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Post by SW on Sept 3, 2007 12:29:02 GMT -5
I hunt with 3 types of bows - recurve,compound and x-bow. Part of today is getting the 175 Parker set-up. Finally I'm getting 3" gps @ 50 yds with 125 field points(4-5" with 100g). So I'm planning on using 125g hunting points - either Thunderheads or Spitfires. I've never had a malfunction with either. With each of these I'm getting 3" gps also but they are 6" left and 5" low of the fieldpoints. Now low and left is std for switching from fp to broadhead with a bow, that's just a given in my experience; but the expandibles are hitting at almost the same point - actually they are about 5" left and 4" down. So much for shooting about the same as fieldpoints. I will end up with the 125 Spitfires as I bear hunt with the compound bow exclusively and have a few of each kind - not enough for the same on both unless 1 was much better on both the x-bow and the compound. They are about the same.
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Post by dougedwards on Sept 5, 2007 15:06:07 GMT -5
Arrow balance is a big deal with crossbows because they push with so much power. The balance point of a bolt should be between 8%-12% forward toward the broadhead and stiff enough to withstand the short and powerful power stroke. Sometimes you do just fine with field points but with the longer expandables or fixed blades they seem to veer off. You could try a heavier bolt as many times this will cure the problem. You might experience just a tad bit of decreased speed but also usually much more penetrating ability with a heavier bolt. Hope this helps........Doug
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Post by SW on Sept 6, 2007 7:04:59 GMT -5
:)Doug,
I finally got the 125 Spitfires to fly well by going to 5" low profile vanes and orienting the Spitfires uniformly. Even in lightly shifting winds, I got 2" 50 yd gps off good rests. I am near 12% fwd of center.
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Post by dougedwards on Sept 6, 2007 7:43:38 GMT -5
Great Steve........hope you have a productive year with the crossbow. I am a first time hunter with the crossbow since my arthritic shoulder won't hold up to the stress put on it by a healthy compound. I was shooting 100 grain Magnus Stingers with Beman Thunderbolts and sure enough they flew low and left of my field points. When I changed to a heavier carbon Horton bolt they flew much better. I am also tempted to try the Rage mechanicals as I have heard great things about them.
2" groups @ 50 yds is great shooting. Have you ever wondered if the deer will jump the string at that distance since a crossbow is so loud?........Doug
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Post by SW on Sept 7, 2007 7:16:07 GMT -5
:)Doug,
For 42 years I was a bow hunter only. That was 1957-1999 when I shot my 1st deer with a gun. Due to a shoulder problem, I will now shoot all 3 "bows" recurve,compound, and now x-bow . I have always seen the "low and left tendency" when going from FPs to broadheads. There is a difference in x-bow noise levels; yet, they are noisier than well silenced compounds/stick bows. The Devaster, early PSEs, and other x-bows have been extremely noisy. I have been able to "silence" the Ten-Points and Parkers fairly well. The Parkers now come with the Simms stuff I have put on Ten-Points(Hunters) in the past. A few years back I used a Hunter for 2 years and shot deer at various ranges, including shots from <10yds to well >50 yds. String jumping wasn't a problem. Even tho the speed of sound is a little over 1100'/sec normally, speeds in excess of 300'/sec rarely result in jumping the string IMO.
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Post by ozark on Sept 7, 2007 9:17:29 GMT -5
I have taken a few deer and trukey with the crossbow at ranges 30 yards and less. So far, I have not witnessed what is termed jumping the string. I think precise range yardage that takes into account the difference in elevation between bow and target is far more important. When I first got my crossbow I assumed that it would shoot about any bolt/head combination well. Was I ever wrong. It took me awhile to discover that I had to be very careful what I fed it. I finally discovered that for my bow (Horton Dakota) Horton bolts, and Horton open on contact broadheads worked well. With these I could impact in the same place using 100 grain field points and the 100 grain broadheads. I have taken three goblers with mine. That is exciting.
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Post by SW on Sept 7, 2007 9:21:06 GMT -5
I have taken three goblers with mine. That is exciting. Yes it is! |
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Post by dougedwards on Sept 11, 2007 19:00:38 GMT -5
Can't wait to try that! Now that would be tooooo cool.....doug
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Post by ozark on Sept 11, 2007 21:35:52 GMT -5
One gobbler I took a picture was stamped in my memory. As you all know when the trigger releases things happen fast. This one was 24 yards away and at the shot it flew almost straight up. A hundred thoughts flashed through my grey software watching. At treetop level it folded and like a phesant shot with a shotgun it came tumbling and flapping straight down. I am sure I seen the vanes pass through but my expectations wasn't at all what occured. I aim to hit where the wings join the body but this one impacted a bit low and back. Got him, woops what happened, he is flying away, nope here he comes back, he is mine now. Those were some flying thoughts that I felt.
