Crossbow vs Compound Bow [2023]

You’re probably confused between a crossbow vs compound bow for hunting, or you might be thinking of replacing your old bow with a new one.

It’s Simple:

If you have been hunting always with a compound bow, first find out about the features of a crossbow before replacing your compound bow with it and vice versa.

Crossbow vs Compound Bow, both are used by hunters and archers and are considered better in their ways as both have many useful features. Some archers consider that both have their own great features and can be used with each other or either you can choose only one that you are comfortable with.

In some countries, a crossbow is not allowed for hunting. If it is allowed in your area, you can give it a try as it performs well but remember, a comfortable and suitable bow is as necessary as a bow with useful features.

After finding out the features of both types of bows, you can easily choose the one suitable for you. The features of a crossbow or compound bow are determined by their shape, size, and the material used to manufacture them.

Crossbow vs Compound Bow – Pros & Cons

1. Choosing a Compound Bow for Hunting

Advantages

Compound bows are great for hunting because they are easy to use and require less effort on the part of the hunters. Also, you will notice that they offer a faster shot as they can be reloaded rapidly. Therefore, if you miss the first shot, you can immediately make a second.

Compound bows are also way better than crossbows as they are less noisy. This makes them a good choice for hunting quietly so that the prey doesn’t run away with the sound of the first missed shot. Sometimes hunters only miss their hunt because the prey runs away after hearing the noise of a shot.

Moreover, you will find a compound bow the most suitable size for hunting. As they are vertical, they don’t take much space and are easy to carry around or store for going far away for hunting. Also, a compound bow is comfortable to load and draw with less weight.

Check Price

Disadvantages

With all the benefits of a compound bow, make sure to keep in mind the following aspects before buying a compound bow for hunting:

A compound bow is only comfortable once you fully practice shooting with it. It will take a lot of time and effort to get a perfect shoot with it.
A compound bow is efficient in its performance only if you grip well and shoot at the right time with proficiency.
Although they are vertical but shooting through the bushes or trees in the woods with an average-sized compound bow is still difficult. You will need proper balance and proficiency.
As it requires skill and practice, a compound bow is only useful for professionals and not all hunters.

2. Choosing a Crossbow for Hunting

Advantages

Feels like a crossbow is always ready for a shoot. You don’t have to draw the string immediately for a shot or use your hands to keep the arrow drawn for the shoot. Just aim at your target and make shoot.

The locking mechanism of a crossbow makes it reliable for each and every shoot, even at 50 to 60 yards of distance. Once locked in the position with a cocking aid, you can easily point it towards your target with full focus and make the shoot. Cocking devices used to draw a string also allow hunters with any physical ailment to shoot easily.

This also means that balancing and shooting with a crossbow requires less effort and practice for non-professional hunters. But still, you have to have a grip and proper knowledge about a crossbow for a perfect shoot.

Unlike a compound bow, balancing a crossbow while standing on a tree stand or aiming through the bushes is easier as you don’t have to move your hands to draw the arrow. Also, its horizontal shape lets you comfortably keep it straight while aiming at the target.

Check Price

Disadvantages

With all the benefits of a crossbow, make sure to keep in mind the following aspects before buying a compound bow for hunting:

You have to draw an arrow with a cocking device for a crossbow. It takes much time to reload it for one shot after another.
Crossbows are dangerous without safety when they are loaded. Therefore, they are not allowed to hunt in some states.
Although crossbows are easier to balance but carrying them around while traveling is difficult with the weight.
For hunting, crossbows make more noise as compared to compound bows.

Crossbow vs Compound Bow – Which is Better?

Once you know the important features of a bow for hunting, you can easily choose a compound or a crossbow. It depends upon which features seem more suitable for you. As mentioned above, both compound and crossbow have their features and drawbacks. So, choose the one that satisfies your needs in a better way.

Crossbow vs Bow Basic Features

Some features of a bow to look for hunting are as under:

1. Shooting Power

The shooting power of a bow should be good enough to let you reload efficiently for the second shot. While hunting, when your target is continuously moving, there are a lot of chances to miss your hunt at the first shoot. In that case, you will have to make the second shot instantly. So the shooting power of a bow should be higher for hunting.

2. Easy to Carry and Store

You have to do a lot of walking around in search of your hunt. Especially if you are in search of a deer or any other animal that might run away speedily. That is why hunters try to keep their hunting bags as light as they can. So try to keep a bow that is easy to carry around. Now takedown bows are also available that are portable for hunters.

