Hunting with a bow or crossbow in modern Russian realities is much less common than with a gun. The first reason is the high cost of equipment, and the second is the need to master the theoretical and practical part of using throwing weapons.
The choice between a crossbow or a bow will depend on the skills of the shooter and his personal preferences in hunting, which one is best suited for a particular type of hunting. Many hunting enthusiasts strive to at least try these types of weapons in action, because it is reliably known about the unforgettable sensations received in the process.
Features of hunting with a bow and crossbow
The ability to shoot a firearm does not give any significant skills in handling a crossbow or bow. Which one is best for each hunter, he must decide for himself. Mastering archery is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. However, good skill with a bow is achieved by practicing aimed shooting and attending instructions from the masters.
Still, it is somewhat easier to switch to shooting from a crossbow by thosewho previously had experience using firearms. Good shooting from a gun will allow you to quickly adapt to aimed shooting with crossbow arrows and not feel much discomfort from changing outfits. If the shooter has absolutely no experience in shooting from throwing weapons, the game has an unsuccessful but traumatic hit from a bow, more likely to survive, which is better to use a bow or crossbow in this case, from the point of view of humanity should be taken into account.
In fact, hunting of this kind is not much like an entertainment event, it is rather an art and a matter of real hunters. In addition, hunting with a bow or crossbow is a real sports discipline, no less significant than similar sports with shooting from firearms.
Differences from hunting with firearms
Naturally, the main difference is the possibility of silent shooting, which will not scare away all the game within a radius of several hundred meters. In addition, shooting from a thrown weapon gives a completely different feeling than using guns. The hunter feels as if closer to his prey, in more complex and interesting conditions. Excitement in such a hunt is more reminiscent of that of distant ancestors. Absolute silence and unity with nature when tracking game and shooting itself can leave few indifferent.
Questions about whether to choose a crossbow or a bow, which one is better suited, are decided depending on the type of fishing. For example, hunting for airtargets is entirely the prerogative of the bow, the use of a crossbow for flying targets is impractical. Ground game can be equally effectively hit with both weapons, but the crossbow is more suitable for beginners or those who do not want to retrain for a long time after using guns. Archery, on the other hand, will require better developed skills, including taking into account the tension of the bowstring, the firmness of the hand, the correction for the wind, the skillful calculation of the trajectory of the arrow flight and the peculiarities of the movement of the target.
Beginners should be advised to purchase weapons in the best firm of crossbows and bows Ten Point, which is the leader among American manufacturers. It is also recommended to study the products of Horton, Megaline, Barnett, Excalibur and PoeLang
Designs and types of bows
The invention of the bow gave man the ability to remain out of sight of the victim and significantly increase the distance of destruction in comparison with throwing weapons like spears. The very first structural design of the bow was introduced about 10 thousand years ago and turned out to be almost ingenious in its efficiency and simplicity.
The bow was a great example of a versatile weapon for both hunting and war. Even ancient bows were capable of shooting several hundred meters and piercing enemy armor. The range of the arrow then depended not so much on the design, but on the physical data of the shooter.
Although the very first design has survived to this day unchanged, experts have created significantly improved versions that wouldenvied even the best Mongolian archers. There are five main types of bows: classic, traditional, compound, sports and children's.
Compound bows for hunting, their advantages and disadvantages
If we consider hunting from the point of view of the fascination of the process, then in response to the question of what is better for hunting, a bow or a crossbow, one can definitely answer - a bow with a block design. It has special mechanisms that are located on the shoulders of the bow. These devices partly assume the effort of pulling the bowstring, making this task easier for the shooter. Also, a compound bow is easier to transport and store than a traditional one. It is more compact and does not require removing the bowstring for storage.
The first disadvantage of a compound bow is its cost. The basic model may not be very expensive, but the most popular use case is that the hunter will have to more or less regularly buy various modules (blocks) to suit his needs. There are also initially fully equipped models on the market, you can find them by the PKG marking in the title. The second disadvantage is the need for excellent bow skills for effective hunting, as well as direct experience in the process itself.
Bow range and power
These parameters depend primarily on the design of the bow. Traditional models shoot at about 500 meters, and block models can launch an arrow at 1200 meters or more in planning mode. Russian law allowsthe use of compound bows with a string tension force (i.e. power) of no more than 27 kg with an error of about 5%. This means that the maximum distance is around 870 meters.
Designs and types of crossbows
Crossbows have become a kind of offshoot and continuation of the idea of the development of small arms in the Middle Ages. Increased power and firing range have become their hallmark. By type, crossbows are divided into rifle, block and classic. The purpose of the devices is combat, hunting or sports. Also there are children's reduced models. If in the question of what is better, a bow or a crossbow for hunting, the choice fell on the latter, then you should take a closer look at rifle models that have the heaviest weight in combination with increased power and range.
Pros and cons of crossbows in hunting
The crossbow is smaller than the traditional bow. If you choose based on what is better than a bow or crossbow, a photo of them nearby can help compare the dimensions of both designs. The path of the crossbow is close range, while the bow manifests itself better at long distances. The design of the crossbow allows the use of a scope with night vision.
If you have not yet managed to decide which is better, a crossbow or a bow, then you need to pay attention to the shortcomings of crossbows, namely:
- the rate of fire of a modern crossbow, by virtue of its design, as well as a medieval one, is significantly inferior to the speed of firing from any bow;
- somewhat worseballistics, which reduces the effectiveness of weapons at long range;
- less power with the same tension force;
- faster bowstring wear with the same use.
Range and power of crossbows
The maximum allowable power or pull force of the bowstring of crossbows for hunting is about 43 kg. The shooting distance in this case can reach 60-80 meters when hunting a wild boar, if you use the best crossbows recognized in world sports. However, as a rule, shooting distances are a little more modest. A crossbow with a power of 43 kg will easily hit a deer at a distance of 40 meters.
The above facts and features of both types of throwing weapons will help you finally decide whether a bow or a crossbow is better in comparison for a certain type of hunting.
