deer in a range of more than 60 yards, this might need a lot of skill and time to create shots at that scope. The more realistic ranges that fit for you are 30-40 yards, so remember this when considering your hunting opportunities.
Compound Vs Recurve Crossbow
There are many types of crossbows but the two most common varieties are recurving and compound. To help you decide which of the two best suits your needs, check its pros and cons.
Compound Crossbow
Recurve Crossbow
Between these two types of crossbows, many experienced hunters suggest the use of recurve crossbow for beginners because it needs no tuning. I believe this is a case of personal preference. If you have the luxury, compare and use both types then decide.
Other Things To Consider
It might seem complicated to differentiate the best crossbows from ordinary products. For easy comparison, check the following points:
Speed
- If you want to make fast and powerful shots, choose a compound bow. However, too much speed can be a bad thing for your shooting. A fact not known by many hunters is that too much speed can be less forgiving for any small mistake in the arrow.
- Take note that weight arrows are suggested and together with points, they’re used to calculate the speed of a crossbow. A heavier arrow might reduce your speed, but it can bring more force to the target. What you want is an arrow that’s fast enough to hit the target, but not that fast that can make your shots harder.
Noise
- You’ll want a crossbow that shoots quietly so you can’t scare away your target. This is the advice from specialists even if you have to give up arrow speed. The recurve crossbows with parallel limbs are the quietest models you can find.
Safety Features
- One of the safety features that you should look for is an anti-dry fire inhibitor which prohibits the string to be released without an arrow in place. Dry fire is something you should avoid because it can give large stress on your crossbow’s limbs. If you often forget to set the crossbow before shooting, then auto-engaging safety is what you need.
- Oftentimes, your hand might get a slight injury when it gets in the way of the bowstring. To reduce this possibility, look for a forward grip design with wings that can place your fingers below the string path.
Shooting Your New Crossbow
Now that you have the right equipment, it’s time to learn how to shoot.
1. Cock Your Crossbow
There are two ways to cock the bow: crank and manual. A crank is easier to do than manual cocking, but it takes more time. To crank, simply engage it and turn it to cock the string. Then place the crank back into position or its holder.
To cock manually, position your foot at the front of the bow’s stirrup then pull the string back evenly until it’s cocked. You can make this process easier by using a rope cocking tool.
2. Load The Arrow
Once your crossbow is cocked, put an arrow in the barrel. Ensure to align the arrow’s cock vane in the barrel channel. Fit the arrow securely.
3. Aim And Shoot
Now, make good aim. How? Look through the scope and place the intersecting lines (crosshairs) to the target. You might also see a dot in the scope’s center which can work a similar way. Now that you have sighted the target, squeeze the trigger.
For visual reference on how to shoot a crossbow, watch this video
Final Thought
Did you have fun learning this guide on how to choose and use the best crossbow for beginners? As a beginner, it’s important that you choose the right crossbow that will improve your skill. Remember to consider the features and style that best suits your needs.
If you have any questions or suggestions, comment down below. Please share this article with your friends if you like it.
