New Barnett Predator AVI

[Buckrub]

I guess I'm crazy. BUT........I made a promise to myself when I got this job 11 years ago. This is the first job that I ever had that gave out bonuses. Go figure, this year we're supposedly doing so poorly that we all get zero percent raises! But they messed up and established these criteria whereby we might get a quarterly bonus. I think they believed we'd never meet the criteria. Well, we did, so we got a small bonus 1Q, and the one for 2Q, payable 08/22, is double payout. And I promised myself years ago that I'd splurge and spend any bonus on myself, as a 'reward' for all the stress this crazy place puts on me (already one heart attack)........ that's how I own my Tikka .270 with Zeiss.......

So I bought a crossbow!! Per UPS, it'll be here tomorrow. I researched all of them, and there are some great ones out there. I tried a Ten Point at Gander Mountain, and they are ridiculously heavy, over 10 pounds each, and expensive. So was the Excalibur, the one everyone pointed me to. So were the Parkers. I wasn't excited about the Barnetts and Hortons and PSE and such but then I saw the Barnett Predator. Quite a bit different, and Crossbow Review had some great things to say about it, and it was semi-affordable. So, there went my bonus! This one was quieter, narrower with the shoot-through stirrup, and faster than the others too.

I know ZERO about crossbows......so now I have a ML that I know almost nothing about other than what I've read here and shot very few times, and now I have a crossbow that I know absolutely nothing about. Back surgery (actually partial lung removal through the back, taking out a rib) long ago makes it hard for me to pull a bow back, so a crossbow (legal here) has to be the ticket.

My goal was to get into archery to give me a 'reason' to be in deer camp in January and February. With the new CCW law (trying to schedule a class now), we can carry a pistol during archery season, so that eliminates one of the major drawbacks (pardon the pun) that I've always had for getting into it.....being in the woods with wild Woozles and Heffalumps (and poachers) without firepower. Our camp usually just shuts down on January 1 at end of ML and Gun seasons and sits idle, and all those deer run free without anyone to harass them. Camp is so easy to get to I can go after work on Friday and hunt a couple of days in these 2 months that I usually sit around and pick lint out of my navel on weekends.

Now, all that is probably way more info than any of you wanted, but I'm rambling cause I'm excited, I guess.

Got a target coming also, so hopefully by season I'll be able to hit the broad side of a barn with it. Actually, early season begins Oct 1 (full season is nonstop Oct 1 through Feb 28), but not sure if I want to be out there while the fish are still hitting and the mosquitoes own the woods.........


Just more to leave my kids in my will one day!!!!!

[fullstream]

Congrats bill, must be a theme with gettin new crossbows! well got mine 2 monthes ago it wasn't new but previous owner has OCD ;D (he'll laugh when he reads this) and heonly had it 2 monthes. these crossbows are incredibly accurate (I got the heavy 10 point ) heck even I might scare a couple or four does this year. look into the cocking rope it makes short work of pulling that string back! again congrats steve

p.s you get bored up there @ camp my Ar liscence should still be good then ;D

[Buckrub]

Steve, the "package" supposedly comes with a cocking rope. With my back (and heart) I am worried about that, but I'll deal with that when I figure it out. I think my back is what kept me from being comfortable lifting the heavier one. I am sure this one will be "too heavy" too, but at least it shaves 2 lbs off the expensive ones.

Tapping my foot waiting on the Brown Truck.

[SW]

The cocking rope really helps in 2 ways: 1) 1/2s the pull, and 2) makes the cocking even(very impt to accuracy). Hopefully, the new Barnett will be of much better quality than from years ago. Hadn't considered that the Parker is heavy. Seems very light.

[ozark]

Buckrub, I used the cocking ropes and they do make it easier. That got to be (Shall I say breathtaking) for me so I ordered a cocking wench that slides over the butt and has a crank handle that simply ratchets the string back into its locked position. It is the cats meow for someone confined to a blind or hunting shack.
I use a cull bolt to unload into soft dirt or a bale of hay. I soon discovered that shooting a crossbow accurately required a little different technique. I also discovered that to be accurate one has to use matching bolts and broadheads. Before trusting myself to take a shot at a deer I needed to get my bolts all hitting in a 3 inch diameter circle at the various ranges I expected opportunities. I have only killed a half dozen or so but so far none have been lost. Only one went down right there. The rest have ran an average of 50 yards. It is a good deer weapon if you get all your ducks in line and knowing the precise yardage is essential. Buckrub,
Several years ago I decided that the toys I wanted didn't need to be justified. As long as my family has food clothing and shelter I am going to give that little boy inside all the spoiling he asks for. Ben

[Buckrub]

Smart man, Ben.

Well, after a trip this weekend, I messed with it this afternoon. I finally got it all together. Yep, I MUST use the cocking rope, but with it, I can cock it. I got the scope on. The target, I haven't even unboxed yet. Wore me out just getting this far!

As I say, it was 'free one time money' and it was lighter than several of the top end ones, and it was a bit (not much) cheaper. I have no clue how it'll hold up or how it'll shoot yet. Time will tell. Again, it's actually a good excuse to be in deer camp in January and February, which will come in handy more and more as the years wear on........In just a few short years (about 239 of them the way my 401K is going!! ) I can go to camp in early November, and come home in February and get the boat ready to fish!!!