Crossbows

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smoking revolver
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And so my quest continues in search of a self defence weapon usable in forests and fields.
I'm a martial artist, so I've got short range covered.
I know my way around with a staff, so I've got mid range covered.
I need something for long range takedown.

I know a handgun would be more practical, and am aware now that there is no use of a gas pistol, but I still somehow don't want a firearm, so what about going medieval and using a crossbow?

The drawback of course is that there is only one shot that has to hit the target,
and also it's bulkier and heavier than a hand gun,
but are there any other drawbacks?

It would sure be fun to practice with!

Please tell of your experience with the crossbow?
Thanks!

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Avatar said:
And so my quest continues in search of a self defence weapon usable in forests and fields.
I'm a martial artist, so I've got short range covered.
I know my way around with a staff, so I've got mid range covered.
I need something for long range takedown.
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I don't know where you live or what your lifestyle is like, but is there really a significant chance that someone will shoot at you from long ranges in a forest?
 
No, I'm more concerned about teeth and horns that travel at a great speed towards me, particulary wild dogs and boars.
The stuff that troubles me most are rabid animals.
 
I have plans for a crossbow from an old 50's popular mechanics. You can make one from an old (lightweight) car spring.
 
Its far more accurate than a bow, because the bolt flies in a straight line to the target, losing altitude.

The arrow from a bow flies in a arc, rising slightly after release.

In ancient times a good archer could get off six arrows for every one from a crossbow. They take time to load.
 
40lb max pull?! Surely you jest! 150lb pull is minimum for an animal of any considerable size,
but I bet not enough for a tank boar. And I bet range and accuracy for that thing sucks too.
 
For rabid animals, I wouldn't trust anything but a shotgun, maybe a large caliber handgun. I also go hiking alot, and I'm concerned about security. I'm frankly more worried about dumb rednecks than animals.
 
Long range, huh? Hmm...have you considered a throwing weapon? Shuriken, perhaps? Throwing knives? A handgun is definitely the most practical solution, though.
 
Avatar said:
but I still somehow don't want a firearm
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Out of curiousity, why not? It seems that if you feel the desire to go to such lengths to ensure your preparedness for an encounter requiring deadly force, you would be willing to go to whatever length necessary to ensure you were equipped with the best possible means.

I foresee a future for you that resembles the scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark, where Indiana Jones is confronted by a master swordsman, only to pull his .38 and pop him with a quickness. Seriously, when it comes to ranged weapons, firearms are where it's at and I wouldn't ever put myself in such a place where I was forced to rely on an inferior alternative at the expense of my own life.
 
If your worried about a Boar, it still comes down to a fire arm, or a boar spear.

A rabid animal a gun.

To effectively stop any large animal, requires a lot of penetration, and a large wound track.

Heavy caliber, 12 gauge slug, or as you say you good with a staff, a boar spear, but getting that close to a wild boar will be exciting.

One problem though, when I have hunted Boar they seem to come in packs, and they are very social and don't take kindly to loosing one of their own, I have been up a few trees avoiding them after I made the kill, and I have seen what they can do to a dog, great incentive to climb a tree.
 
Echo3Romeo said:
Out of curiousity, why not? It seems that if you feel the desire to go to such lengths to ensure your preparedness for an encounter requiring deadly force, you would be willing to go to whatever length necessary to ensure you were equipped with the best possible means.

I foresee a future for you that resembles the scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark, where Indiana Jones is confronted by a master swordsman, only to pull his .38 and pop him with a quickness. Seriously, when it comes to ranged weapons, firearms are where it's at and I wouldn't ever put myself in such a place where I was forced to rely on an inferior alternative at the expense of my own life.
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Indy use a S&W model 24, 44 cal.
 
One problem though, when I have hunted Boar they seem to come in packs, and they are very social and don't take kindly to loosing one of their own, I have been up a few trees avoiding them after I made the kill, and I have seen what they can do to a dog, great incentive to climb a tree.
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I and my friend have the same experience - saved by a tree. Wasn't a pack though, but a mother in cub season. With my friend it was a close one.

p.s. I do not hunt.

Oh, and yeah, I might end up with a revolver, but I like to check out all alternatives first, because getting a licence for a gun in my country is a long process that requires I pass several instructional courses, two tests and various medical check ups, as well as have to have a good motive to own a gun. The last I have and I wouldn't have much problems with others, but it's still a bitch to go through.
 
Avatar said:
40lb max pull?! Surely you jest!
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I had a 35lb bow when I was a kid, and could put an arrow through a telephone book...as long as it had a hunting tip.

