Need a decent low cost crossbow any ideas ?

I was along the same lines this year. I was in search of a descent crossbow. Something I didnt plan on using but a couple times, and mostly just for my Dad to hunt some during archery season.

That eing said, I decided to go with a Barnett Jackal. I bought it on ebay from a seller I have bought from many times. It has pro and cons, but the cons I can live with. I think the limbs are a little wide if you were hunting in a confined space, and it is loud.

The pros are good enough for me to buy it again if I were looking. It shoots 315 fps, 150lb limbs easy to cock, has a pretty good trigger for a crossbow, and best of all it was cheap. under 200 bucks insured shipped to the house.

Twice now I thought I wanted an Xbow, and twice now I came home with a new compound instead. I think my next bow will be another traditional.

I wanted to say when we got to Cabelas they didn't have the Jackal on the rack so I asked the guy if they had one and he said give me 20min and I'll put one together. After he came back with one he took me over to their test range (think it was only fifteen or twenty yards)and he had me sign a release and said have at it. No sight adjustments, I put the top red dot offhand on the bulls'eye and pulled the trigger and two my amazement thats where the bolt hit shot a few more times and the fletching on all the bolts were touching. I was impressed to say the least considering no sight adjustments were made.

Keith... I know what you're saying about the crossbow.. Seems like an unfair advantage... I never wanted one until I had my back enjury and now it hurts to get out of bed, let alone pull my 70 101 back... Getting old sucks but it beats the alternative.. I miss bow hunting and thought a cross bow might get me back in the woods...

Nice mulie Zen. How far was the shot?

Hey Zen how'd your huskers do this last weekend?

Some would say the same thing about our fancy smokeless muzzleloaders, especially the ones built like sniper rifles with twenty power scopes and muzzle brakes.

Word from the peanut gallery. If you buy a crossbow do not buy the fastest flagship bow a company offers. I know from first hand experience that 400 + fps will blow a crossbow to scrap in about 100 shots. I have had two Stryker ( Bowtechs) bite the dust. both times they did not come good for the damage, said I must have done something wrong. Last bad experience, me and my hunting partner drove 19 hrs to Ohio to hunt, my crossbow dropped a part and was useless first morning. Luckily I brought a compound. Next morning my buddies 1700 dollar Scorpyd broke. We had to turn around and drive home. They are fun,I have killed about 8 with them. You dont have to worry about drawing with other deer staring at you, you can shoot right or left handed without moving. MYTH- you can shoot farther than a compound. it is extremely hard to shoot past 45-50 yards offhand with a crossbow even if you are a good rifle shot. Cant of the limbs get you especially from a tree stand. Next one I buy will be in the 375 fps range. less pressure on the bow and still plenty powerful to blow a big 2 1/2" hole through the baddest deers shoulder.