To Bow or to Crossbow.... that is the question

[Bournemouthprepper]

Yes BP, very "american" of you

gonna buy me a cowboy hat!

When it comes to the end of the world, i'll be the one riding the bomb

[the-gnole]

If you have ever seen the John Rambo films it is similar to the one he used against the Russians

I bought it off afriend who bought it from the US, something like an 80lb pull IIRC



My twin brother using said bow

[janso]

lol BP if we are talking toys then mine is an M4 with all trimings lol and thanks Gnole, so are there many working parts to a cross bow? and does the bow require much looking fater ie daily cleaning etc.

You need to watch the string and replace it before it breaks, otherwise it can be a real bi*ch to do, especially with a compound Xbow, daily cleaning, a bit of oil on the trigger mechanism, and a rub with some bow grease on the bolt platform every 10 shots is about it.

Good thing about bows and Xbows is that unlike a piece of military weaponary that WILL run out of ammunition at some point, you can usually make replacement ammunition with a tree and a knife.

Don't forget BP that a tiny little spring costing a few pence on the extract claw breaks and the weapon is a club and if you can't replace it you then all the ammunition is okay for catty ammo, with a bow the string just needs a new piece

BP - you and guns !!!!!! Gnole, I'm with you on this one!!

In relation to the topic title, I'm very much on the bow side of things....... compound bows look to be better but having the skill set to make a longbow out of natural materials equals a dangerous weapon that can be made pretty much anywhere. I do like the idea of a crossbow, I think I will need more info on them.

Is it not better to have both?

[the-gnole]

Commandoes used the bow and arrow to very good effect in WWII,

[janso]

If you have ever seen the John Rambo films it is similar to the one he used against the Russians

I bought it off afriend who bought it from the US, something like an 80lb pull IIRC



My twin brother using said bow

Hopefully NOT.... isnt it slightly unbelievable that the bow could work if it can be assembled like that?? Gnole, you have more knowledge than me on this.

You gotta admit though, in both films, they are pretty nice bows!!! Still got a poster somewhere from rambo 3, him with the bow drawn out, a blue cyalume attached to it. Quite dramatic in the caves!!

[Bournemouthprepper]

This is a post from another thread...

Not sure if we are allowed to post links (still havn't read all the rules). There is a company in the uk that sells crossbow pistols for under £10 ! yes that is under a tenner! google crossbows UK and you should find the site.

I bought one expecting not much more than a plastic toy, but was very impressed. Although it was plastic with a cheap stamped steel limb. It is solid ABS and quite sturdy. 50lb draw, reasonably accurate up to 30 yards (less than 12" groups using open sights and very cheap bolts). Easy to repair and with care would last a long time. It has a few quirks like the bolt cant be pushed all the way back into the clip or the string will jump over it. Also the cocking forks are a bit on the piss so you need to twist the handle a bit, but for the money it is well worth it.
I also got a more expensive £30 self cocking pistol xbow. which by comparrison really was cheap crap! alleadgedly higher power (not) and far less accurate . but the cocking mechanism is really easy and performance could be improved with a little work and TLC.

I would recomend having one of the £10 bows or even getting a few for your equipment. If TSHTF big style and law/order break down, they would be ideal for hunting small game etc. Then again big 150lb draw xbows can be had for £70 upward and they really have some power.

I went on the website, and to be fair it is a pretty good website, a crossbow for 9 quid? bargain! lol i was looking at a 20-something aluminium one!

[the-gnole]

I did mean the look rather than the actual bow

And sadly I don't have the APGs for it.

(Arrow Propelled Grenade)

BP, you get what you pay, they are cheap, and if you are needing to rely on one then life would be pretty cheap too

[janso]

A quick google and hey presto!!!


The picture:

http://rambo.ugo.com/images/films/rambo-iii.jpg


THAT bow!:

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/6321591

[janso]

I did mean the look rather than the actual bow

And sadly I don't have the APGs for it.

(Arrow Propelled Grenade)

BP, you get what you pay, they are cheap, and if you are needing to rely on one then life would be pretty cheap too

I didn't think it was!

[Bournemouthprepper]

but as a first xbow, get the technique etc, a xbow may not be for me :O