shephard19
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Would anyone here consider that for an HD weapon, if a good firearm was not available? How does a a crossbow arrow(bolt?) COM compare to say 9mm hollowpoint from a pistol COM?
Crossbow for HD?
- Thread starter shephard19
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The problem is with any arrow or Bolt "which is what you call an arrow for a crossbow" is it works by the "Victim" bleeding out , period" it isn't going to say break a shoulder bone or even someones wrist if it were to hit it like even a 9mm bullet would .
Could it kill ? Yes most definitely but only after several seconds even if a major artery is cut and the bleeding is very very heavy .
If this style of weapon were my only choice I would go with a traditional Bow and arrow because you can load and fire them much faster and within the confines of a home even a Kids toy 30 LB draw weapon using a hunting tipped arrow could be deadly and no adult or even many kids can't draw a 30 LB bow .
Trust me I was shooting a 30lb bow when I was 10 yeas old and could draw ones that were heavier than that .
Could it kill ? Yes most definitely but only after several seconds even if a major artery is cut and the bleeding is very very heavy .
If this style of weapon were my only choice I would go with a traditional Bow and arrow because you can load and fire them much faster and within the confines of a home even a Kids toy 30 LB draw weapon using a hunting tipped arrow could be deadly and no adult or even many kids can't draw a 30 LB bow .
Trust me I was shooting a 30lb bow when I was 10 yeas old and could draw ones that were heavier than that .
Only if all you have access to is a crossbow would anyone consider a crossbow a viable option. Remember that it's a ranged weapon with a slow rate of fire and relatively low velocity. It was supplanted by firearms for a very good reason.
Up close, within 50 ft., you're better off with a different non-firearm weapon.
Up close, within 50 ft., you're better off with a different non-firearm weapon.
docnyt
Member
It's recommended for zombies.
Deltaboy1984
Member
Imo no way!
Dravur
Member
No way Jose....
Honestly, I think I would rather have a sword than a CB for HD. at least you still have the sword in hand, but once you fire the CB, you have a club... a bad club.
Honestly, I think I would rather have a sword than a CB for HD. at least you still have the sword in hand, but once you fire the CB, you have a club... a bad club.
shadowalker
Member
People hunt deer with them, they can be effective on people. Crossbows got more popular in Australia after they surrendered their firearms.
A handgun would be a better choice in part because of capacity.
A handgun would be a better choice in part because of capacity.
7X57chilmau
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A cross-bow is unworkable. You can't just leave the thing cocked in the corner for months on end. So, the BG breaks in, you jump outta bed, put your bare foot thru the stirrup, haul the bow to cocked.... Your foot hurts now, btw. Fumble around for the bolt, drop the bolt in... Fire once, repeat all.
Gimme just about anything else. Gimme a longbow. String it, fire, repeat. Just about as impossible to handle in close quarters as the CB, but at least it's easy to "reload". Unstring it and it's a nice whippy staff.
There're alot of HD weapon choices out there. I gotta think that a crossbow just has to reside near the bottom of that heap. Somewhere below "dial 911 and pray".
J
Gimme just about anything else. Gimme a longbow. String it, fire, repeat. Just about as impossible to handle in close quarters as the CB, but at least it's easy to "reload". Unstring it and it's a nice whippy staff.
There're alot of HD weapon choices out there. I gotta think that a crossbow just has to reside near the bottom of that heap. Somewhere below "dial 911 and pray".
J
Izzy77
Member
keep a short spear handy. No need to load, and a good spear will keep the attacker at a distance, make sure to get one with "lugs" so you don't thrust through and end up with the attacker on top of you. 
The Japanese naginata could be an interesting option, but probably too long for CQC.
It could be a viable option, a powerful bow with a good bolt most certainly can break bones, and you could have someone bleeding out faster than a gunshot wound.
That being said, you can't simply leave it cocked. A bow would be easier to draw and fire. A crossbow would be easier to aim under stress.
If you do use one, have other options ready. If someone breaks into your house and you have time to cock the crossbow, it will take someone down. Just be prepared with the knife/club/spear/whatever else for a second guy or if you miss.
