Bow hunting is a popular recreational activity throughout the United States. One of the decisions you will need to make before your first bow hunting trip is whether to purchase a compound bow or a cross bow. Each piece of equipment has advantages and disadvantages in terms of price, size, weight and accuracy.
Size
One of the main differences between a crossbow and a compound bow is size. A compound bow is longer than a crossbow, at between 32 inches from axle to axle on the short side to over 38 inches on the long side. However, although a crossbow is only an average of 24 inches axle to axle, it can be more than 34 inches in length, making it more awkward to carry over longer distances, such as when hunting.
Draw Weight
The draw weight also varies between bow models. The draw weight is the total amount of maximum force in pounds that is needed to draw the bow. Crossbows take much more force -- about 150 lbs., on average -- to draw the bow, in comparison to a compound bow which can take anywhere from 30 to 100 lbs. The additional draw weight makes drawing back a crossbow much more difficult, so much so that some people use a crank to draw and lock the bow.
Accuracy
Crossbows and compound bows also differ in their accuracy when aiming at a target. The compound bow relies on the string loop and the knots of the string loop for where the arrow sits and where the release is placed. These string loops allow the arrow to be placed consistently in the same place every time, increasing your overall accuracy, suggests the Hickory Creek Corporation. Because the crossbow is locked into a latch instead, the consistent string position can be compromised and cause the arrow to possibly move to the left or right of the target.
Price
Compound bows generally start at around $250 and range all the way to over $1,000. Crossbows start at around $300 and go up from there to over $2,000. Like most hunting products, the more expensive bows usually have more features and are built from better quality materials.
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