If you have used a crossbow for hunting, you most probably understand why there is no consensus regarding the crossbow shooting distance. As crossbow hunting gets sweeter, so does the debate around the ideal shooting distance.
Just like the way taking down an animal at over a thousand yards can be satisfying to certain rifle users, some crossbow hunters do not care about the shooting range. Nevertheless, your crossbow’s effective range is largely dependent on you — your skills.
The best way to establish your effective crossbow range would be to understand and consider every important factor. This article shall address these factors and how they determine your effective crossbow range.
Table of Contents
Know Your Crossbow Effective Range
The crossbow effective range is simply the maximum distance within which an archer (hunter in most cases) can deliver a lethal shot and kill the animal humanely. The market standard is usually 40 yards, although there are crossbows that can shoot up to 300 yards. Remember, the momentum must be enough to kill the animal, not just injure it.
Crossbow Momentum
The crossbow momentum is simply defined as the product of the arrow’s mass and speed at the point of impact. In other words, it may be referred to as the stopping momentum.
For hunters, the momentum of the arrow should be enough to hit and kill the animal. You should thus have this in mind whenever you go hunting. If the momentum is high, so are the chances of the arrow striking the animal down.
Calculating the momentum is quite easy. You just multiply the arrow’s speed by its mass. For the sake of those who don’t like converting the units for speed and mass, there are free online momentum calculators to do that. Remember, the best hunting is the old-school type, so learn to depend on your brain for these calculations.
Momentum Factors
As mentioned earlier, the arrow’s momentum depends on the speed and mass of the arrow. So how do these two factors matter? This is how:
Speed
Given your arrows are of the same mass, shooting them from a fast shooting crossbow would boost the momentum. Although a fast-shot arrow will have a high initial speed and hence higher momentum, it will still slow down due to gravity and air resistance. The air resistance increases with increasing speeds.
Fast shooting crossbows provide higher initial arrow speeds, enabling an ethical shot from a longer range. These crossbows, however, cost a fortune.
Mass
Momentum varies directly as the mass. Heavier arrows have higher momentum, and vice versa. The most effective way of adding a little mass to your arrows is by using heavier shafts and broadheads. Unlike speed for which air drag increases directly proportionally, weight offers a few advantages. These include:
- Since the arrow’s mass remains constant throughout the flight, the increased momentum element will still be available at impact.
- Mass increases inertia force- the force responsible for maintaining the arrow in flight. With a higher inertia, the effect of air resistance will be reduced. A lighter arrow would slow down faster than a heavier one.
- Crosswinds also affect the arrow, just as is the case with bullets shot from a sniper rifle. A heavier arrow experiences lesser deviation due to crosswinds than a lighter one.
Personal Accuracy
Personal accuracy ties all the other factors together. Crossbow hunting aims to hit and kill the animal, rather than cause a deadly injury, which is just but causing the animal to hurt.
You should thus be sure that you understand the target animal’s anatomy before firing. If in doubt of whether you’re going to take the animal down, don’t take the shot.
There are certain places you should target. For example, you’re only likely to kill a deer if you hit the heart or lung area. Hitting any other area would most likely injure the animal fatally.
What Influences Accuracy?
Accuracy in crossbow shooting depends mainly on the shooter’s ability. Even with the most modern and expensive crossbow and the associated accessories, you will mostly not hit the target without adequate skills at using that piece of equipment.
For ethical shooting, you must first tame your hunting passion and practice at an archery range. This way, you’ll progressively work towards mastering the perfect shots without unethically injuring the game.
As they put it, cheap is expensive — but here, the only cost will be accuracy, and thus the ethics. A high-quality crossbow will cost you more but will deliver better shots than the cheap, poorly made bows. You may still find a good cheap bowl, but the chance of coming across an extremely good bowl at a low price is narrow.
Accuracy is also affected by the crosswinds. In fact, crosswinds are the most difficult aspects to maneuver around for snipers and crossbow shooters. Since you may not influence the wind, it’s best to hunt when the weather is very calm.
Maximum Crossbow Shooting Distance
As you take your indoor practicals from an archery range to the wild, you’ll be introduced to other variables that affect your hunting range. Such conditions as crosswinds do not exist in indoor archery, but they must be considered to achieve an accurate outdoor shot.
The arrow’s momentum will also decrease sharply with increasing range. Longer ranges usually deliver lower momentum and may not kill the animal. If the animal is in motion, you’re also likely to miss the target area unless you already know how to track a target.
The adrenaline rush from progressing to the field may also distract you, resulting in a deadly shot. You must first calm down to ensure optimum accuracy.
Since there are no specific constitutional laws regarding the maximum crossbow range, you have to decide what distance is the most effective.
Why Determining Your Maximum Distance is So Important?
Every adept crossbow user knows accuracy is preferable to the momentum regarding the effective shooting range. Should you want to capitalize on the momentum, too, buy heavy crossbow arrows to optimize the conservation of momentum.
The first shot in the wild should not be a live target. You should anticipate and practice the shooting positions you expect to come by. This practice should be at around 40 yards. The exercise enables you to gauge your ability to deliver a kill shot. If the results are impressive at 40 yards but pathetic at 50 yards, you can establish 40 yards as your effective shooting range from that position.
Ethical hunting calls for hitting and killing the animal instantly. This may not be possible when you are distracted by other things in the wilderness. Instead of taking a shot in such a state, postpone it till you are totally confident to deliver a kill shot.
Conclusion
By now, you’ve already figured out how to determine crossbow shooting range. Putting all of the above factors together will ensure you avoid almost any instance of an unethical shot. The key thing is, however, practicing in the wild for as much as you can. You’ll be an expert within no time.