Optics and Triggers

Crossbows use optics/scopes.
Crossbows have triggers.
Crossbows have a trigger safety.
The truth revealed.

At some point in the anti debate the above statements will be made. These statements are factual. It is no secret that the crossbow has had a trigger of some sort since written history records them. It took many, many years and a lot of innovation for the vertical bows to include this feature but they finally managed to adapt the trigger for use on a vertical bow. Not all vertical archers use them but they have the option to do so if they choose. The design of the crossbow will not allow for an optional trigger. Here are a few illustrations of the triggers used for vertical archery today.

A last minute edit thanks to my son. I allowed him to proof read these pages before I completed them and he notified me of the fact that I didn't define what a trigger was. This is from my 14 year old boy that has no interest in archery of any kind. His weapon of choice for deer season is a muzzle loader. He said "dad you better tell em what a trigger is and when that word was invented so they get it." Well I researched it and wouldn't you know the earliest definition of the use of the word trigger according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary is this:

Main Entry:

trig·ger

Pronunciation:

\`tri-gər\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

alteration of earlier tricker, from Dutch trekker, from Middle Dutch trecker one that pulls, from trecken to pull

Date: 1621

1 a: a piece (as a lever) connected with a catch or detent as a means of releasing it; especially the part of the action moved by the finger to fire a gun b: a similar movable part by which a mechanism is actuated trigger of a spray gun 2: something that acts like a mechanical trigger in initiating a process or reaction

What a wonderful insight! The word trigger was not defined until after the gun was invented. Webster gives the word a date of 1621. This is almost exactly when I proposed that the firearm had fully employed crossbow like features. The date I quoted that to happen was 1630. So if the word trigger was born of the firearms age what was it called some 1800 years prior? I can't answer that. Each language had their own word for the lever that causes the string to be released. But when the world advanced to the firearms era the English language adopted the word trigger to describe this mechanism. It could be said that the crossbow does not have a trigger. The crossbow has a "insert ancient language here" because the word trigger wasn't spoken/written/read until the firearm was introduced.

It is unknown to me when the trigger safety was introduced to the crossbow. None of my research could reveal an exact date for the inclusion of the trigger safety feature. I'll speculate that it is a more recent feature that was added within the past 100 years but I may be wrong. There are probably a few crossbows that survived the medieval time period that have them however this is nothing more than a guess on my part. But for the sake of argument it is unknown why this is pointed out in the first place. It may be for the purposes of revealing another feature that a modern firearm has. But we already know the modern firearm evolved from the crossbow. The trigger safety on a crossbow is ...Well duh!... A safety feature. In today's society virtually any invention capable of causing bodily harm or death has a safety feature of some sort. These features are not exclusive to weaponry. In common sense terms where safety is concerned a "safety" is safer.

Now let me address the comment "Crossbows use optics or scopes". My personal crossbow shipped with this sight system:

A rear peep sight and a single pin front sight. A sight identical to the vertical bow of the time period. After many adjustments and several days of practicing and tuning the pin I was able to lock it in for 30 yards. My crossbow came equipped with a dial a range system that allows the rear peep sight to be raised and lowered. After tinkering with this feature for weeks on end I decided I was not happy with the single pin. I removed the single pin sight bracket in the picture above and replaced it with this sight system:

This cross hair box sight made a world of difference in accuracy. It also allowed much more flexibility with the dial a range feature while giving me 2 pins to work with. When I finally decided I would use my crossbow for hunting instead of target practice I switched to this optic sight:

This sight system gave me 5 crosshairs to work with. My accuracy went from 3-4 inch groups to 2 inch groups and in some cases touching my previously fired arrows. Now I felt comfortable enough to use my crossbow for the purpose of a humane harvest. The red dot sight was recommended by my archery pro shop. They said it was more effective in low light conditions. I found the ones with the features I liked to be a tad expensive especially when you consider I was able to buy the optic above with mount and rings from Ebay for $80.

You might ask why I chose to use my own personal experiences for the purpose of this page. The answer is: To illustrate that I had a choice. The same choice that anyone that uses a modern compound bow has. Just a few short years ago the vertical archer group could single this feature out and exploit it for the purposes of their arguments. Well thanks to modern technology the vertical archers can now enjoy this feature on their bows as well. Here are a few illustrations of what they can use today:

The fixed pin sight systems, the red dot systems, the optical systems, fiber optic illuminated pin systems and pendulum sight systems have all technologically advanced for both the vertical bow and the crossbow. The only thing that matters in this issue for both archery groups is what you can afford and what your personal preference is. For the purpose of hunting these advancements make the harvest a more humane task. I personally have never criticized another sportsman or target shooter for their choice in sighting systems. Whatever allows you to hit that ever elusive bullseye or place an arrow into the vitals of an animal is just fine by me.

The facts are: Optics are optional to both the vertical archer and the horizontal archer. Crossbows do have triggers and so do vertical bows. Crossbows do have a trigger safety...A safety feature for the purpose of safety.

Part of Buckeye Dan's Survival Guide To Full Inclusion

by Buckeye Dan