Crossbow For Sale: From Velocity To Safety And Everything In Between

Whether you are a hunter, marksman, or enthusiast, choosing the right equipment and accessories has a massive impact on your overall enjoyment and success – luckily, at Futurama, we no doubt have the ideal crossbow for sale to suit your needs. Despite the surging popularity of these incredible projectile weapons, there are a few misconceptions surrounding the performance and features of modern crossbows.

In this quick read, we will investigate a few noteworthy safety features, including anti-dry fire mechanisms and automatic safety triggers, that go a long way in protecting users and those around them. We will also explore the ways in which high-quality crossbows leverage materials like carbon fibre and the use of inventive mechanisms to elevate precision, durability, and effectiveness.

To top it all off, we will look into the difference that certain optics and accessories can make across a range of applications. With Futurama, you have everything you need to encourage success, aggregated in one convenient location. If you have been looking for an all-encompassing guide that will help you make informed purchases to benefit your shooting experience, you are certainly in the right place.

Crossbow For Sale: Safety Features Simplified

As is the case with firearms, it is imperative to have an understanding of the safety features that exist in modern crossbows. If you have spent some time looking through our selection of offerings, you may have seen the term “anti-dry fire” come up frequently. Also known as a Dry-Fire Inhibitor (DFI), these systems are incredibly important for protecting both the user and the crossbow itself; allow us to explain why.

As the name suggests, these simple yet efficient mechanisms facilitate easy de-cocking and prevent dry firing, which occurs when the trigger is activated without a loaded bolt. Typically, this is achieved through the use of a self-contained unit that sits near the scope’s mount. Said unit will catch the crossbow string in the event of a dry fire; this prevents damage to the bow assembly, as these accidental shots can place major stress on the materials and components of the bow.

Not only does it increase the longevity of the crossbow, but it also protects the user from hurting themselves. Crossbow strings are designed to withstand and store huge amounts of potential energy, and a trigger release at an inopportune moment can be quite dangerous. Nowadays, many crossbows are fitted with automatic trigger safeties, which engage upon fully cocking the bow.

Generally, these mechanisms function in a similar way to firearms, by preventing the use of the trigger until it is placed into a safety-off arrangement. If you have any shooting experience, you will already understand the crucial nature of these sorts of safety features. We encourage you to take some time to familiarise yourself with the features and characteristics of any new crossbow you decide to purchase, as regardless of your shooting ability, safety should always be the number one priority.

Crossbow For Sale: High-Quality Products From Our Online Store

At Futurama, we understand that our clientele expects the best-of-the-best, and for this reason, we have taken the time to handpick some of the finest offerings from renowned manufacturers all over the world. Let’s have a look at a few of them:

Crossbow For Sale: Man Kung MK-XB58BK Kraken – Black

Man Kung is perhaps one of the most well-established and regarded crossbow manufacturers in the world, and when you consider the quality of their offerings, this makes perfect sense. The Man Kung MK-XB58BK Kraken is their second most powerful bow and comes standard with an advanced compound drawing system and top-tier CNC-machined cams. Whatever kind of shooting you intend to do, versatility is always a priority. For this reason, the rifle stock and cheekpiece of the MK Kraken are completely adjustable, allowing for personalisation and optimisation.

Beyond this, this product is equipped with an anti-dry fire mechanism, string and vibration dampeners, and an aluminium barrel, which are features that you may not expect from a crossbow with a price of only R10,099.00. The kit also includes four sturdy carbon bolts, a sling, a 4x32 rifle scope, a quiver, and a cocking string. As this offering has a high bolt velocity of 123 m/s, we tend to recommend it to shooters who already have some experience with compound crossbows.

Crossbow For Sale: EK Archery Titan X Bow Quad Limb Crossbow – Black

If you are looking for a versatile addition to your collection that is capable of meeting the challenges of both hunting and target shooting, the EK Archery Titan X Quad Limb Crossbow is certainly worth your consideration. EK Archery’s manufacturing prowess is evident in this iteration, as it finds a middle ground between power, speed, and durability, making it an ideal choice for a range of applications. It boasts an impressive FPS of 385 and a hefty draw weight of 200 lbs, meaning it definitely has enough power to excel.

