• Help Support TNDeer:

Crossbow newbie decisions

B

BULL MOOSE

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 5, 1999
Messages
4,573
Location
38468
I have not bow-hunted since about 1990. I have decided to get a crossbow to take advantage of some bow only areas around me and maybe KY and Fort Campbell when Archery is the only option. I have been reading reviews and watching YouTube videos.

I'm looking for the best price, accuracy, and quality that I can find on a lower end crossbow. The Centerpoint snipers seem adequate and so does the Bear Karnage. The 370's seem to have different packages of quietness or are they all the same? Some have horizontal quivers and others perpendicular. The Karnage is less wide and has a more robust safety rail.

Most people seem to replace the bolts and some the scope. I think the scope will be fine for me, but probably want some lighted nocked arrow and a fixed blade 125 grain arrow. I will also want a shooting bag or block, preferably small. Enough for the trunk to decock the bow. I hope to be able to accurately shoot out to 50 yards.

Is a crossbow case a must have?

https://www.dunhamssports.com/product/c ... w-package/

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/center ... Ccrossbows

https://www.cabelas.com/product/hunting ... s?slotId=4


https://smile.amazon.com/CenterPoint-Sn ... NH2GAEH7HZ


https://smile.amazon.com/Karnage-Apocal ... op?ie=UTF8
 
Welcome to the world of us "non REAL bow hunters" lol. I have the Sniper and like everything but the trigger (you will get used to it though). I shoot 150 grain fixed blades in mine and don't think you need a case. When buying a target make sure it is rated to 400FPS or you will blow through it. Lastly, I use a decocking arrow that you shoot straight into the ground, cost is about $6 and it works great. It's nice having it vs carrying a target to shoot in to. Good luck and again welcome to the fun of crossbow hunting!
 
Sniper 370 is an excellent bow for the price. As bass said, the trigger does leave a lot to be desired. The arrows are junk but I saved one for shooting into the ground after the hunt.

Reviews are generally excellent.

Never herd of the other one you mentioned. Just do your homework and decide what the best fit is for you.

No problem stacking arrows at 50 yds with sniper. I'd say I generally keep them within 3 inches at that distance and don't shoot it as much as I should. I love my scope on mine so far. I got an illuminated one but I think they stopped putting them on that bow.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
cbhunter":1b7mqip1 said:
No problem stacking arrows at 50 yds with . . . . . .
Click to expand...
Whatever crossbow is chosen?

To the newbie, just keep in mind target accuracy
and live game effectiveness seldom end with the same number.

Just like with any bow (vertical or crossbow)
a deer will often SEE those limbs move,
and can "jump" the string,
causing poor shot placement, no matter how accurate the bow (when shooting paper targets).

Just me, but in a typical field situation,
I'm often limiting my shots to under 30 yards,
either by the nature of the set-up,
or by wanting to reduce the risk of a deer "jumping" the string.
 
I know those who hunt fields and food plots may have longer distance shooting opportunities.

But sitting up mainly in a brushy or woodland environment,
I've found most deer shooting opportunities to be under 30 yards, well under.

Whether hunting with a bow or a gun
I prefer my weapon to be optimized for what I believe will be the average range shots will present.
If that is 25 yards, I want to be sure I have little "handicap" (such as with too much magnification) whether that next shooting opportunity presents at 5 yards or 50 yards. In fact, with most woodland set-ups, 5-yd opportunities have been more common for me than 50-yd ones.

A 4x scope may be a slight advantage at 50 yards, but may cost you the opportunity at 5?

Just saying all this because manufacturers have tended to place too much emphasis on speed and magnification,
and, with most "crossbow" scopes, more arrow speed means you must use greater magnification,
which can create significant close-range handicap.

Many of today's "crossbow" scopes are simply a 2-7x variable scope,
whereas the magnification is "locked" in (not variable) based on arrow velocity.
It might be locked in at 2.5x magnification with a 300 fps bow,
but may be at 6x with a 400 fps bow.
 
I bought the sniper 370 and like the others have said, I like all of it except the trigger. It has an extremely long trigger pull. Someone online has come up with a modification but I'm not real crazy about making modifications to a trigger.
 
I'm in the same boat. Looking at getting my first one as well. Have been posting on various cross bow forums and reading a lot about them, watching YouTube reviews, etc.

One that has impressed me as far as cost, is the 2019 PSE Coalition. It's like $299 retail. 380 fps but I'm not sure what grain arrow they are using to achieve that. There's not a lot out there on it right bow but I did watch a couple YouTube vids of it being shot, and IMO, it is one of the quieter crossbows of all the ones I've watched and heard. It may be a cheap piece of crap for all I know though...it has made every list of "best of 2019 cross bows" though as the best budget friendly entry crossbow.

The three most highly recommended ones on the forums to me by people, have been the Wicked Ridge RDX 400, TenPoint Titan M1, and the Mission MXB series.