That being said, you can't simply leave it cocked. A bow would be easier to draw and fire. A crossbow would be easier to aim under stress.
If you do use one, have other options ready. If someone breaks into your house and you have time to cock the crossbow, it will take someone down. Just be prepared with the knife/club/spear/whatever else for a second guy or if you miss.
Carl Levitian
member
I guess in dire need, it would do. Anything that can throw a deadly projectile across a room is not to be sneezed at. I know of a nurse at Ft. Devons Mass. that defended against an intruder with a fiberglass recurve bow. She caused a would be intruder to think of someplace else he had to be in a hurry, when he found out that off post housing of some young nurses ment he may get an arrow through him breaking in.
Of course it would be nice to have a very sharp machete at hand as a back up. Machete's are very handy things to have around.
Of course it would be nice to have a very sharp machete at hand as a back up. Machete's are very handy things to have around.
ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
Principles of Propulsion
Well, the principle seems to be sound.
It's an easily pointed, sort of stable platform that will propel a projectile having enough mass and velocity to inflict enough harm to stop an attacker.
I can think of some improvements, though.
The projectile is awkward; too long, easy to fumble.
Let's see if we can shorten it.
Of course, once it's that short, it would have to be made entirely of metal to be heavy enough.
The energy for propulsion is stored in a bent piece of wood/metal/composite, and reloading for a second or third shot means bending it again. That's very slow and inconvenient.
Perhaps we can come up with a way of storing propulsion energy in a sleeve of some sort, along with the projectile. It has been said that certain powders store energy quite well, releasing lots of it when ignited. So, a sleeve housing the (much shorter) projectile, some burnable powder, and some kind of sparking device to ignite it.
A projectile sleeve of this kind (let's call it a canister), would be small enough that one could have several of these in a hopper of some kind, that could be fed into a launching compartment, and that would make sending subsequent projectiles an easy matter.
Considering that there is no longer a long, bent crosspiece, some attention could be placed on directing this new, shorter projectile. After all, it would have no feathers to stabilize its flight, so perhaps a tubular shroud of some kind would ensure that it flies where it's directed.
I have no idea what the resulting device would look like. Try to imagine a machine with no string, no crosspiece, a tube of some sort for directing projectiles, a hopper affixed containing the projectiles, and some kind of striking device to ignite the burnable powder (like a small hammer, I suppose).
It doesn't sound very elegant, but it seems to me it would be more effective.
I wonder if one could obtain a Patent of Invention for such a thing. *Sigh* Probably not. There are too many mechanical problems to solve. Really, it's more a task for a Swiss watchmaker than an armorer.
Well, it was a nice thought -- a pleasant distraction.
Let's get back to the task at hand, shall we?
Now, place your foot here, and grasp the string with both hands, like this . . .
Well, the principle seems to be sound.
It's an easily pointed, sort of stable platform that will propel a projectile having enough mass and velocity to inflict enough harm to stop an attacker.
I can think of some improvements, though.
The projectile is awkward; too long, easy to fumble.
Let's see if we can shorten it.
Of course, once it's that short, it would have to be made entirely of metal to be heavy enough.
The energy for propulsion is stored in a bent piece of wood/metal/composite, and reloading for a second or third shot means bending it again. That's very slow and inconvenient.
Perhaps we can come up with a way of storing propulsion energy in a sleeve of some sort, along with the projectile. It has been said that certain powders store energy quite well, releasing lots of it when ignited. So, a sleeve housing the (much shorter) projectile, some burnable powder, and some kind of sparking device to ignite it.
A projectile sleeve of this kind (let's call it a canister), would be small enough that one could have several of these in a hopper of some kind, that could be fed into a launching compartment, and that would make sending subsequent projectiles an easy matter.
Considering that there is no longer a long, bent crosspiece, some attention could be placed on directing this new, shorter projectile. After all, it would have no feathers to stabilize its flight, so perhaps a tubular shroud of some kind would ensure that it flies where it's directed.
I have no idea what the resulting device would look like. Try to imagine a machine with no string, no crosspiece, a tube of some sort for directing projectiles, a hopper affixed containing the projectiles, and some kind of striking device to ignite the burnable powder (like a small hammer, I suppose).
