• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

About to move to the Dark Side (X-Bow). Any advice welcome.

Jeff F.

Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2018
Messages
77
Howdy,

I sold one of my shotguns today that doesn't get enough use and my compound bow is next on the chopping block.

I LOVE archery but my goals for deer season are to put meat on the table and be in the field as much as possible. I have a ton of other hobbies, kids, and a career.

I hunt public land and I want to focus on scouting and hunting. I think I would benefit more using the time I would usually use for archery practice to do more scouting.

I'm looking at a Ravin R26 or R29. The price is a little ridiculous but I will be saddle hunting and hiking in a good ways (often through thick crap) so size is my main concern.

It looks like hunting out of the saddle should not be a big deal. I will take any hunting advice that is crossbow related.

Thanks!
 
I have a 2018 ten point NXT shadow that I'm looking to sell so that I can get something else....it has 5 bolts and one extra for the discharge. Also with the acu-draw on the bow. I upgraded the scope for Tenpoints rangemaster pro...and it is a tack driver...do not shoot at the same spot. PM me if interested.
 
Check out Excalibur crossbows.

I second this. If you want the smallest profile models they offer, look at the Axe 340 (now called Mag 340 I guess) and the micro series of bows.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
why do you reccomend?

I like mine because of the low maintenance. Don’t want to be fooling with cams and all that mess.

With that being said I really want a Hickory Creek Mini Vertical Xbow


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
why do you reccomend?

I would also check out Excalibur’s torture test videos. They beat the crap out of those bows and they just keep on working. They’re very accurate and like was said before the maintenance is really easy and you can do it yourself, even in the field if need be. No press needed. I had one of these bows before, sold it and wished I hadn’t. Hoping to be able to buy another sometime later this year.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I tried cocking a micro 340 TD. Those limbs are tough and I could not do it..no way you’d hand cock that in a tree....not without the crank.
 
hickory creek mini. I can't speak to the other crossbows. I have mine set up shooting heavier arrows and would have no qualms shooting deer out to 40 yards with it. It's tiny, easy to work on, accurate, tiny, comes apart and fits in a pack, easier to shoot out of a saddle to me, tiny, can be cocked easily in a saddle with a little coordination.

I have a slight preference for a compound because of having shot mine a million times, and I don't particularly care for a loaded weapon with pointy things on it. But it's slight. The mini will do everything a compound will do for deer hunting, better.
 
hickory creek mini. I can't speak to the other crossbows. I have mine set up shooting heavier arrows and would have no qualms shooting deer out to 40 yards with it. It's tiny, easy to work on, accurate, tiny, comes apart and fits in a pack, easier to shoot out of a saddle to me, tiny, can be cocked easily in a saddle with a little coordination.

I have a slight preference for a compound because of having shot mine a million times, and I don't particularly care for a loaded weapon with pointy things on it. But it's slight. The mini will do everything a compound will do for deer hunting, better.
The hickory creek mini is head and shoulders above a ravin in my mind, and cheaper too. I've shot pretty much all of them. Ravin is faster, but that's the only win. HC mini is insanely handy, you can take it apart and stuff it in a backpack, it's quiet, and you can do all the maintenance with NO BOW PRESS.

And no, I'm not affiliated. I spent my own money on the whole kit, and would replace it again tomorrow if it was stolen. Jerry Goff knocked that design out of the park, and if he had more muscle I don't think the rest of the industry would still be in business. Really don't.
 
The hickory creek mini is head and shoulders above a ravin in my mind, and cheaper too. I've shot pretty much all of them. Ravin is faster, but that's the only win. HC mini is insanely handy, you can take it apart and stuff it in a backpack, it's quiet, and you can do all the maintenance with NO BOW PRESS.

And no, I'm not affiliated. I spent my own money on the whole kit, and would replace it again tomorrow if it was stolen. Jerry Goff knocked that design out of the park, and if he had more muscle I don't think the rest of the industry would still be in business. Really don't.

More muscle? Didn’t he box Tyson back in the day?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Get an HC mini. I have the original, my father bought the mini after seeing mine once. He has since had 2 friends buy it. They're insane. Hes shooting out to 50 yards right now and worried about busting nocks...
 
Get an HC mini. I have the original, my father bought the mini after seeing mine once. He has since had 2 friends buy it. They're insane. Hes shooting out to 50 yards right now and worried about busting nocks...
I need to keep my mouth shut more often, or risk losing every advantage I have in the deer woods. :(
 
Howdy,

I sold one of my shotguns today that doesn't get enough use and my compound bow is next on the chopping block.

I LOVE archery but my goals for deer season are to put meat on the table and be in the field as much as possible. I have a ton of other hobbies, kids, and a career.

I hunt public land and I want to focus on scouting and hunting. I think I would benefit more using the time I would usually use for archery practice to do more scouting.

I'm looking at a Ravin R26 or R29. The price is a little ridiculous but I will be saddle hunting and hiking in a good ways (often through thick crap) so size is my main concern.

It looks like hunting out of the saddle should not be a big deal. I will take any hunting advice that is crossbow related.

Thanks!

I use the R26 out of the saddle. Its perfect for a saddle imho. The R29 is nearly as small so its probably great too. I'd shoulder both....I'm 5 11 and find the R26 almost too short.

I tried the Hickory Mini Vertical and didnt like it compared to the R26 and sold mine. But other guys on here love it. You might want to check it out.
 
For what its worth I've got a ten point m1 and I like it a lot. Haven't hunted with out of a saddle but it's dead accurate. Has a mechanical cocking device and is only like 9 inches wide when cocked. And a whole lot less than a ravin. Not knocking ravens just saying
 
Howdy,

I sold one of my shotguns today that doesn't get enough use and my compound bow is next on the chopping block.

I LOVE archery but my goals for deer season are to put meat on the table and be in the field as much as possible. I have a ton of other hobbies, kids, and a career.

I hunt public land and I want to focus on scouting and hunting. I think I would benefit more using the time I would usually use for archery practice to do more scouting.

I'm looking at a Ravin R26 or R29. The price is a little ridiculous but I will be saddle hunting and hiking in a good ways (often through thick crap) so size is my main concern.

It looks like hunting out of the saddle should not be a big deal. I will take any hunting advice that is crossbow related.

Thanks!
I wouldn't think going to a X bow would free up any of your time. I feel like time spent in the field is most of the hunt for me, not the killing. If meat is the only end result then I would just stop at the store. Just buy a stick bow and enjoy it. I enjoy any aspect of the hunting experience including hanging from the saddle and watching the flight of the arrow at a target. Don't short change yourself into thinking hunting is only the shooting of a critter. Sorry to prattle on, just my opinion. Enjoy any time outdoors.
 
Mission sub one another great oxbow to look at. Quiet compact easy to cock actually has letoff like a regular compound. Dont have to carry discharge target or arrows. Very accurate I wont shoot at the same spot twice on the target
 
Back
Top