subject: Selecting Your First Crossbow [print this page] When a person initially decides to enter the world of crossbow shooting and hunting it is simple to become confused when deciding the crossbow that you need. First you will find that the prices wildly go from as low as 50 bucks to upwards of a grand or more. Also you will realize that crossbows have many different features to choose from like ones that are lightweight or heavy, crossbows that come with a scope or not and so on. Thankfully with some knowledge of crossbow features and functionality you can review the different options and choose the one that works best for you.
First, when selecting your first crossbow you should always go and shoot as many different crossbows as you can. This way you can find what type and configuration that you like the best before you spend any money. This is particularly important for people that are buying their first crossbow.
When you are ready to choose your crossbow the first consideration that most buyers look at is weight. A lighter crossbow will be easy to tote through the woods but it will also probably be less stable when taking the shot. Conversely, a heavy crossbow will be more stable when taking the shot but will be more tiring to carry during hunting. So it really comes down to what type of hunting you are planning on doing. If you have a hunting stand set up, a heavier crossbow will probably be a better option as you will be mostly still during hunting. If you are going to be following more reclusive game a lighter crossbow will be a better choice for you. So it is up to your own personal needs of the crossbow.
Another consideration when buying a crossbow are the features that are included with the crossbow. Most crossbows now come with a cocking device attached to the crossbow. This is not entirely required but it does make it simpler to cock the crossbow and eliminates the need for the purchase of a cocking device. This is also an important feature for older crossbow purchasers that may find it difficult to manually cock the crossbow.
Scopes are another addition to watch for when buying a crossbow. Usually it would be a logical idea to purchase a crossbow that has a scope included as the scope will be specifically designed to work well with that crossbow. If you make a decision to buy an aftermarket scope it will add costs to the complete purchase but you will have a more customized setup to your crossbow. Red dot scopes are a good selection for crossbows as the majority of shots are taken at a short range. If you are more used to typical rifle scopes those will work as well. Either way do not go out and buy the lowest priced scope you can find as you get what you pay for.
The best advise is to just go out and test the different crossbows that you have in mind. That way you can review the crossbows and find the best one that works for you.
