Tim Martin

I do need to experiment more with my arrow setup... but for this season I'd hate to start all over when I have it shooting aces.

I understand that a heavier arrow might be more preferable. But with 353.grains going 290 fps, I have 65.94 ft-lbs, more than enough. The Goldtip Expeditions with the 100 grain Mechanicals fly amazingly well, and I'm grouping better than I ever have out to 40 yards. I think that with the spine being stout enough, I should be just fine. This bow is burying my arrows deeper (and flying flatter) than a friend who is pulling 69 #'s

I plan on taking it back to the shop to chronograph my setup... But my issue is to get a more realistic review of my bow, and others on the market than the unrealistic IBO rating. I would think that AMO would be able to publish a website rating all new bows. Everyone knows that when they purchase a bow and set it up, it will usually not even come close to the advertised IBO speed.

Hard to still hunt without one nocked up and ready to let fly. If I'm just walking to my stand in the dark, of course not. If it is light out and I can see around me, and where I'm walking ... the game is on! Not everyone sits in a tree or blind everyday. I get bored, and like to still hunt, and try to continue my scouting throughout the season.

Where can i find the AMO rating for a bow that I just purchased? Like most, it has a IBO rating (330 fps), which we all know it overrated for any practically set up bow. Do they have a website? I can't seem to find a rating anywhere. I Just bought a "last years model" PSE Vendetta XS, which I'm very happy with, and it chronographed at 289-290 with a archery shop arrow much longer than mine. I can't recall what it was, and have no idea what brand. I need to go back with my hunting set up. It is at 58.5 pounds with a 27 inch draw, shooting a 353.38 grain arrow.

What was meant in my first post was pretty simple... if the magazine is physically removed from the firearm, then the firearm's magazine's chamber would therefore have to be empty. I was not implying that the magazine had to be emptied! But simply removed from the magazines chamber... as well as any round in the chamber obviously, I figured anyone would be able to interpret what I meant when I stated "I just remove the magazine, and put it in my coat, or hunting bag", I did not mention, or make note of actually emptying the magazine. Semantics is your issue... And my name is Tim.

I just remove the magazine, and put it in my coat, or hunting bag.... If read literally, " a firearm in or on a vehicle, must be unloaded in both chamber and magazine." If the magazine is removed, then the "firearm's magazine would have to be empty. My thoughts.

I'd feel very comfortable with 125 yards. I know my TC Pro Hunter with 125 grains of Pyrodex RS with a 180 grain Precision Rifle load, is much more capable, but I haven't spent the time needed to feel comfortable beyond that.

I've dropped one with a .22 mag at 40 yards... I squeezed the trigger, and it was a sight to see, He jumped straight in the air about 3 feet, fell down spun around for about 20 secs, and lay deader than a door nail. My preferred .22 is my .22-250 savage, with a bull barrel, 6X24, and a bi-pod.

Pygmy, If you can get the wind right, I'm finding I like a blind better than the 'ol climber. You can move around a bit more when the cramps kick in, keeps ya a lot drier, course.... I find I take more comforts with me since I have a lot more room, and the wind doesn't bite as much. Even thought I might take a long a Mr Buddy Heater if it ever gets really cold. The "climb" in and out is a whole lot easier TOO!

I bought a Savage late last year, too late to use it.. So I just used my TC Encore Pro-hunter 50 cal. That means I have a "virgin" savage .270 that needs to be broken in this year. Tomorrow, (opening day), I intend to take my crossbow, and .270 to the blind, hopefully, I'll be able to use them BOTH!

The ballistic tipped sabot's for the muzzleloaders and shotguns do tremendous damage too..it's gonna be a trade off: accuracy or damage. Nothing wrong with a good ol hunk of lead.. that's what I use in the .270 just a soft point lead.

Yeah, i've always been a bit confused with the shotgun only areas. I understand limiting it around high population density areas... but who counties... why? And your right, I think a .50 cal rifled muzzleloader with a dialed in scope will out shoot a lever 30-30 open sights any day.

My TC will see some field time this year too! That was all I used last year for a firearm. Course I spent most of my time in shotgun territory last year. But I bought a Savage .270 last year and it is a virgin... it needs to be broke in.

