New Crossbow

[nzbred]

Bought myself a crossbow this week.Thought maybe this was going a little extreme but if im blatantly honest,apart from the hobbying and when needed,the hunting aspect of it, if the SHTF and i needed to protect my home and my family,thought i needed something with a little range.Now,im far from being a violent person and would never think to use this unless extremely serious situations ever called for it,just wanted to know other peoples thoughts and feelings about this matter. cheers

[Toddie]

It's no more extreme than buying an air rifle in my opinion. They're fun to shoot, pass a few hours and if you're lucky enough to have the space, you can test yourself at longer ranges.

If you wanted, you could even modify your bow, dependent on what type of bow it is. I've seen people put stocks on pistol bows and almost turn them into full bows.

Have fun with it, keep it in good nick and you'll have some good years shooting.

[Wulfshead]

Nzbred,
I ordered my Jaguar 175 lb draw weight crossbow yesterday.
Apart from the more fun & hunting orientated aspect of a crossbow a bow does have one really good aspect in protection.
Quite simply a gang or mob is uneducated in the restrictions of a crossbow as a defense weapon, and for our good fortune in that sphere we can thank Hollywood.
A mob collective will be thinking about each single person within the mob and 'their own self survival' will be paramount in each mobsters mind.
A bolt hitting one of the mob at the front will, or should, send their self survival mode into instant overdrive and therefore buy you a little time to 'think, evaluate and react at the very least.
Now it goes without saying that I hope you nor any here never have to face a situation where the prospect of taking a life or two to protect your family unit occurs, but it needs being met with the understanding that you may well have to employ that tactic and 'live' with the knowing of what you have done thereafter.
The balance factor is that in that scenario you feel would call for such drastic action the mob will have little or no thought for you or yours so all's fair in love and war.

What crossbow did you go for by the way ?

Wulfshead

[nzbred]

I got 2 actually. i bought a small armex 80lb tomcat mk2 pistol crossbow to practice with and also the jaguar for longer ranges.I use to be into archery as a kid and always fancied a crossbow,thankfully there is an archery club in my home town so ill be getting a little practice in there.But like you said,in a SHTF and social breakdown situation,think they will definitely come in handy and hopefully the fear factor of having one will be enough for any would-be people wanting to do us harm.

[Wulfshead]

Nzbred,
What's that 80 Lb like for pulling the bowstring back ?
My wife wants to shoot but has a weak shoulder which needed surgery a couple of years back.
If the 80 Lb is easy enough in a pistol she should be OK with a rifle style 80 Lb rcurve bow methinks ??

My line of logic is that I can not lift 175 Lb above my shoulders but I can easily draw my 175 Lb draw weight bowstring back, even with a dodgy back to some degree.
I would think she may have a chance with an 80 Lb bow.

Wulfshead

[Toddie]

Nzbred,
What's that 80 Lb like for pulling the bowstring back ?
My wife wants to shoot but has a weak shoulder which needed surgery a couple of years back.
If the 80 Lb is easy enough in a pistol she should be OK with a rifle style 80 Lb rcurve bow methinks ??
Wulfshead

I have the Tomcat Mk2 (like Nzbred) and the crossbow is much easier than cocking a spring air rifle. As an all round crossbow, the power the pistol gives out is a perfect place to start, i personally wouldn't bother with a 80lb recurve. You get enough power with the pistol bow. if push comes to shove, you can stick a stock on the Pistol bow with a drill and a cheap air soft stock.

[Plymtom]

I have the same two crossbows as you guys, shooting and archery are my family's main hobbies we also play with theraband catapults, I know I keep saying this every time a related thread appears, but please don't think of these activities as anything other than the good clean family fun that they are to responsible people, to be any good with bows, crossbows, firearms, catapults, even throwing stones or punches, you have to practice, and funnily enough throwing punches is the only obvious offensive or defensive technique in the little list, the other things are fun or tools for putting food on the table, I'd also add in a changed world "shtf"as they say all these things could be handy yes, but they also represent a danger to yourself if left too accessible to intruders/attackers just as carrying a knife can often result in injury to the victim of an otherwise less serious attack, now most of us have dangerous things kicking around some of which you can do little to make safe, like your maglite or your kitchen knives, but in our house all ammunition is kept under lock and key including catapult ammo and bolts/arrows air gun pellets, stay safe and have fun

I'd also say think about who can see you using your equipment, as people form opinions of activities all too quickly, an example of this is my son's desire to have throwing knives, we let him, and we took them to the club on archery night as an extra thing to play with, well initially you could hear the whispers of concern, yet before long just as with the pistol crossbows everyone had had a go and enjoyed it, in the case of the crossbows (with proper parental supervision) the children, even the little ones had a great time, non of this would stop many of your neighbors thinking you are a dangerous person and pre judging your character, fearing your intent and set tongues wagging like a flag in a wind tunnel, if they see you in the garden with your crossbow.

[Wulfshead]

Thanks for the tips and comments, duly noted, and with Yule/Christmas around the corner I think I know what prezzie the wife may be getting

Wulfshead

[nzbred]

Have had the Tomcat mk2 now for afew days,what a great little piece of kit! Honestly,have had many hours of fun shooting the little beastie Very easily assembled,(only bugger is getting the string on,im a big guy so managed it by myself but would probably need 2 for an easier time of it) but once done, you wouldnt believe how simple it is to use.The cocking mechanism is pretty fluid when reloading,you can reload it alot quicker than a crossbow rifle and for its size,its surprisingly powerful.Ok,you havnt got the range of a full sized crossbow but for knocking around with in the garden,its ideal.....cant moan about the price either

[Plymtom]

Yes they are great fun, loading up the 175 Lb rifle ones even with the cocking rope is tiring, We would not part with any of our stuff in preference for something else... Rule number one :_ you can never have too many Guns, bows, crossbows, catapults, guitars or knives ( or any other cool man toy things)
Rule number two :_ you must never sell any of them, and neither can your descendants.