Lighter bows are more accurate....however theres also the question of velocity and reaction time.

If you watch videos of deer hunting on youtube you'll notice that the animal jumps as soon as the release is heard, so having a fast arrow can be important.

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cach...lbs&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=ca&client=firefox-a

You’re hunting with THAT?

"How would you feel if someone told you that you’d never be able to hunt elk with a traditional bow? That you’re incapable of killing a bull moose, or a wild boar and that an African kudu is beyond your abilities?

From magazine articles, archery shop advice, and friendly opinions many women hear “You can’t kill an elk with THAT.” “THAT” is a woman hunter’s recurve or longbow. It usually pulls between 40 and 50 pounds at 23 to 26 inches of draw. It’s usually of insufficient weight to legally hunt moose or elk in Alaska and Wyoming, to satisfy modern bowhunters who like to see heavy bows shooting light arrows or to join the Professional Bowhunters Society as a regular member. But with proper set-up and careful shot choice, it’s capable of killing a big animal more effectively than a 60-pound compound shooting light arrows and mechanical broadheads.

Vic Berkampas, 61, believes in light bows. He’s been bowhunting with traditional equipment since 1959 and has owned Vic’s Archery in Grandeville, Michigan for 30 years. He likes to hunt with the lightest bow he can—ideally 45 pounds—because he’s more accurate. And Berkampas has found that lighter bows can be effective.

Since most states and provinces have legal bow weight minimums of 40 pounds to hunt big game (although some are less), Berkampas and his wife Linda, 51, have tried their equipment at game farms to provide solid evidence of light bow performance.

“We’ve done a lot of testing on wild boar ranges where you’re not held so much to game laws and you can actually experiment with light poundage,” says Berkampas. “I was down to a 32-pound bow and still shot through them…I shot [a boar] with a large 3-bladed broadhead (to try to minimize penetration). I hit ribs going in and out and it wasn’t any problem.”

Berkampas has also killed cow elk with 45-pound and 40-pound bows. He has a 29-inch draw, which gives him a longer power stroke than most women have, and therefore more force when his arrow hits. His wife, Linda has a 26-inch draw. Four years ago, she shot through a 325-pound wild boar with a 33-pound Black Widow recurve. Berkampas recalls that other hunters on the same hunt, shooting 65-pound and 70-pound compounds, weren’t getting even half way through a boar."
 
To kill an animal with a usual bow you have to do the sneaking up and be very precise on the area you shoot - neck, eye, hearth. It's not very practical and can only enrage the animal even more.
And I don't want to wound animal to cause unneccessary pain, I just want to take it out if it attacks me. Boars are a problem, because they require big force (like 200lb pull), but I'm willing to remain with that risk, because I won't lug a hunting rifle or a huge bow with me.
 
spidergoat said:
How about a bullwhip?
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Haha, that's some BDSM shit.

Echo3Romeo said:
Out of curiousity, why not? It seems that if you feel the desire to go to such lengths to ensure your preparedness for an encounter requiring deadly force, you would be willing to go to whatever length necessary to ensure you were equipped with the best possible means.

I foresee a future for you that resembles the scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark, where Indiana Jones is confronted by a master swordsman, only to pull his .38 and pop him with a quickness. Seriously, when it comes to ranged weapons, firearms are where it's at and I wouldn't ever put myself in such a place where I was forced to rely on an inferior alternative at the expense of my own life.
Click to expand...

indianajonesknifeLOL.gif


Avatar said:
I and my friend have the same experience - saved by a tree. Wasn't a pack though, but a mother in cub season. With my friend it was a close one.

p.s. I do not hunt.

Oh, and yeah, I might end up with a revolver, but I like to check out all alternatives first, because getting a licence for a gun in my country is a long process that requires I pass several instructional courses, two tests and various medical check ups, as well as have to have a good motive to own a gun. The last I have and I wouldn't have much problems with others, but it's still a bitch to go through.
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Which country do you live in, sir? Why are you so hesitant to equip yourself with a firearm?
 
1. Latvia. 2. It's serious, can get into trouble with it if I use it not according to law, which is quite strict. Every shot done outside of practice has to be reported to the police.

p.s. Oh, and you have to pass mental health tests too. :D They're fun. I've studied psychiatry at uni a bit.
 
[a-5];1715856 said:
Haha, that's some BDSM shit
Click to expand...

Yes and no. A friend of mine is a Hapkido teacher, and his latest favorite weapon is the bullwhip. It has greater range than kicks, it's easy to carry and reliable.
 
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