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

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
I have been looking at the Tenpoint Turbo M1 seems like it would be perfect for the saddle.
 
Get an xbow that is not wide so you don’t have to be too far away from tree. Shoot left and right handed, that way you don’t have to monkey about to shoot only RH or only LH.

Practice Re-cocking in the tree. Keep all the fasteners tight. Not good trying to cock it and the stirrup gives and you get a snoot full of stock. Ouch! And keep all your digits below the rail / deck. Want to keep your little piggies attached to your hand.

Enjoy your time afield.

I have a child’s crossbow, nice and short and not too wide.

Before shoulder arthritis hit me I spent tons of time at 3D shoots, tuning and retuning my bow, fletching arrows, hitting the archery range 2X/week, estimating yardages for 3D. It was fun and I enjoyed it. I will agree it definitely took tons of offseason time for me.

Now with my limitations and the crossbow, I get it sighted in and working right. Then I’ll take it out once every week or two just to keep familiar. And once a month I’ll climb a tree and shoot a 3D deer target (no competition, just me and the deer target).

Good luck!
 
And you don’t need an expensive crossbow. 300fps kills em dead at reasonable archery ranges (max 30 to 35 yards at most).

Lastly, welcome to the dark side. We have cookies!
 
You aren't going to get anything smaller or lighter than a Hickory Creek mini. My mini hits within 4 inches of my crosshairs out to 50 yards everytime. It is a bit unfair to the deer but being high up in a tree is as well. You can't eat fair.
 
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.

I think you missed my point. The time I would usually spend for archery practice I could now spend scouting.
 
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

I really like the look of these. I know nothing about crossbows but this one is pretty slow for the price point but it also just looks like a more simple machine than some of the other big names. My two main considerations are size and simplicity.
 
My sub one shoots a 420grain arrow 343 fps which I think is plenty fast.. yes it's about 50 fps slower then ravin and some of the twnpoints but it's also way quieter. You need to find a shop and hold them shoot them I find the balance way nicer. We had a tenpoint nitro we sold liked the subone better and my buddy's got a ravin and I wouldn't trade him either. I also like the fact I can change strings without a press. People like different things but for me I love my subone
 
I posted some velocity results of a few crossbows here. The Hickory Creek mini was the slowest but I loosened the limbs 2 turns to make it easier to cock. It killed a deer easily when shot through the heart.
 
My sub one shoots a 420grain arrow 343 fps which I think is plenty fast.. yes it's about 50 fps slower then ravin and some of the twnpoints but it's also way quieter. You need to find a shop and hold them shoot them I find the balance way nicer. We had a tenpoint nitro we sold liked the subone better and my buddy's got a ravin and I wouldn't trade him either. I also like the fact I can change strings without a press. People like different things but for me I love my subone

There is a sub one xr on my local craigslist for $1,200 (with accessories and bolts) that is 2 months old. I'm not crazy about not having the warranty but the price is right!
 
I like my TenPoint, but I wish I would have been more mindful of the weight, particularly the FOC weight. Despite being compact mine is very front-heavy. For that reason I wonder if a reverse limb bow might be the perfect combo for a saddle setup.
 
Another vote for the r26 it is awesome up in the tree or on the ground. I wouldn't trade mine for anything.

I love the size of that thing (don't love the price). I don't know anything about crossbows but the Ravin's seem like there is more technology going on and hence more that can go wrong and break. I'm not sure if that is just my ignorant opinion or if there is any truth to it.

My top two considerations are size and simplicity. The R26 checks the size box with authority lol....
 
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

I'm pulling the trigger on a used sub 1 XR! excited to get it!
 
I jumped back in to bowhunting last year after a couple of years off. A month before season, I tweaked my shoulder and scrambled to find a solution. I settled on a Centerpoint Elite Whisper for about $250.

I shot 2 deer with it last year and it was almost too easy. 30yd shots and they were dead within sight.
 
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