TenPoint and Wicked Ridge are kinda the same company...so that's why they are so popular in recommending the Wicked Ridge. They all told me to call around, and especially call Wyvern Creations and ask about any of his low-mid package upgrades. They said the Wicked Ridge package comes with junk arrows and a junk scope...but could be upgraded to the Hawke or TenPoint Rangemaster scopes, with whatever arrows/bolts you wanted as well. I contacted him about a RDX 400 upgraded package to see what that might run me.

They all like the Missions because they can be worked on without a press. They are among the slower ones on the market though, unless you find a MXB 400.

For me right now, I'm leaning really hard towards the RDX 400. The videos of it show it to be really accurate with those TenPoint arrow upgrades and a decently quiet bow to boot. My fear is...it will be $900+ when its upgraded. I may be surprised though. That's what keeps me looking at the PSE but I'm also a bit afraid since not one single person on a forum has even mentioned it.
 
BULL MOOSE said:
I have not bow-hunted since about 1990. I have decided to get a crossbow to take advantage of some bow only areas around me and maybe KY and Fort Campbell when Archery is the only option. I have been reading reviews and watching YouTube videos.

I'm looking for the best price, accuracy, and quality that I can find on a lower end crossbow. The Centerpoint snipers seem adequate and so does the Bear Karnage. The 370's seem to have different packages of quietness or are they all the same? Some have horizontal quivers and others perpendicular. The Karnage is less wide and has a more robust safety rail.

Most people seem to replace the bolts and some the scope. I think the scope will be fine for me, but probably want some lighted nocked arrow and a fixed blade 125 grain arrow. I will also want a shooting bag or block, preferably small. Enough for the trunk to decock the bow. I hope to be able to accurately shoot out to 50 yards.

Is a crossbow case a must have?

https://www.dunhamssports.com/product/c ... w-package/

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/center ... Ccrossbows

https://www.cabelas.com/product/hunting ... s?slotId=4


https://smile.amazon.com/CenterPoint-Sn ... NH2GAEH7HZ


https://smile.amazon.com/Karnage-Apocal ... op?ie=UTF8

Hunting Ft.Campbell? Yes a case is the law.
Buy a cheap crossbow and try it out. You will be ready to upgrade real soon to a crossbow thats lighter, quieter, great trigger, easier to work on yourself and when you learn about real crossbow scopes you will love them. Lighted Reticles for 20 up to 60 or more yards. Varible power scopes are not meant to be adjusted while hunting. Set them with the instruction manual and never touch them again. Carry a small discharge bag in your truck for unloading or upgrade with a bow that has a real uncocking assembly. Shoot a discharge arrow in the ground? You will quickly find every root in the ground.
Good luck!
Click to expand...
 
Need a case for the fort....got it!

I ended up using the Academy coupon on a Centerpoint Elite and a small discharge bag. For about $225 out the door, I'm very pleased with it for now. Long trigger pull it has, but everything else is great!
 
I am so glad I was able to find a shop that had some models in stock to handle and shoot.

The previous mentioned RDX 400 that was high on my list without shooting one, was my least favorite of all the ones after I shot them. I was able to shoot the Wicked Ridge line, Ten Point line, and Mission line of crossbows. The finish of the RDX 400 was adequate but what made me not like it was the trigger. It has so much play/slop in the trigger that it felt like I was shooting a cheap pistol. The Ten Point Titan M1 was a big favorite of the ones I shot. Very compact bow. Very smooth and fast. It is one you could buy in the package and not have to upgrade anything IMO. You're looking at around $700 something for it but considering that is basically ready to hunt (minus broadheads) it is a very good deal.

I shot the Mission Sub 1 bows...all 3 of them, and they were my favorite 3. The little Sub 1 Lite was my overall favorite. So easy to chocolate chip cookie with a pull rope that a 10 yr old could do it. It was as quiet as a vertical bow...something that was immediately noticed by me in comparison to the others. The problem for some is, that it is slow by today's crossbow standards. I think it is rated at 335 fps but don't let that fool you. Mission is playing a game of coy with the speeds. Most of the other crossbow companies are advertising their speeds with a 400 grain bolt. Mission dropped the weight to a 300 something grain bolt and thus the speeds jumped way up but is slightly deceptive for someone speed shopping. A 400 grain bolt out of a Sub 1 Lite will have the bow shooting 310-315ish real world. That's still fast but extremely slow in crossbows. The macdaddy in their line is the Sub 1 XR. It's a heavy draw weight and will launch the 400 grain bolt at 385 fps. It is not as quiet or smooth to shoot at the Lite version but my God at the power. We were shooting it at 20 yards into a crossbow block target and I had to flip the target on its back to get enough leverage to pull those bolts out. The Mission bows come with highly upgraded kits. In fact, the optics that come standard on them, are what most people are upgrading to with other crossbows. They come with the Hawke scopes. Bolts, quiver, and a case. Decocking and letting them down is stupid simple and easy too. I'd much rather do that, than to have to shoot the bow to unload it. The killer for the Mission is the price tag. Prepare for sticker shock. But there is enough difference between them and the others, that you quickly see it is worth the price tag.