It doesn't sound very elegant, but it seems to me it would be more effective.
I wonder if one could obtain a Patent of Invention for such a thing. *Sigh* Probably not. There are too many mechanical problems to solve. Really, it's more a task for a Swiss watchmaker than an armorer.
Well, it was a nice thought -- a pleasant distraction.
Let's get back to the task at hand, shall we?
Now, place your foot here, and grasp the string with both hands, like this . . .
Russ in PA
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A crossbow is OK for home defense, although I much prefer a Trebuchet.
cleardiddion
Member
What about the old school Chinese repeating crossbows?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repeating_crossbow
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repeating_crossbow
The Highlander
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@ArfinGreebly- I think eventually the solution you'd be looking for would be something magnetic or hydraulic.
The whole idea of some arrow based weapon for CQB/CQC seems entirely impractical. I find the idea of hitting an intruder in the chest with a broad head from a longbow hilarious and quite satisfying. An arrow may not have the same penetrating capability as a gun(Even with a bodkin arrow), but it'd be hard to match the massive wound channel a broad head arrow would leave unless you're using a heavy shotgun load.
The whole idea of some arrow based weapon for CQB/CQC seems entirely impractical. I find the idea of hitting an intruder in the chest with a broad head from a longbow hilarious and quite satisfying. An arrow may not have the same penetrating capability as a gun(Even with a bodkin arrow), but it'd be hard to match the massive wound channel a broad head arrow would leave unless you're using a heavy shotgun load.
shephard19
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Why is keeping a crossbow cocked and loaded for a long period of time a bad idea?
Longbow would require tall rooms. Long is in the name for a reason. Crossbows have been known to fail [spontaneously and spectacularly] from the strain of holding the kenetic energy. If the strain is there all the time, it is not easy to restrain, firing sears if light enough to control freeze or give under the constant load. A short limbed compound would be better. Practice would be must, as indeed it is for any defense system, but compounds can be left strung unlike longs and recurves. The 'let off' or reduction in draw at full draw, makes them easier to contol. Still at arms reach I'd want a dirk, or a short sword, again because off cramped conditons. Use the bow as a foil or buckler that leaves it at [weak] hand should time or space allow to nock another arrow, from the attached quiver. For close work learn finger style and forego any other style release. Would not be my first choice, but forethought, practise, and tactics can make it work.
It sounds like a fiasco to me. A crossbow wouldn't just be a pain to load up in the dark. The things are seriously awkward. Imagine trying to go through doorways with a 2.5' wide crossbow at the ready. Then if something happens and you somehow miss with your first shot... Maybe the string breaks or maybe in the dark and the panic you didn't seat something right. There's not much you can do with it then but use it as a third rate club.
A rottweiler and a sword, spear or baseball bat on the other hand would probably fend off all but the most determined home invaders.
A rottweiler and a sword, spear or baseball bat on the other hand would probably fend off all but the most determined home invaders.
zignal_zero
Member
could it be used for HD, yep, but i really feel it's limitations out number it's benefits. add another vote for a contact weapon - sword, spear, club. heck, i think i'd even take a heavy chain with a padlock attached to one end over the crossbow.
Onward Allusion
Member
If a crossbow was the only thing I had available for HD, then yes - I would use one for HD. A good broadhead will do a heck of a lot of damage.
I would also use a good fixed blade as well because you really only get one shot in a HD situation with something slow to load, like a crossbow.
I would also use a good fixed blade as well because you really only get one shot in a HD situation with something slow to load, like a crossbow.
Onward Allusion
Member
Gotta love the Chinese. If they used gun powder properly when first invented, they would have ruled the world 1,500 years ago.
Antother issue to consider is that many towns/counties have laws concerning crossbows, longbows, slingshots and other "weaponry". You might want to check your local laws.
I was not aware of such laws until a student of mine was arrested for archery pratice in her back yard
Best wishes and good luck
NukemJim
I was not aware of such laws until a student of mine was arrested for archery pratice in her back yard
Best wishes and good luck
NukemJim
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