For Survival..

[grahamsy2k]

Which is a more useful, quiet, fast, accurate survival weapon, a crossbow or compound bow.

I've never owned either one and looking to buy one of them for survival purposes mostly but maybe Ill it take hunting.

To get into the more specific questions...
Which can you acquire a target faster with?
Which can be loaded faster and easier?


Thanks.

 

[Sailor]

They both suck. I only hunt deer with both, not guns. A suppressed .22 beats both any day. My cross bow is much louder than a suppressed .22. Hunting with them requires much more skill.

 

[grahamsy2k]

Im only 19... So no suppression for me.

 

[sticks4walking]

You will be able to load and aim a compound alot faster. A crossbow will be easier for you to get on target with almost no practice. A compound is going to take some practice to get good with. IMO

 

[ghostdncr]

I'll weigh in with a vote from the longbow crowd. Simple, robust, and a joy to use, it's the kind of tool you can get addicted to having around.

 

[Sailor]

For survival, an ok from the government is the last thing I would worry about.

 

[rhart]

I agree the bow over the cross bow. Also, consider a "take down" recurve bow. The limbs unscrew from the risor. I have a PSE Coyote, it will take down and go into my pack with the arrows. I killed a Pope and Young Trophy buck with mine. I think mine is 60Lbs pull. I would get a lighter pull like one around say 45 lbs for multi purpose. Unless your gonna become very proficient with it. Try this link, Sportsmans has one on clearance for a little over 100 bucks

Pse Stalker Recurve Bow - 959329, Recurve at Sportsman's Guide

 

[TiminMishawaka]

For "survival", this makes the most sense to me: Sling Bow - Pocket Hunter I'd probably make one rather than buy one though.

Close second is my take down recurve. I also have carved a bow and it is ok. I'm thinking of getting a crossbow but only because they're cool.

 

[jLr]

This is really cool in my opinion...60lb longbow for 10 bucks. This will be a summer project for me.

http://youtu.be/3zyV8tZGJtE

 

[Sailor]

Archery is a great skill, it forces you to be better at so many things. Not trying to be a jack but I can not see a situation where I would choose to ignore over 200 years of weapons advancement.

 

[Curls & Swirls]

Archery is a great skill, it forces you to be better at so many things. Not trying to be a jack but I can not see a situation where I would choose to ignore over 200 years of weapons advancement.

Situation = You run out of ammo and can't find any more

Situation = You can not afford ammo or an advanced weapon

Situation = You are saving your ammo for a target that has a more advanced "brain"

IMO having a bow as a backup with arrows that can be reused is a good idea. I think if you can not afford or get an advanced weapon right now this would be better than nothing.

 

[Sailor]

Archery is more expensive than you think. Arrows are more fragile than you think. Making arrows is harder than you think.

Single shot NEF rifle or shotgun for around $100 wins.

Archery as a back up is a great idea, being proficient at hunting with archery is a win all around. You are better at being quiet, accurate, patient, aware of your surroundings, camouflage, etc.

 

[TiminMishawaka]

As jlr noted, eventually making bows is your ultimate survival archery skill. Making bows isn't that hard. It was so easy a caveman could do it. Seriously though it's not an impossible skill to learn. Start with making a selfbow out of a piece of 1x2x6' of oak from Menards. I'm tillering mine right now.

As to arrows, probably the easiest way to start is the Martha Stewart bamboo tomato stakes at Kmart. Guys who do it a lot more than me say the ones that are at least 1/4" thick work best for them.

 

[grahamsy2k]

I agree the bow over the cross bow. Also, consider a "take down" recurve bow. The limbs unscrew from the risor. I have a PSE Coyote, it will take down and go into my pack with the arrows. I killed a Pope and Young Trophy buck with mine. I think mine is 60Lbs pull. I would get a lighter pull like one around say 45 lbs for multi purpose. Unless your gonna become very proficient with it. Try this link, Sportsmans has one on clearance for a little over 100 bucks

Pse Stalker Recurve Bow - 959329, Recurve at Sportsman's Guide

This seems pretty cool. Im going to look into it more. Thanks!

 

[Spanky46151]

Liberty Archery world’s smallest, lightest, Compound hunting bow.

 

[Sailor]

Liberty Archery world’s smallest, lightest, Compound hunting bow.

That is some impressive equipment. $750 though ouch!