3. Shooting Force

A bow for hunting must be reliable enough for a quick and effective shoot. The shooting force of a bow is determined by how fast it can draw the arrow. However, this force is measured as feet per second (fps) for compound bows and crossbows.

If you want to know the energy measurement more accurately, you can calculate foot-pounds of kinetic energy (FPKE). It will help you find a suitable bow by estimating the total arrow weight and feet per second.

4. Noise

You surely need a bow that does not make loud noise during the hunt. The bow’s string vibrates and makes a thump or twang sound when you shoot the arrow with it. As the noise comes from the string, it means that a longer bow will make louder noise as there will be a long string attached to it.

However, when the bow makes a loud noise during the hunt, it can alert your prey. Therefore, choose a bow that makes a low sound for hunting or you can buy some accessories available to make your bow less noisy.

Moreover, sometimes any other noise besides the usual thump or twang of the bowstring if you hear any clunking or buzzing noise you should check the screws and all parts of the bow to find out the part making noise.

5. Price of a Bow

Prices can be high or low depending on the model and type of bow. For hunting, you will need a bow that performs well and efficiently. So go for a mid-range or high-range model that comes under your budget.

6. Shooting Range of a Bow

The shooting range means how far you can shoot an arrow with the bow. Although the shooting range of a bow matters but an effective shoot at the highest capacity of a bow also depends on the skills of the archer.

For hunting, professional hunters opt for a bow that can shoot up to 100 yards or at least 60 yards. However, a bow with a shooting range up to 40 to 60 yards is enough for non-professional hunters.

Conclusion – Crossbow vs Compound Bow

Both crossbows and compound bows have their features, making them good for hunting. But remember to get to know about their drawbacks before choosing them for hunting. If you can carry around a crossbow easily while traveling and rely on it for a timely shoot, you can opt for it. Otherwise, a compound bow can also do the work of attacking your prey.

After going through the above features about a suitable bow for hunting and the pros and cons of both crossbows and compound bows, you can easily choose for your next hunt.

Additional Common Questions

Is a compound bow or a crossbow more accurate?

While both compound bows and crossbows offer their own unique advantages, when it comes to speed and precision, crossbows tend to outperform compound bows. Consider this: some of the best compound bows available can attain speeds between 320 and 350 feet per second. That’s impressive, but then consider that crossbows can easily surpass 400 feet per second. Even budget-friendly crossbows can reach shoot speed of 350 to 370 feet per second.

Speaking from my personal hunting experiences, the speed of your arrow can make a significant difference in both your accuracy and your ability to successfully hit your target. A faster arrow means you have less room for errors in your aim. It really is a game changer in difficult conditions or when you're up against agile prey. It's important to remember, however, that speed and accuracy are influenced by several other factors, including the arrow's weight, the shooting technique and conditions, and the archer's skill level.

What is the advantage of a bow over a crossbow?

Interestingly, the advantage of a bow, especially a compound bow or a longbow, comes down to something called the power stroke. Now, a crossbow usually has a heavier draw weight, but the power stroke (the distance the string travels from fully drawn to the rest position) is often much shorter. From my years of bow hunting, I’ve found that this shorter power stroke means the crossbow can’t provide the same level of kinetic energy as the bow.

This powerful kinetic energy is what gives an arrow from a bow its speed and penetrative power. It's like an invisible force that drives your arrow towards its target with an enhanced momentum. Side note, there's just something magical about drawing back a compound or longbow, feeling the strength in the tension before letting it fly.

Is Hoyt coming out with a new bow for 2023?

Yes, indeed, Hoyt, the renowned archery company, has planned an exciting upgrade for the 2023 season. Building on the success of their previous Ventum series, they’ve announced the introduction of the new VTM 31 and VTM 34 bows. As a passionate archer, I’m personally very excited about this upcoming release and can’t wait to see how these new models will improve upon their predecessors’ designs.

How much stronger are crossbows than bows?

Strength in terms of archery gear can be a subjective term. But, if we talk about force and range, a crossbow stands equal to a longbow or compound bow, whose draw weight is about half of that of the crossbow. I’ve experienced this firsthand on several hunting trips. Where my longbow was perfect for shooting in a clearing, my buddy’s crossbow gave him the advantage when it came to longer-range shots. Remember, both the crossbow and the bow can equally complement your hunting experience, and the choice ultimately comes down to personal preference and hunting conditions.