Crossbows: The Need For Speed

Bowhunters have been pushing the speed envelope since the creation of the compound bow.

That mentality has been carried over to the crossbow side of the sport as well. Not that long ago three hundred feet per second (FPS) was the magical mark that manufacturers were trying to attain. Today there are many manufacturers marketing crossbows that exceed 400 FPS!

As with all technology, product design, innovation and material composition allow engineers to design lighter, faster and stronger products. Overall, the consumer benefits greatly from this process, but there's generally a tradeoff along the way.

At some point, innovation can become excess, and one has to determine whether the financial difference is worth the technological gain. In this instance is the need for speed worth the tradeoff of shooting a slower, less expensive crossbow? Make no mistake about it. More speed equates to more cost! Let's look at the pros and cons associated with the quest for speed.

Pros

Crossbows that shoot a faster arrow (bolt) will obviously get the arrow to its intended target quicker. On an animal that is alert or prone to jumping (ducking) the arrow, a faster shooting crossbow could mean the difference between success and failure.

The arrow's trajectory will also be flatter when shot from a faster crossbow. This translates into closer reticle (crosshair) gaps which can possibly allow you to shoot greater distances more efficiently. Where a slower crossbow may be sighted in at 20-, 30- and 40 yards, a faster crossbow theoretically could be set up at 20-, 40- and 60 yards with all things being equal.

Range estimation is always important when bowhunting. A faster, flatter shooting arrow will allow more room for error when estimating distances. If you misjudge a distance by five yards when shooting a 270 FPS crossbow, you'll more than likely miss the animal. A five-yard misjudgment out of a 400 FPS crossbow will likely go unnoticed.

Cons

As previously stated, as the speed of a crossbow increases so does its price. Faster crossbows will also be a bit longer because they require a longer power stroke to attain the higher speeds. This will make them a bit heavier and possibly more cumbersome for some shooters.

A faster shooting crossbow is usually more abusive on your other accessories as well, meaning strings, servings, string stops, etc. Also, targets will generally not hold up as well when shooting at a higher speed, and occasionally arrow removal can be very difficult. When shooting a faster crossbow, purchase your other equipment accordingly. Make sure your accessories are rated to withstand the FPS of your crossbow. You'll save yourself a lot of aggravation and money in the long run.

Regardless of your decision, it would be wise not to make your purchase solely on a manufacturer's speed rating.