[Tundraman]

Hi guys, Long time gun hunter, fairly new to crossbow. I have a Raven R26. I shot two deer and a turkey last season, all within 40 yards. Due to my gun history, I wasn't even thinking about the wind at those distances. I don't even recall how windy it was. I only paid attention to wind direction. How much does the wind effect point of hit at 40 yards?

 

[Mario Luna]

Good morning, I think the subject of shooting technique is extremely important since precision in this discipline is everything.
I learned what I do by trial and error on the one hand and watching videos of people from Italy who are precision shooters not hunting.
What I do is use a non-slip surface under my bipod.
Find a firm bipod.
I try to push the bipod forward on the shot and the crossbow back to limit the flex of the bipod.
Use level to control the cant of the shot.
I have a mark on the butt of the crossbow to hatch or face always in the same place.
I inhale and exhale and when I pull the trigger I do it gently until the shot surprises me.
I hope it works!!!
Link vídeo
https://mega.nz/file/txshjQqb#DR3cguj1iDfWoqVwEigUiU732_3fUngQUms8bykCxhM

 

[bunnyrabbit]

Nice shooting.
Thanks for sharing.
Take care.

 

[Mario Luna]

Thank you very much, in that video he shot a Spanish letter 7 times at 50 meters and 6 shots hit the bottom half of the letter. There are two shots that hit the same hole.

 

[Stalker]

Good morning, I think the subject of shooting technique is extremely important since precision in this discipline is everything.
I learned what I do by trial and error on the one hand and watching videos of people from Italy who are precision shooters not hunting.
What I do is use a non-slip surface under my bipod.
Find a firm bipod.
I try to push the bipod forward on the shot and the crossbow back to limit the flex of the bipod.
Use level to control the cant of the shot.
I have a mark on the butt of the crossbow to hatch or face always in the same place.
I inhale and exhale and when I pull the trigger I do it gently until the shot surprises me.
I hope it works!!!
Link vídeo
https://mega.nz/file/txshjQqb#DR3cguj1iDfWoqVwEigUiU732_3fUngQUms8bykCxhM

Nice shot Mario. You might want to get you a set of these to stop that target swinging.
https://www.crossbownation.com/community/threads/hanging-target-swing-dampener.106182/

 

[Iron Duke]

Preloading … the bipod is good solid shooting technique. Yet, I've found that becomes an issue when using a bench to kill your quarry. When you try to slide a "sticky" bipod to account for either deer movement or multiple kills, it drags and makes noise. Hence, I'll put a cloth under the bipod and forgo preloading.

 

[Mario Luna]

Nice shot Mario. You might want to get you a set of these to stop that target swinging.
https://www.crossbownation.com/community/threads/hanging-target-swing-dampener.106182/

Good video excellent shot.
Thank you very much for the contribution. I will apply your advice in my next practice and upload the video.
Greetings from Argentina.

 

[Töger Åström]

And above all have patience and get close to the target. Count kills, not points! One bolt, one kill.

 

[Mario Luna]

Sure!
My philosophy is practical at 60 meters so as not to err at 30 meters.

 

[tpcollins]

Hi guys, Long time gun hunter, fairly new to crossbow. I have a Raven R26. I shot two deer and a turkey last season, all within 40 yards. Due to my gun history, I wasn't even thinking about the wind at those distances. I don't even recall how windy it was. I only paid attention to wind direction. How much does the wind effect point of hit at 40 yards?

Per the Hawke Ballistic chart, if you’re around 400 fps, a 5 mph crosswind should move the poi 1.4” at 40 yards. If it’s a 10 mph wind just double it. (A 10 mph wind is a lot imo). Good luck.

 

[Mario Luna]

I took a shot at 60 meters and it turned 3 cm to the right with 35 km / h of wind.
I leave the Link of the video:
Tiro a 60 mts.

https://mega.nz/file/Y5UyxIKB#EtPIZql7JnynRlXTKu3EqJvhYI0cg-xfguDB03NqeB4

 

[michael bauman]

As a result of the times I’ve had a ton of time recently to practice with my crossbow and try out some different techniques so I figured I’d start a thread to see what are some techniques you do that you believe help you shoot better?

Whether it’s breathing techniques, how you hold the bow, pressure etc let’s hear it!

I’ve been trying out a new breathing technique where you take a breath and exhale about 50% of what you have in your lungs then hold your breath while you squeeze the trigger. Could be complete nonsense but I like it

I only use the B.R.A.S.S. system USMC ---breathe-- relax-- aim --stop breathing-- and-- squeeeezzzze ! even on a calm wind I keep it at my 6

 

[Omnipotent1]

A good trigger is important.
Most of my shooting is either standing and offhand, or sitting in a chair with my elbow on my knee for support. This more closely represents my style since I don't shoot from elevation any more.
You'll all laugh, but I found visualization helps me most. I can visualize a successful shot any time, anywhere; even without the bow in my hands, though having it in shooting position, making things (seeing the deer, picking the spot, hearing the sounds, controlling breathing, seeing the arrow hit, following through, etc.) as detailed as possible. Professional athletes use this technique and it works, at least for me.

Whether shooting a gun, shooting a vertical bow with a release or your crossbow... A good trigger makes average shooters' a whole lot better.. And good shooters, even better too.