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Post by SW on Sept 11, 2007 21:36:24 GMT -5
Can't wait to try that! Now that would be tooooo cool.....doug Shoot them thru the center of the back. |
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Post by dougedwards on Sept 18, 2007 11:13:55 GMT -5
One drawback to expandables is that most of them open from the front of the broadhead. This does inhibit penetration somewhat. There are a few expanbles such as the Rage broadhead that opens from the bottom which is much better for penetration. The two blade version cuts a whole 2" diamater. With crossbows penetration is usually not so much of an issue until you are trying to reach out there beyond 40 yds. Accuracy reigns supreme among crossbow hunters. Therefore finding the right broadhead/bolt balance for accuracy is critical.
This is my first year hunting with a crossbow. I am doing so because I have arthritis in my right shoulder stemming all the way back to an injury suffered when I played basketball in college. As loud as a crossbow is I am inclined to believe that a deer could jump the string from a shot at 30 yds or further. I guess I will get to experience this first hand very soon. At least I hope so.....Doug
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Post by huntingmike on Aug 28, 2008 22:20:12 GMT -5
One post mentioned string jumping. I too was worried at the extra noise of my exomax I tried everything I could think of to silence it. I finally took all the modifications off. They were not needed.
Between me and my hunting group friends we have taken aprox. 35 deer with Excalibers with out silence aids and not one deer has jumped string from almost straight down to 82 yards. I personally have only shot to 40 yards distance but I feel confident to 60 yards if needed. The bows shoot from 345 to 352 fps depending on set up.
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Post by BOBinIN on Aug 29, 2008 10:37:41 GMT -5
Mike,
Regarding the noise... I've been told to wear ear-muffs when shooting an Excalibur as they have no impact on POI. And the deer don't hear it either.
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Post by ozark on Sept 1, 2008 20:02:05 GMT -5
Jumping the string? I have heard this experssion among bow hunters for a long time. I have not had that happen and I am curious about it. I seem to think that when a sudden noise like the sound of a bow occurs close to deer they tense and crouch in preparation to leap on the first jump. Is it more likely that they duck the string than jump it? I don't know, I have not hunted with a bow that much. OZARK
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Post by SW on Sept 2, 2008 7:03:57 GMT -5
"Jumping the string" does refer to the ducking that a deer does when it gets ready to take flight. The arrow goes over the deer's back. The speed of sound is appx 1100'/sec while an arrow is 1/3 to 1/4 of that speed. This allows the string's twang to get to the deer's ear before the arrow does. I think this can happen is the deer is on full alert; but actually I think this occurance is the exception, not the norm.
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Post by dougedwards on Sept 2, 2008 20:11:05 GMT -5
Steve is right. The whitetail also hears the actual arrow twisting through the air before it reaches it's destination.
Doug
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Post by SW on Sept 13, 2008 17:01:46 GMT -5
Steve is right. The whitetail also hears the actual arrow twisting through the air before it reaches it's destination. Doug I believe that everyone should get behind an object(big tree, etc) and have someone shoot the proposed arrow combination, including broadhead, where it goes by you where you can hear it. Vanes/field point is relatively quiet, vanes/expandible is somewhat noisier, regular broadhead is noisier yet, and feathers make quite a racket. This year my son is using my compound and I have gone back to my Palmer recurve/2117/5" vanes/probably 100g Satallite broadheads with blades much like a Super razor head. I bet that will make some noise. I might just compromise and shoot Rage expandibles with the recurve. Late in the season, Dec or when leaves are gone, the Parker X-Bow will come out with 125 Spitfires. I expect to be limited out well before that time. I do believe an alert deer can jump the string on a conventional bow shooting feathers/conv broadhead which is a slow, loud combination. |
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Post by DW on Sept 13, 2008 17:07:49 GMT -5
Steve is right. The whitetail also hears the actual arrow twisting through the air before it reaches it's destination. Doug I believe that everyone should get behing an object(big tree, etc) and have someone shoot the proposed arrow combination, including broadhead, where it goes by you where you can hear it. Vanes/field point is relatively quiet, vanes/expandible is somewhat noisier, regular broadhead is noisier yet, and feathers make quite a racket. This year my son is using my compound and I have gone back to my Palmer recurve/2117/5" vanes/probably 100g Satallite broadheads with blades much like a Super razor head. I bet that will make some noise. I might just compromise and shoot Rage expandibles with the recurve. Late in the season, Dec or when leaves are gone, the Parker X-Bow will come out with 125 Spitfires. I expect to be limited out well before that time. I do believe an alert deer can jump the string on a conventional bow shooting feathers/conv broadhead which is a slow, loud combination. I can vouch for this also, years ago when I shot feathers we did the same test, one of us stood around the corner of the house while the other guy shot, feathers are considerably louder than vanes. |
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Post by huntingmike on Oct 24, 2008 19:30:34 GMT -5
The first time I heard a feathered arrow go by I understood how a deer could try to
" jump the string". I was worried about the sound the bow made. It is very loud compared to a quite compound.
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