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Missed opportunity!

Too bad I wasn't able to be in my deer blind at 1:34 PM on January 24! It would have been an easy 75 yard shot. Oh well, he should still be around in mid October when I can start hunting again.

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Replies to This Discussion

FeaturedPermalink Reply by Charles Sample on February 11, 2014 at 12:37

Yes, 50 yards is definitely within its killing range. A friend of mine took one last season at about 70 yards with his crossbow but in my opinion that is pushing it. It would be very easy to just make a wounding shot at that range. By that distance you have a rainbow trajectory. The one I killed was a 30 yard shot. The bolt (for some reason they don't call them arrows) went completely through the deer and stuck in the ground on the far side of the deer.

The scope has four horizontal cross hairs to compensate for distance.

Waggoner, Alan said:

Charles,

it is a nice looking set up. Can you effectively take animals at 50 yds with it?

Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on February 11, 2014 at 13:08

Beautiful picture Charles

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on February 11, 2014 at 13:34

Charles said: The bolt (for some reason they don't call them arrows).

I can answer that. In days of old, Crossbows fired a short metal shaft. These were forged from a solid bolt of bronze ( later iron and or steel), and lacked the fletching (feathers) found on arrows. They were much heavier than a wooden arrow, had a different flight characteristic (direct fire, primarily unlike the indirect fire of the English long bow). The bottom line, however, is because they were forged from a bolt of metal and thus called a crossbow bolt. They were also called Quarrel ( derived from the French carré, or Square), referring to the shape of the head of early crossbow bolts.

The Bolts or today's crossbows look more like short arrows but still tend to be heavier than an arrow. But back in the day there the differences were very obvious.

Another type of crossbow was designed to fire bullets or shot similar to what was used in slings As such they fired stones or metal pellets and were normally called "Stonebows" These had a pouch similar to that found on a sling which held the shot being fired The body of these were shaped differently. The English Stone bow fired a 1/2 ounce lead projectile. It was more accurate and easier to use than the slings of the day but only slightly more powerful. Stone or bullet shooting crossbows were primarily used for hunting and not as a military weapon. The closest thing to a stonebow today is a slingshot.

Permalink Reply by Waggoner, Alan on February 11, 2014 at 14:44

Tobias,

thank you for the very informative explanation! :)

Permalink Reply by David Selph on February 11, 2014 at 18:20

He will be there with another couple of points and a bigger spread. Nice young buck there.

FeaturedPermalink Reply by Charles Sample on February 11, 2014 at 18:29

Thanks for the information Tobias.

David, I was showing his picture to a good friend of mine today who also is a deer hunter. He said he was probably 3 1/2 years old. I will be looking forward to getting him in my sights next season with either the crossbow or my .30-06!