Like the Man Kung MK-XB58BK Kraken, this offering from EK Archery also includes an anti-dry fire safety mechanism and CNC-machined components, but it also features fibreglass limbs, a 14-inch power stroke, and a reinforced composite stock. At R10,059.00, it falls into the same price category as our last recommendation. However, both offer unique upsides and plenty of value for money, so the best option for you will boil down to your preferences.

Crossbow For Sale: Ravin R29X Sniper Crossbow – Predator Camo

Perhaps you’re more inclined towards higher end alternatives; if so, the Ravin R29X Sniper Crossbow is extremely hard to contend with. It comes with all the features you would expect from a top-of-the-line offerings, including a bolt velocity of 450 fps, Helicoil technology, a noise-free cocking system, anti-dry fire and auto safety mechanisms, and more. The combination of these features allows for remarkable precision and range, facilitating 7 cm grouping at ranges of up to 90 m.

The Ravin R29X also comes with a tactical crossbow scope that is mounted to a jack plate adjustable elevation mount, which opens the doors to incredibly efficient long-range shooting. Should you opt for this offering, you can expect many years of consistent, successful use. At R64,929.00, it is a step-up pricewise from the former recommendations, but the unparalleled performance it provides more than makes up for this.

Crossbow For Sale: The Importance Of Velocity And Power

Bolt velocity, or FPS, is a crucial consideration for any user, especially if you intend to use your crossbow for hunting or target shooting. Most modern offerings offer a velocity between 200 and 400 fps, with those on the higher end of the spectrum providing substantial, hard-hitting power. While many believe that a faster travelling bolt can only be a positive, many applications don’t require bolt speeds in excess of 400 fps.

Additionally, greater fps is usually accompanied by a higher draw weight, which makes cocking the bow somewhat more challenging. It also suggests that the crossbow will have heightened recoil and will likely make more noise upon firing (if there are no noise-dampening components).  These considerations make high-fps bows more suited to experienced shooters, as there is more room for error.

However, if you are comfortable in your ability to handle high-powered bows, there are many appealing benefits that come with greater speed. A flatter bolt trajectory is one of the most obvious upsides, which makes long-range shots considerably easier. With less bolt drop-off, you won’t need to spend as much time judging distance and adjusting your scope, as the bolt will maintain its speed and trajectory much more consistently.

Crossbow For Sale: To Scope Or Not To Scope

This question seems to come up quite frequently, so allow us to provide our recommendations on the matter. Aiming accurately with the naked eye alone is no easy feat, especially at extended ranges, unless, of course, you are marksman of note. For this reason, many archers choose to kit their bows out with a crossbow scope, which can greatly extend your accurate range.

Nowadays, there are a plethora of scope options, including red dots, thermal or night vision crossbow scopes, illuminated scopes, as well as SFP (Second Focal Plane) and FFP (First Focal Plane) options. At the end of the day, the best choice for you will depend on the kind of shooting you intend to do. If you foresee that you will be shooting at range a majority of the time, it makes sense to invest in a top-tier optic that will assist in this endeavour. However, if most of your shots tend to be in close quarters or at ranges in which optical enhancement is unnecessary, a crossbow scope makes less sense.

One thing we feel is important to highlight is that riflescopes and crossbow scopes are not the same. Many archers assume that all scopes are interchangeable, and while firearm scopes technically can be mounted to crossbows, this does not mean that it is an ideal choice. This is the case because the mechanics of shooting a crossbow differ substantially from rifle mechanics, with the former presenting unique differences in projectile trajectory and recoil.

This, in combination with the fact that crossbows not only produce recoil but also vibration (a factor that riflescopes are simply not designed to withstand), makes the decision to mount a rifle scope on your crossbow somewhat questionable. We suggest putting some time into researching the best compatible scope options for your crossbow.

Crossbow For Sale: Final Thoughts

Hopefully, you have found this comprehensive guide to be insightful and useful, and perhaps it has even inspired you to try one of these powerful modern crossbows for yourself. If so, there is no better place to begin your search for the perfect bow than our Futurama online store. Not only do we have one of the largest selections in the nation, but we guarantee top-tier customer service and pain-free ordering and delivery.

To add to this, our team of knowledgeable in-house experts is more than prepared to assist you when it comes time to choose a crossbow for sale. When it comes to hunting or target shooting, high-quality equipment is a must, as your performance and shooting ability is intrinsically linked to the standard of your gear. Should you have any further questions, we encourage you to get in touch with us.