[rabid groundhog]

Made it out to Middletown to a little spot/pro shop with an outdoor range to sight in my crossbow (Barnett C5 wildcat, my first foray into hunting without the use of combustibles).

My C5 came with a scope that's got multiple horizontal lines arrayed so as to give you more crosshairs to use at different ranges.

So when I sighted it in at 20 meters, my crosshairs read as such:

- Dead on at 10 to 20 meters,
- Negligibly close at 30,
- 4 inches high at 40 (I'm thinking neglibly close at 45)
- 3 high at 50
- 6 low at 60.

Anybody else getting similar results? I'm pretty sure that, while the bow is really fast, the arrow trajectory must be ridiculous at 50-60 meters.. So at what range do you sight in your crossbows, and how far are you anticipating being willing/able to shoot?

 

[RB]

I can tell you our Parker Tornado drops an inch a yard after 25 or so yards. We have it set for 15,25,35,45...truthfully anything past that even on the range we figure we are just going to loose bolts in the grass. I have never shot over 45 yards, and our hunting shots will be 35 yards limits. The main reason we got crossbows is that we wanted quick clean kill accuracy,and last year proved we got it dropping two within 20 steps of impact, one an 11 yard shot one a 23 yard shot, it was not to push the limit of the shot.

personally, I would forego trying to figure out a 50 or 60 yard option..and use the crosshairs for micro managing shorter yardages and then use the term "dead-on" a bit more in your descriptions above.

Since this is your first hunt without gunpowder,please remember that what is killing here is blood loss by hemmorage, not shock force tissue destrcution. So the angle of entry and best placed shot are what matters here. Thunk'em good and RIGHT where you wanted it by keeping it under 35-40 yards out there, that is the name of the game.

Yardage estimation is HUGE, if you are off a few yards in your guess, then add a "in the ballpark" type "zero in" off the crosshair....you got the formula to be off by several inches whwn a life is at stake.

Also, put your field tips away til next spring, shoot broadheads in Sept (if you haven't been) it will change things a little more than likely.

My .02

 

[rabid groundhog]

Rooster,
Thanks so much for the advice. I left my question open-ish in hopes of attracting a brain to pick about this :-D

To be clear, I only made the shots above 30 meters because it was a gorgeous day, I'd just bought the bow and it was a nice clear shot all the way to the end of the field.

The bow itself was bought because my brother's back yard (in 5C) borders a big woody patch with many deer accustomed to browsing in gardens. I know for a fact that it is 12 meters from his back deck to the corner of his property, probably 15 to the other corner, with several hundred meters for an arrow to hit dirt before the houses on the other side of the ravine. So my shots, as best I can figure, are known-distance, and close at that.

Broadheads have been purchased and will be employed on the next trip (to the range!)

Any further thoughts on improving my setup? The crosshairs are non-adjustable, so I can change where the top line is zeroed, but the others move accordingly as well.

 

[HuntPhilipsburg]

What do you guys shoot your broaheads into when practing with them?

 

[dpms]

My two bows have these set-ups.

Excalibur - 20, 28, 35, 42 yards
Parker - 20, 30, 40, 50 yards

I write these down and tape it to the side of my stocks with a piece of clear shipping tape.

Knowing the distance and the exact trajectory is key with any bow.

 

[dpms]

What do you guys shoot your broaheads into when practing with them?

I currently use a Block but will be buying a Rinehart when the time comes.

 

[HuntPhilipsburg]

What is a block? I'm a 15 year old kid and new to archery and got a crossbow last year for christmas.

 

[arrowhead]

What do you guys shoot your broaheads into when practing with them?

Just about any foam type target will work. One of my favorites is the Rinehart 18-1. I've been using the Big Shot range type target and like it too.

 

[arrowhead]

What is a block? I'm a 15 year old kid and new to archery and got a crossbow last year for christmas.

A "block" is a layered foam, square target. It's called "the block". Just about any of the foam square targets will work. The Rinehart is made from a special foam that "heals" itself after the shot. That healing quality seems to make them last longer.

 

[rabid groundhog]

My two bows have these set-ups.

Knowing the distance and the exact trajectory is key with any bow.

Thanks DPMS. So 20's good to start? I'm really impressed with how hard this thing throws bolts at short range, didn't know if I could go to a longer 'point blank'.. But to paraphrase rooster, precision is necessary for an ethical kill. guess i'll have to practice all summer and save my 70 yard shots on rising pheasants for next year

 

[rabid groundhog]

What is a block? I'm a 15 year old kid and new to archery and got a crossbow last year for christmas.

Hey kid! get your own thread!

naaah it's ok. if you google "the block" or "crossbow block" it'll turn up. The temptation will be to buy a cheap foam target - DON'T. My brother owns a compound bow and my crossbow routinely blows through his target. Spend the extra money on the crossbow block, or at least make a big backer full of phonebooks or something!

(Mine was $50 at the shop I went to.. new bolts are $15 for my crossbow.. do the math, you'll see!)