No press needed for changing string/cables on them. Can de-chocolate chip cookie them. Lifetime warranty to original owner. They do have a crank available and it is actually silent. The ones on the TenPoint bows click when you crank them. I'm going Friday to pick up a Sub 1 XR. I will whimper and cry when handing over the money for one but be smiling when I start shooting it at home.
 
Crow Terminator":e1y8terf said:
I am so glad I was able to find a shop that had some models in stock to handle and shoot.

The previous mentioned RDX 400 that was high on my list without shooting one, was my least favorite of all the ones after I shot them. I was able to shoot the Wicked Ridge line, Ten Point line, and Mission line of crossbows. The finish of the RDX 400 was adequate but what made me not like it was the trigger. It has so much play/slop in the trigger that it felt like I was shooting a cheap pistol. The Ten Point Titan M1 was a big favorite of the ones I shot. Very compact bow. Very smooth and fast. It is one you could buy in the package and not have to upgrade anything IMO. You're looking at around $700 something for it but considering that is basically ready to hunt (minus broadheads) it is a very good deal.

I shot the Mission Sub 1 bows...all 3 of them, and they were my favorite 3. The little Sub 1 Lite was my overall favorite. So easy to chocolate chip cookie with a pull rope that a 10 yr old could do it. It was as quiet as a vertical bow...something that was immediately noticed by me in comparison to the others. The problem for some is, that it is slow by today's crossbow standards. I think it is rated at 335 fps but don't let that fool you. Mission is playing a game of coy with the speeds. Most of the other crossbow companies are advertising their speeds with a 400 grain bolt. Mission dropped the weight to a 300 something grain bolt and thus the speeds jumped way up but is slightly deceptive for someone speed shopping. A 400 grain bolt out of a Sub 1 Lite will have the bow shooting 310-315ish real world. That's still fast but extremely slow in crossbows. The macdaddy in their line is the Sub 1 XR. It's a heavy draw weight and will launch the 400 grain bolt at 385 fps. It is not as quiet or smooth to shoot at the Lite version but my God at the power. We were shooting it at 20 yards into a crossbow block target and I had to flip the target on its back to get enough leverage to pull those bolts out. The Mission bows come with highly upgraded kits. In fact, the optics that come standard on them, are what most people are upgrading to with other crossbows. They come with the Hawke scopes. Bolts, quiver, and a case. Decocking and letting them down is stupid simple and easy too. I'd much rather do that, than to have to shoot the bow to unload it. The killer for the Mission is the price tag. Prepare for sticker shock. But there is enough difference between them and the others, that you quickly see it is worth the price tag.

No press needed for changing string/cables on them. Can de-chocolate chip cookie them. Lifetime warranty to original owner. They do have a crank available and it is actually silent. The ones on the TenPoint bows click when you crank them. I'm going Friday to pick up a Sub 1 XR. I will whimper and cry when handing over the money for one but be smiling when I start shooting it at home.
Click to expand...
Bingo! You picked a winner.
So did I. Picked up my Sub 1 Lite Saturday. Already have a Mission Sniper Lite but really disliked having to carry a bag around to unload.
The speed was no concern to me.350 fps is plenty enough for any whitetail hunt anywhere.
Good luck with it!
 
Picked my Sub1 XR up Friday. If I had it to do over again I would go with the Tenpoint Stealth NXT. I got the RSD crank for the Sub 1 but for when shooting them at the shop, I only shot with the pull rope. The RSD device is crude and the TenPoint Accudraw Pro crank system is light years ahead of the Mission system IMO. I had a hard time deciding between the Stealth and the Sub 1. Ultimately it was the decocking feature that swayed me to the Mission. But in hindsight, I think the integrated cocking system of the Tenpoint is worth having to shoot to unload.

Any ways...got the Sub 1 home. Leveled the scope and level on the bow. Have shot it out to 60 yards and can consistently put arrow after arrow inside a 2 inch dot while shooting it off a cheap pair of shooting sticks I have. You do not want to group shoot with these bows unless you have money to throw away on bolts. In fact, at closer yardages, I was shooting at arrow holes in my bag target to set the scope. Not sure how the Tenpoints compare in terms of accuracy but inside on the 20 yard range, the Stealth was hitting nearly the same hole each time I shot it.

For what its worth, I had the shop swap out bolts that came with mine. It came with 19" 250 grain bolts...which with a 100 grain tip, is only 350 grains. Way too light. They swapped them out for 19" 300 grain...which puts me at 400 grain total weight and 385 fps through my chronograph.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top