Want to buy a crossbow

[Mr. SmithParticipant 686]

Hi,

I want to buy a crossbow for sports. Is anybody here familiar with this topic and give me some hints? I did a little research and found this:

http://www.shoottech.com/Page/Web/AR480MARKII

I want to use it for target shooting, not hunting (it’s illegal here to hunt with anything else than a rifle or shotgun) or self defense (hard to carry this concealed, right? 😉 ).

"I need men, real men, men with balls, certainly not sissies. I would never ask them to take an enemy position, but I insist that they follow me to that position. If you are one of those men, raise your hand." Napoleon Bonaparte

[PistolPeteParticipant 27143]

There are plenty of sources available from which you can buy such a weapon. Prices vary between about $150-$300.
https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/category/archery/bows-and-crossbows.do

[Mr. SmithParticipant 686]

Thanks for this link. That’s really much cheaper than I can buy it here in Germany! I have to check how much tax I have to pay additionally and what I can legally import.

But the intention of my question was also what type of crossbow? I read some tests and articles, but first hand knowledge is always better than theory. From what I read a double string is nice and a receiver without rail. But how important is it really and is there maybe something else to look for?

"I need men, real men, men with balls, certainly not sissies. I would never ask them to take an enemy position, but I insist that they follow me to that position. If you are one of those men, raise your hand." Napoleon Bonaparte

[PistolPeteParticipant 27143]

Well I must confess ignorance regarding the modern cross-bow. And all I know about the original cross bow is that it was banned by Pope Urban II in 1139.

I hope what I say next isn’t inappropriate for the site BUT I am an FFL licensed firearm dealer, and I get catalogs from weapon wholesalers all the time. I can buy these things at wholesale cost. Naturally I would be willing to help you out and acquire something at cost. The only extra cost to you would be tax (7%) in Florida and shipping.

The cheapest one I can get you is the SA Sports Empire Terminator. (175 lbs pull, 260 FPS) $125.00. And of course there are models going all the way up to a grand (1K).

Looking at what these fire this could be an expensive hobby. A basic pack of 6 (non-hunting) arrows is $50.00.

Anyway let me know. Again I hope what I said was not inappropriate–if it is I apologize in advance.

[Mr. SmithParticipant 686]

Don’t apologize! I really appreciate your offer and it is absolutely not inappropriate. The opposite, I am thankful for it. 🙂

I find it so great to talk to like-minded people here, it’s nearly impossible to be somehow offended and in this case I am simply amazed. I am not a gun-nuts, but I lived for a few years in the USA and learned to enjoy shooting and miss the gun culture in the USA a little. Yes, I can go to a shooting range here, but it’s different. Now you tell me you are a licensed firearm dealer and some nice memories of my time over there are popping up and a million questions, too.

By the way, I still have my grandfather old hunting rifle (Mauser 98, built in 1908) and his service pistol (PPK in 7.65mm, built 1952). Besides all rumors it is possible to own firearms in Germany legally. 🙂

"I need men, real men, men with balls, certainly not sissies. I would never ask them to take an enemy position, but I insist that they follow me to that position. If you are one of those men, raise your hand." Napoleon Bonaparte

[PistolPeteParticipant 27143]

The Gewehr 98 is the most important (and most copied) rifle in history. I desperately wish I owned one. I’ve had to settle for a pair of its Yugo cousins the M48 and a Swedish 1917 Gustav. The only rifle I have ever fired that compares to it is (no not the Springfield 03) but the Swiss Schmidt-Ruben.

I have a PPKs in .380. Its OK but really finicky about ammo. My P-38 is a fine pistol but nothing tops my 1911 Broom handle or my commercial Luger — I love .30 Luger, and I’m always astonished that round has fallen into complete disuse.

Anyway if you decide to take me up on it Private E-mail me and we’ll work something out.

[Mr. SmithParticipant 686]

The Mauser rifle is quite common over here. At least two of my neighbors have one for hunting, but both have the shorter K-version with the bent bolt handle of the Nazi era. Maybe you can get one cheap over here and combine it with a little vacation. It is not seldom people die and nobody wants the guns, because you need to get a license for it, this involves a lot of learning and training, background checks etc. Most people are simply not interested in it and don’t see the value. So the government takes the weapons and most gets destroyed. As far as I heard it is quite simple to import historic firearms into the US.
Just a few month ago a guy I knew died and his widow had a lot of trouble to get rid of his Mauser collection. He has some 30 rifles and she gave it to a museum in the end, because nobody else wanted it. I hope my weapons will stay in the family, because the rifle is from my grandfathers grandfather and he passed it along to my grandfather. He started his military career in 1865 as a artillery officer for the Saxon king, after the foundation of Germany in 1871 he served the Kaiser until retirement in 1910 and the rifle was a present from the Imperial Army.

"I need men, real men, men with balls, certainly not sissies. I would never ask them to take an enemy position, but I insist that they follow me to that position. If you are one of those men, raise your hand." Napoleon Bonaparte

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