 

[whitetailzombie]

As a result of the times I’ve had a ton of time recently to practice with my crossbow and try out some different techniques so I figured I’d start a thread to see what are some techniques you do that you believe help you shoot better?

Whether it’s breathing techniques, how you hold the bow, pressure etc let’s hear it!

I’ve been trying out a new breathing technique where you take a breath and exhale about 50% of what you have in your lungs then hold your breath while you squeeze the trigger. Could be complete nonsense but I like it

Great thread, thx for posting! Guess I should have a level... what size? How & where to attach?
Thx!

 

[Stalker]

Great thread, thx for posting! Guess I should have a level... what size? How & where to attach?
Thx!

I like mine just under the scope if possible. No head movement to see it. I've bought the kind that attach to the scope or scope rail and dont care for them. Their hard to see without moving imo or at least the ones I have tried. I picked up a bunch of these off of ebay dirt cheap. I attach them using silicone. Its works well for getting them set and leveled and will come off easy if need be.

 

[whitetailzombie]

I like mine just under the scope if possible. No head movement to see it. I've bought the kind that attach to the scope or scope rail and dont care for them. Their hard to see without moving imo or at least the ones I have tried. I picked up a bunch of these off of ebay dirt cheap. I attach them using silicone. Its works well for getting them set and leveled and will come off easy if need be. View attachment 173460 View attachment 173462

Thanks Stalker, this looks like a great location for it!

 

[JOE PA]

Lots of great suggestions from folks who have great results. I don't think I saw this yet, so I will add it. Focus on what you want to hit, and not as much on crosshairs, dot, or whatever your aiming device is. Reduces the worry over some probably trivial movement, unless you are a pro level and can keep the bow absolutely still. Made a big difference for me with a compound bow and pin sights, seems to work just the same with a scoped crossbow. When I'm having a less than stellar shooting session, it's often because I'm too focused on the crosshair instead of the target. JME

 

[Iron Duke]

Lots of great suggestions from folks who have great results. I don't think I saw this yet, so I will add it. Focus on what you want to hit, and not as much on crosshairs, dot, or whatever your aiming device is. Reduces the worry over some probably trivial movement, unless you are a pro level and can keep the bow absolutely still. Made a big difference for me with a compound bow and pin sights, seems to work just the same with a scoped crossbow. When I'm having a less than stellar shooting session, it's often because I'm too focused on the crosshair instead of the target. JME

Funny … I have a label on my scope that says: "See the crosshair … squeeze the trigger." When I miss my POA on an animal it's largely been because I get so intent on animal posture & behavior to sense my perfect moment to send the shot that I lose focus on the crosshair. 99% of the time I'm okay because I have my quarry centered in the scope, but I've lost that 1% of precision a few times. My last 300 or so kills on invasive species have been crosshair focus and it's SLOWLY becoming my default behavior on deer. I nearly had a GF last project because I lost crosshair focus on 3 deer at night with the red weapon light. They were lined up like horses in a starting gate. Their heads were bobbing up and down randomly like Methuselah with 3 heads and one body. They were alert since it was late in the project and a lot of their friends had already taken that boat ride to Valhalla. Glowing red eyes, not much time to start shooting since they were locked on to my light and getting ready to get outta Dodge. With heads switching every other second, eerie spooky redeyes and time running out; it was right at the ragged edge of chaos and mayhem. I forgot my crosshair and holdover. Squeezed off the round, the deer fell like a ton of bricks, but fell a little funny. Almost like a cartoon with it's legs sticking up in the air. I swung on the other two heading for the woods to my right and glanced back at the dead one to be sure. Still dead. No shot on the other two perpetrators. So I grab a plastic bag & zip tie to contain any head bleeding, my drag, and I bring a knife just in case. Get next to the deer and it groans, rolls onto it's belly, gets up and heads for the woods. Took a half hour to trail it and finish it. Hardly slept that night trying to figure out what I did wrong. Figured out what I did … and what I didn't do. Didn't focus on crosshair & holdover because of the Ghostbuster circus the 3 deer were putting on. And didn't put a second round into it when it fell a little funny. (Although I had honestly considered it at the time. But the deer had fallen facing straight away from my ground blind and I had no head shot available) Plus it hadn't moved a muscle in 5 minutes. It LOOKED dead...lol

So it seems like we had the opposite problem ...lol Too much focus on crosshair, and not enough focus on crosshair. "It ain't easy getting better" … is it?...lol

 

[JOE PA]

Duke, I suspect we are opposite in many ways. The focus on target instead of crosshairs is mainly a shooting targets thing. I focus on my little circles and try not to get worried about the movement of my crosshairs (when not shooting from a really solid rest). With both 3D and shooting at game, it seems focusing on where I want to hit pulls the crosshairs right there. You probably shoot 100-200 deer (maybe more) for every one I shoot, so...

 

[Iron Duke]

Duke, I suspect we are opposite in many ways. The focus on target instead of crosshairs is mainly a shooting targets thing. I focus on my little circles and try not to get worried about the movement of my crosshairs (when not shooting from a really solid rest). With both 3D and shooting at game, it seems focusing on where I want to hit pulls the crosshairs right there. You probably shoot 100-200 deer (maybe more) for every one I shoot, so...

I wish ... I could shoot more target dots; but I live in the epicenter of The Kingdom of Liberal. Too anti-firearm and too many cops with nothing to do.