So far I'm seeing deer just about everyday I go out. I've had two bucks, one small 4 point, and another decent 6 pointer a couple of times in range but no shot opportunity. Lots of does, just none in range, I guess they like living...lol

Just curious who will be out on the first legal day in NY with a crossbow? I've been out quite a bit during archery, and the wind is very fickle where I'm hunting, the property is a big side hill (80 acres) kinda shaped like a bowl with a creek bottom, I've seen quite a few deer, and lots of sign, but I'm gonna use the 'ol 270, to put one in the freezer, then play with the crossbow the rest of the year.

The DEC has made it pretty clear as to when you can use one. You can use it during regular firearms season with a vaild big game tag, and during the late bow/muzzleloader season with a valid muzzleloader tag... use it any other time, and you would and should be fined. When/if they decide to change it to also include archery season then that would be the time to use it in the early bow season, it certainly is illegal to do so this year.

My appologies, I was a bit excessive... Bear:This is the fastest bow Bear has ever made, with a 345 fps advertised IBO Mathews:The Z7� Magnum is built for speed. At 80% let–off, the Z7 Magnum bolsters speeds up to 340 feet per second PSE Omen: ATA/IBO speed: 366-358 fps My crossbow "only" shoots 350. Not much difference, in speed or ft/lbs.... But I bet ya if they sold a bow that shoots as fast they would let him shoot it on their range. It looks like the PSE is far more deadlier than my little 'ol crossbow, guess makes my xbow primitive...LOL!

I use a rope cocker, which wraps around the stock, and goes through two hooks with built in pulleys,that grab the string. I believe in essence, it cuts the draw weight to about 1/4 to 1/2 the actual draw weight. My personal comfort zone right now would be about 35-40 yards.

I'll give you that point they are awkward and take getting used to, just like anything else. But like a compound you need to experiment with different arrows/bolts, field tips, and broadheads. Then again you may have gotten a faulty one from the dealer. I know I'm a lot more accurate with it than my compound (2004 pse Nova), for one, I can use a rest. Just as you said the shooting rail, or tree, because it is awkward, and front heavy. And your right cocking them by hand is not just extremely hard it is also not recommended. All you have to do is look at the mechanics of them. It is vitually impossible to pull back evenly (everyone favors one arm or the other), and with angle of the string would require you overdraw it to allow room for your fingers. Which could damage the limbs, or cams. But like a lot of guys using a muzzleloader over a shotgun or rifle for the "challenge". I think a lot of guys may end up preferring a crossbow than a gun. And who knows you may open up new hunting opportunities in the future closer to urban settings, without disturbing the residents. There seems to be a real surge in the urban bowhunting scene, and bowhunting only areas. If DEC opens crossbows to archery seasons. I think I'm gonna prefer using it instead, for it's relative quietness. Who knows maybe I'll be able to get more deer due to not shooting a firearm during gun season.

Not for hunting, but one less thing to carry into the field... it'd be pointed to the ground while walking in to the stand in the dark... I think it's just a gimmick... Not that its a cheap crossbow by any means.

Yep, I could limit myself to the same as a modern muzzleloader by just using a singleshot rifle. I know my TC encore pro hunter can reach out to 200+ yards. And a good archer, one better than myself could effectively take deer out to 60 yards.

Pa and NJ both allow them during all archery seasons, and I believe regular firearms seasons too.

I do think DEC made a mistake placing the crossbow in the same catagory as a firearm, by not requiring an archery course.... How stupid! Now they will have to fight themselves out of a hole if they do indeed want to enable them during archery. Seriously, if you are "propelling" an arrow/bolt at a limited range with a deadly broadhead why would you require someone have muzzloader stamp/course? This ought to ring true to even the archery hunters.... How does an arrow even come close to compare to a bullet/sabot? They have the same range as an accomplished archer, and yet if you fall on a bullet, you won't suffer the damage as a broadhead. Then you will people not thinking, that will think it is a firearm with the same capabilities taking bad shots (as in too long, wrong placement). This is not a slam on gun hunters.... I'm a gun hunter too! They should be "trained/taught" the same discipline as a bowhunter.

Here is my take, Unless you are a honest to goodness "traditional" hunter with a flintlock,or a bowhunter using a wooden bow, you shouldn't have a problem with a crossbow in archery/primitive weapons season. It's my opinion, just that.... however if people look at what a modern archery hunter (myself included) uses, I think their arguement is just a blatant pile of CRAP!