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 parts on the use of throwing weapons.
The choice of a crossbow or a bow will depend on the skills of the shooter and his personal preferences in the hunt, which is best suited for a specific type of hunting. Many hunters are eager to at least try these types of weapons, because it is reliably known about the unforgettable sensations obtained in the process.
Features of bow and crossbow hunting
The ability to shoot from a firearm does not provide any essential skills in handling a crossbow or bow. Which is best suited for each hunter, he must decide for himself. Mastering archery is not as difficult as you might think at first glance. Nevertheless, a good skill in handling the bow is achieved by aiming training and attending coaching from the masters.
Nevertheless, it is somewhat easier to switch to crossbow shooting for those who previously had experience in using firearms. Good shooting from a gun will allow you to quickly get used to aiming with crossbow arrows and not feel much discomfort from changing uniforms. If the shooter has no experience of throwing weapons, the game has an unsuccessful but traumatic hit from a bow, there is a greater chance of survival that it is better to use a bow or crossbow in this case, from the point of view of humanity, it should be taken into account.
In fact, hunting of this kind is not much like an entertainment event, it is rather the art and work of real hunters. In addition, bow and crossbow hunting is a true sport discipline, no less significant than similar sports with firearms.
Differences from hunting with firearms
Naturally, the main difference is the possibility of silent shooting, which does not scare away all game within a radius of several hundred meters. In addition, a shot from a throwing weapon gives a completely different sensation, different from the use of guns. The hunter feels as if closer to his prey, in more complex and interesting conditions. Excitement in such a hunt more closely resembles that of distant ancestors. Absolute silence and unity with nature when tracking down game and shooting itself can hardly leave anyone indifferent.
Questions about whether to choose a crossbow or a bow, which is the best one, are decided depending on the type of fishing. For example, hunting for aerial targets is entirely the prerogative of the bow, the use of a crossbow for flying targets is impractical. Ground game can be equally effectively hit from both types of 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, however, will require better developed skills, including taking into account the bowstring tension, arm hardness, wind correction, skillful calculation of the arrow trajectory and the target’s movement.
Beginners should be advised to purchase weapons in the best company of crossbows and bows Ten Point, which is a leader among American manufacturers. Horton, Megaline, Barnett, Excalibur and PoeLang are also recommended.
Designs and types of onions
The invention of the bow gave a person the opportunity 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 onion was presented about 10 thousand years ago and it turned out to be almost brilliant in its efficiency and simplicity.
The bow was an excellent example of universal weapons for both hunting and war. Even ancient bows were able to shoot several hundred meters and penetrate enemy armor. The range of the arrow then depended not so much on the structure as on the physical data of the shooter.
Although the very first design survived to our years unchanged, experts created significantly improved versions that even the best Mongolian archers would envy. There are five main types of bows: classic, traditional, block, sports and children's.
Block bows for hunting, their advantages and disadvantages
If we consider hunting from the point of view of the fascination of the process, then in answer to the question, what is better for hunting, a bow or crossbow, we can definitely answer - a bow with a block design. It has special mechanisms that are located on the shoulders of the bow. These devices partially entrust themselves with the efforts to pull the bowstring, making this task easier for the shooter. Block onions are also easier to transport and store than traditional onions. It is more compact and does not require removal of the bowstring during storage.
The first drawback of a block onion 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 purchase various modules (blocks) to fit his needs. There are initially fully equipped models on the market, you can find them by marking PKG in the name. The second drawback can be considered the need for excellent bow ownership 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, while block models can launch an arrow at 1200 meters or more in planning mode. Russian law allows the use of block bows with a string tension (i.e., power) of not more than 27 kg with an error of about 5%. This means that the maximum distance is around 870 meters.
Constructions and types of crossbows
Crossbows became a kind of offshoot and continuation of the idea of developing small arms in the Middle Ages. The increased power and firing range have become their hallmark. In appearance, crossbows are divided into rifle, block and classic. The purpose of the devices is combat, hunting or sports. Also, there are children's smaller models. If the question of which is better, a bow or crossbow for hunting, the choice fell on the latter, then it is worth taking a closer look at the rifle models, which have the largest weight in combination with increased power and range.
Pros and cons of crossbows in the hunt
The crossbow is smaller than a traditional bow. If you choose, based on the fact that it is better to bow or crossbow, a photo of them nearby can help compare the dimensions of both designs. The path of the crossbow is close distances, while the bow is better at long distances. The crossbow design allows you to use the sight with night vision.
If it has not yet been possible 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, due to its construction, as well as that of the medieval one, is significantly inferior to the rate of fire from any bow;
- slightly worse ballistics, which reduces the effectiveness of weapons at long distances;
- less power with the same tension force;
- faster wear of the bowstring with the same use.
