[bunnyrabbit]

To each there own in regards to the crossbow brand and speed they wish to have.

1)high speed crossbows cost a lot of money in regards to maintenance if one does a lot of shooting.
Bow string and cables are generally much shorter with a sharper bowstring angle. Limbs, special
nocks, rollers can develop problems.
2)doing your own repair and or tuning will save some trips to the bow shop, down time and or shipping costs.

As for targets, depending on the type of material used, one may be able to pack a lot of the same material
in the target over time. Some material is like cotton batten and will compress into it self over time. This is an
easy target to keep adding extra material to.

The closer the target, the harder it is to stop and arrow. Re enforcing a target with jute back carpet helps
but this material is very hard on carbon arrow shafts if doing much shooting.

Wishing you all the best.
Take care.

 

[keitht]

Just remember, in 10 years those 500 fps bows will be considered "slow" and obsolete. But they will still work as well as they always did. I've killed plenty of deer with a 50 lb recurve. Not sure what speed those arrows flew, but pretty sure they qualify as Slooooow in the crossbow world. Still deadly.

 

[Huntersthompson]

Remains to be seen the life span of the xbow that made the Kessel run in 12 parsecs. Verdict is still out. My TS 370 has 4000 shots with zero issues. When a xbow does this ....then I am impressed.

 

[Wolverinegs]

I have Barnett Whitetail Hunter 2 shooting 315fps with 425gr arrows. I feel the urge to upgrade to a higher fps, mainly for a bit more coverage for occasionally longer shot. Not sure if it is worth it

 

[lsowers]

All in the beholders mind.

 

[JOE PA]

When you get one that’s not slow, you better have a good target.

 

[One eyed archer]

I have Barnett Whitetail Hunter 2 shooting 315fps with 425gr arrows. I feel the urge to upgrade to a higher fps, mainly for a bit more coverage for occasionally longer shot. Not sure if it is worth it

I killed my biggest buck ever with a Whitetail Hunter 2 at 50 yards. Complete pass thru that buried into a log on the other side. Plenty of power in that bow to get the job done.

 

[bunnyrabbit]

I have Barnett Whitetail Hunter 2 shooting 315fps with 425gr arrows. I feel the urge to upgrade to a higher fps, mainly for a bit more coverage for occasionally longer shot. Not sure if it is worth it

Doing an internet search the Barnett Whitetail Hunter 2 is rated at 350 feet per second.
Barnett uses a 380 grain arrow-point combination to obtain their advertised speed.
The arrow-point combination you mention is 425-380= 45 grains over the advertised weight.
For every 10 grains over their advertised weight one loses approximately 3 feet per second.
In this instance 45 divide by 10= 4.5 x 3 = 13.5 feet per second loss. There fore if your cross
bow is properly tuned it should shoot 350-13.5=336.5 feet per second.

In the case of the mentioned crossbow, providing the cams are in time and level when the cross
bow is cocked, the cables may have stretched which backs the cams off resulting in a loss of
speed.
Barnett crossbows use a poorly constructed cable where one section makes a lop through the
other to make the cable. This provides a weak link which stretches. Another thing, some string
builders are used to building for vertical bows which do not require the higher tension that cross
bows require. This also lets the bowstring and or cables stretch. Axle to axle measurement in the
uncocked or cocked position is just a guide line as any tuning can change this.

If you are thinking of up grading, I highly recommend the Center Point Sniper XT390 available at
Bass Pro for $299.99. This crossbow does not come with arrows but uses 1/2 moon. 20" Blood
Sport Witness available at some Wal Marts, EBay and Amazon are very high quality.

A few other crossbows in the Center Point series are the Patriot, Heat and Amped in the 415.
The mentioned crossbows have a very rigid metal rail-stock which provides pin point accuracy.
The crossbows all come with the extendable stock which is nice when wearing different clothing
for weather conditions or a different arm length person.
Center Point uses a 370 grain arrow-point combination to get their advertised speed.

Wishing you all the best with what every you decide.
Take care.

 

[TripleCreek]

I am not chasing speed as much as reliability. I just bought the new TP Venom X , I am shooting a 470 gr arrow which includes a 125 gr point. This drops the bow down to about 355 fps. That will be plenty fast to hunt whitetails and turkeys. At that speed and limb width I hope to shoot a lot more without worrying about string and serving. Granted I am primarily a hunter and not concerned about shooting out to 100 yds. I am sure 355 is consider slow now but that's ok.

 

[Spot-on-arrow]

I have Barnett Whitetail Hunter 2 shooting 315fps with 425gr arrows. I feel the urge to upgrade to a higher fps, mainly for a bit more coverage for occasionally longer shot. Not sure if it is worth it

I still have a Horton Legend that shoots less than 300 fps with 425 gr arrow. It became my backup crossbow when I went to a faster Ripper 415 that shoots 420 fps with a 425 gr arrow. The change I noticed was the speed drop off was stretched from about 40 to 70 yards. I happy I moved up on speed and accuracy.

It's sorted like computers. Upgrading brings benefits.

 

[Spudder]

I killed my biggest buck ever with a Whitetail Hunter 2 at 50 yards. Complete pass thru that buried into a log on the other side. Plenty of power in that bow to get the job done.

