The crossbow and the compound bow are the hunting weapons that are almost similar to each other. However, these are not identical as you think; there are certain key differences you are probably unaware of. Both are projectile weapons used for hunting and are advanced versions of traditional bow and arrow. Today, we are comparing the two projectile hunting weapons in terms of pros and cons to figure out the best of the two. So, here are the pros and cons of the crossbow and compound bow:
Pros of Crossbow
- Ease of Use
The first and foremost advantage of a crossbow is the ease of use. It is the simplest hunting weapon to use. Loading darts is simple and shooting is even more easy. All you have to do is pull the trigger to shoot darts, just like a pistol or a rifle.
- Ideal for Beginners
Since it is very easy to use, it comes up as an ideal choice for a beginner. Beginners are not very skilled hunters, they need a weapon that is simple and has no complexity. All they need to do with a crossbow is aim at the target and pull the trigger to shoot darts.
- Perfect for Disabled Hunters
There is a great number of disabled hunters in the US. These disabled hunters need a hunting weapon that is easier to use and does not require a lot of skills and force. They can simply pull the trigger and shoot darts to take down an animal.
- Ideal for Small Game Hunting
A crossbow is an ideal hunting weapon for small game hunting. It shoots small darts that are the best when it comes to hunting birds like quails, ducks, doves etc. Also, these are ideal for taking down small game such as rabbits and squirrels etc.
- Cheapest Hunting Weapon
It proves to be the most cost effective and cheapest hunting weapon. Firstly, the prices are the lowest in the market when compared to other hunting weapons. In addition, you can reuse darts that have been used already. So, there is no need to purchase a lot of darts; so save your money!
- Reasonably Good Shooting Range & Speed
Well, speed and shooting range depends greatly on the draw weight, still, the weapon matters a lot. A crossbow is a projectile weapon that provides a very good shooting range that can be up to 500 feet. Also, the velocity is good and can be up to 500 FPS.
- Accuracy
The one factor that makes a crossbow the best hunting weapon is the accuracy. Since it is easy to use, you can take your time and aim at your target. If you are not a well trained hunter, you can still achieve the accuracy you need to take down an animal.
Cons of Crossbow
- Higher Draw Weight
Generally, a crossbow is not very easy to carry on the field. The draw weight is higher and hence you struggle a lot when carrying it around your shoulder. Hunting becomes a little challenging when you have such a heavy hunting weapon to carry around the field.
- Lack of Strength
A huge problem with this hunting weapon is that it lacks strength. Remember it can only shoot small darts and not the big arrows. Therefore, hunting deer and other big game is not easy with it. You need a strong and powerful hunting weapon to take them down quickly,
- The Sound
Compared to a compound bow, the crossbow produces some sound. It is not the most silent weapon. It does make some noise since it works on a pistol or firearm mechanism. For small game hunting, it is not an ideal weapon because a silent weapon works perfectly in this regard.
Pros of Compound Bow
- Silent Hunting
A compound bow is a silent hunting weapon. It does not produce any sound or make any noise. Hence, for hunting, such a weapon is ideal. You need your target to stay within your range and for this purpose, a silent weapon like this is perfect because your target won’t be escaping from your range.
- Lower Draw Weight
As compared to crossbows, a compound bow has a lower draw weight. It is lighter in weight and hence it can be carried quite easily on the field. You can carry it around your shoulder quite comfortably because the weight is quite low and easy to handle.
- Incredible Strength
The strength of this hunting weapon is unmatchable. It has the power to take down the small game as well as the big game. The arrows are shot from the weapon at such power and pace that a huge animal such as deer can be taken down with ease.
- Ideal for Big Game Hunting
There is no better big game hunting weapon than this. It has some serious strength that makes it perfect for hunting deer and other big game. It shoots big arrows and that are strong enough to take down deer or huge animals. So, it is the best big game hunting weapon.
- Reasonably Good Shooting Range & Speed
Well, speed and shooting range depends greatly on the draw weight, still, the type of hunting weapon matters a lot. A compound bow is one of those weapons that provide a good and effective range of more than 500 feet. Also, the speed is more than 500 feet per second.
- Accuracy
Accuracy is another positive I can take out of the compound bow. It provides unbelievable accuracy. Though you need to be skilled enough to use it, shooting precision makes it a great hunting weapon. You can easily take down your target from a reasonable distance.
Cons of Compound Bow
- Hard to Use
The biggest issue with a compound bow is that it is quite difficult to use. In fact, it is the hardest hunting weapon to handle. You can’t learn to use it straight away. It is hard to handle, hard to understand, and hard to work with. So, this is not preferred by the beginners.
- Excessive Training Needed
To learn how to use this hunting weapon in a perfect manner, you require a lot of training and practice. You need to be skilled enough and must be trained for a long time in order to gain that perfection and accuracy in the shooting. Otherwise, it can be just a disaster.
- Not Great for Beginners
Due to that hardness of using it, compound bow is not the right weapon to choose for the beginners. The beginners need a weapon that is simple to use and has no complexity around it. So, they can’t use it well unless they spend a lot of time training.
- Not Ideal for Disabled Hunters
Also, it is not the best hunting weapon for disabled hunters. They can’t handle it simply because they don’t have the physical strength and ability to use it. So, this is not an ideal hunting weapon for you if you are a disabled American hunter!
Conclusion
So, which is your preferred hunting weapon now? To me, the crossbow is slightly better than the compound bow, typically because of the ease of use. It is cheap and does not require a lot of skills and training. So, it is the right choice for the beginners and disabled hunters as well.
