Quick question Caribou, what kind of backstop do you have behind your target? It looks like that you are just shooting in the backyard and am wondering where the bolt would end up if you miss or something goes wrong on the bow causing the bolt to veer off target.

I have had cops at my house a few times telling me that is illegal to shoot in my backyard and they can ticket me for 'discharge of a firearm within city limits' if they wanted to. It has never stopped me from shooting but I have a 6'x8' piece of 3/4" plywood behind my target just in case of a miss. I think if an arrow ends up in a neighbor's house or one of his kids that I might just get that ticket after all.

I saw one of the compressed air "crossbows" at Academy. Interesting, pricey, and powerful.

http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores...dsaAoueEALw_wcB

Quick question Caribou, what kind of backstop do you have behind your target? It looks like that you are just shooting in the backyard and am wondering where the bolt would end up if you miss or something goes wrong on the bow causing the bolt to veer off target.

I have had cops at my house a few times telling me that is illegal to shoot in my backyard and they can ticket me for 'discharge of a firearm within city limits' if they wanted to. It has never stopped me from shooting but I have a 6'x8' piece of 3/4" plywood behind my target just in case of a miss. I think if an arrow ends up in a neighbor's house or one of his kids that I might just get that ticket after all.

I agree that something isn't quite right. Bolts would be the first place I'd look, but you also might try putting that scope back on and see how it shoots. Your cheap red dot might be the problem.

As to the "how far" question about xbows vs compounds, most people don't understand the physics of ballistics and trajectory. They see those initial speed numbers like 400 fps for a xbow vs 300 fps for a compound and automatically assume that means it (the xbow) will shoot farther. In actuality, there are many other factors involved besides just speed. A longer/heavier projectile will hold an accurate trajectory over a much longer distance than a shorter/lighter projectile. That's the reason long range rifle shooters always use heavy bullets and sacrifice speed. That shorter bolt from a xbow will have a lower ballistic coefficient that an arrow, so the effective maximum range for each weapon will be closer than the initial speeds would indicate.

Wish TFP was still here. He could probably explain it better than me.

Calm down dammit!!! You are at this level and I need you down at this level.

If you can get those groups at 30 yards you are fine. Go forth and kill.

No need to overthink it.

A good expandible may tighten groups up a little but if your shooting field points that's as good as your gonna get with that set up. Which is more than fine

Yeah, I want to shoot tighter groups, but given the yardage limitations I'm willing to abide by, I'm not worried about hunting season at all.