I still like to take my Assault for a walk in the woods

 

[thomaskelley]

Haha! No matter what I would choose, the speed freaks on here would call it slow.

That describes me. I’ll stick with my recurves that I can rope cock👍👍

 

[nitroexpress700]

To me any cross bow under 380 fps is slow 400-450 medium and 500 fast with a compound I was launching 650 grain arrows from a 81# bow at 260 fps but preferred the same arrow from a 90# hoyt at 280 only have a 28" draw.

 

[Wolverinegs]

I still have a Horton Legend that shoots less than 300 fps with 425 gr arrow. It became my backup crossbow when I went to a faster Ripper 415 that shoots 420 fps with a 425 gr arrow. The change I noticed was the speed drop off was stretched from about 40 to 70 yards. I happy I moved up on speed and accuracy.

It's sorted like computers. Upgrading brings benefits.

I am thinking similar to stretch the distance in cases it is needed like in an open area

 

[Wolverinegs]

Doing an internet search the Barnett Whitetail Hunter 2 is rated at 350 feet per second.
Barnett uses a 380 grain arrow-point combination to obtain their advertised speed.
The arrow-point combination you mention is 425-380= 45 grains over the advertised weight.
For every 10 grains over their advertised weight one loses approximately 3 feet per second.
In this instance 45 divide by 10= 4.5 x 3 = 13.5 feet per second loss. There fore if your cross
bow is properly tuned it should shoot 350-13.5=336.5 feet per second.

In the case of the mentioned crossbow, providing the cams are in time and level when the cross
bow is cocked, the cables may have stretched which backs the cams off resulting in a loss of
speed.
Barnett crossbows use a poorly constructed cable where one section makes a lop through the
other to make the cable. This provides a weak link which stretches. Another thing, some string
builders are used to building for vertical bows which do not require the higher tension that cross
bows require. This also lets the bowstring and or cables stretch. Axle to axle measurement in the
uncocked or cocked position is just a guide line as any tuning can change this.

If you are thinking of up grading, I highly recommend the Center Point Sniper XT390 available at
Bass Pro for $299.99. This crossbow does not come with arrows but uses 1/2 moon. 20" Blood
Sport Witness available at some Wal Marts, EBay and Amazon are very high quality.

A few other crossbows in the Center Point series are the Patriot, Heat and Amped in the 415.
The mentioned crossbows have a very rigid metal rail-stock which provides pin point accuracy.
The crossbows all come with the extendable stock which is nice when wearing different clothing
for weather conditions or a different arm length person.
Center Point uses a 370 grain arrow-point combination to get their advertised speed.

Wishing you all the best with what every you decide.
Take care.

Thanks for the insights. I never measured the stock arrow speed. I started with 400gr arrows at 325fps. I thought that is not too far from the specs.

For new bows I am thinking Center Point 430X for speed/price, Killer Instinct for compactness. I wish they have decock capability but I do not think they have. Both have good prices when on sale in the past. I will look into other ones you mentioned.

 

[Wolverinegs]

When you get one that’s not slow, you better have a good target.

Absolutely, and shoot from distance too

 

[Wolverinegs]

I am not chasing speed as much as reliability. I just bought the new TP Venom X , I am shooting a 470 gr arrow which includes a 125 gr point. This drops the bow down to about 355 fps. That will be plenty fast to hunt whitetails and turkeys. At that speed and limb width I hope to shoot a lot more without worrying about string and serving. Granted I am primarily a hunter and not concerned about shooting out to 100 yds. I am sure 355 is consider slow now but that's ok.

355fps sounds good with a heavy arrow. If I get a faster bow I think I will use heavier arrow to slow it down to 375fps

 

[Wolverinegs]

To me any cross bow under 380 fps is slow 400-450 medium and 500 fast with a compound I was launching 650 grain arrows from a 81# bow at 260 fps but preferred the same arrow from a 90# hoyt at 280 only have a 28" draw.

I think the weight/speed equation depends on how far is the furthest one is willing to shoot reliably. If one thinks not go beyond 30-40 yards then 300fps is probably sufficient, using a heavier arrow for more efficiency and lessen the burden on bow. But if thinking maybe want to shoot occasional 50 yards then need a faster bow and a new weight/speed balance point

 

[Iron Duke]

I'll make it easy for everyone:

#1. ................. 250-300fps is medieval slow
#2. ................... 300-350fps is slow
#3. ................... 350-400fps is half-ast
#4. ................... 400-450fps is fast
#5. ................... 450fps and above is Spaceballs fast

 

[nitroexpress700]

I think the weight/speed equation depends on how far is the furthest one is willing to shoot reliably. If one thinks not go beyond 30-40 yards then 300fps is probably sufficient, using a heavier arrow for more efficiency and lessen the burden on bow. But if thinking maybe want to shoot occasional 50 yards then need a faster bow and a new weight/speed balance point

Out west here in open spaces shots tend to hit 40-80 yards alot so speed definitely helps. Then again iv taken cow elk at 110 and mule deer at 80-90 I do practice alot out to 140 and have my own 200 yard rifle range and put my 24x24" spider bow target every now and then and rip shots off at the full range but limit shots on game to 100 typically. Mainly moose and elk stuff that dosnt "jump" the string
I shoot deer like some one would shoot grouse there just kinda there. I spend most my time elk and mnt goat hunting.