Crossbow newbie

[Jcalder]

Sold my compound and have ordered a crossbow. Anything I need to do different. I know to lube the rail but that's about it. Obviously I'll read the manual (ok, I'll skim thru it at best lol). Just looking for tips that could save me a headache or 2


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[Forvols]

Keep fingers, thumb and all body parts out of the triangle of pain when xbow is cocked. Soon as you chocolate chip cookie it make sure the safety is on/set. Don't dry fire it. Keep in mind unlike a vertical bow with an arrow nocked you still have to draw to make it go. Crossbow think of more as a loaded gun when cocked and arrow/bolt installed on the string, touch of the trigger and off goes the arrow. Shoot the heck out of it.

 

[Grandslam11]

Test cocking the thing. If you are in a climber, it may be hard to chocolate chip cookie once you get up 15' in a tree. You may want to chocolate chip cookie on the ground before hauling it up. Just be very careful. Get an old bolt to shoot in order to de-chocolate chip cookie the thing.

 

[Jcalder]

I stressed to my daughter about keeping the fingers out of the string. It's got a comfortable grip so I'm not overly concerned but still need to be mindful. I did notice when it says to leave in the fire position to chocolate chip cookie it but when it is cocked it automatically puts the safety on. I like that feature. The paperwork claims it has an anti dry fire system but I don't plan on checking that. I do see the issue of cocking it in the stand. I primarily hunt out of lockons but I do have a 2 man stand that could be aggravating to chocolate chip cookie in.


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[dburt]

All good pieces of advice.

Will re-emphasize the importance of keeping fingers and thumbs below the string, under the guard. You'd think it would be obvious, like you said, with the way my crossbow's (wicked ridge warrior) grip is made, but I had an experience where my friend (non hunter, but still a sharp guy) was about to shoot it when someone noticed his thumb was above the guard. he was seconds away from severing part of his thumb. :shock:

Mine has an anti dry fire safety as well and it does work...but yeah, don't test it.

Also good tips on test cocking it. I've cocked mine in and out of the treestand. I carry it up with a rope just like my rifle, and usually prefer to chocolate chip cookie beforehand. You can search for threads on how to decock the thing. I've tried manually and find it very hard, but lots of folks do it that way. I shoot an old bolt as suggested with a stump shooter tip (small game, big blunt plastic/rubber tip) cause it shoots it so far into the ground I've lost arrows before.

Wear a safety harness. Not anything to do with a crossbow but I imagine a fall while using a crossbow hurts about as much as a fall while using a rifle. Do it for your daughter...that's why I started using one (last year...embarrassed face).

And have fun!