I would like to try to hunt during bow season next year. I am to old to pull back a compound, so I thought about using a crossbow. Which one do you recommend for a beginner. I'm not a new hunter with over 50 years of deer hunting under my belt, but completely new to bow or crossbow hunting. Thank you.

The mission mxb's are pretty easy to [censored]. I think a 10-12 year old could easily do it. Head to an archery shop and try a few out.

There are some Cross bows with a built in crank for pulling the cable back.
I would suggest to go and try different ones out like PiePuncher said.

I am with Pie Puncher on the Mission MXB. My wife is small and can pull the 360 easily, but she cannot pull the 400. We had to hit the archery shops so we could pull a bow and then shoot it.

Let us know what you end up with. I'd like to get one for my dad to hunt with. Since I've been on an archery only lease I haven't been able to take him with me. No more than he will probably use it I may be better off getting that cheap jackal.

I'm in your boat somewhat. I lost my sight in my right eye 5 years ago and had to learn how to shoot a gun left handed. After shooting right handed for 30 years, the change went over really well. However, wanting to capitalize on deer during archery season put me in a little different situation. I've never bow hunted and the idea of learning left handed didn't sound so good so I opted for a crossbow. I got an excalibur and they are recurves. I bought the bow in a kit and it came with the bow, bolts and nifty string device to [censored] the bow as well as uncock it. The bow seems to be very accurate and I was able to sight it in literally in 5 or 6 shots. I hunted with it for the first time last week and shot a doe at 18 yards and she went about 40 yards after the shot. So far I am quite pleased with it and it seemed like a good starter bow for me. I hope this helps some.

If your funds allow, I shoot the Parker Concorde. The cocking is CO2 powered so it is effortless. Push a button in the stock and it cocks automatically. Great crossbow, but it isn't light.

Where did you buy your Parker Concorde. The only review I could find on it stated that the man had a hard time finding anywhere that would refill his CO2 container.

I like my Excalibur--accurate, maybe not as quiet as some, but you can change a string in the field and it is easy to uncock. And I'm one of those old guys too.

I'm in similar circumstance like Mr. T. except I was a bowhunter 30yrs ago. I thinking about the crossbow for a little more time in the woods. I was always a PSE fan so I've been looking at the "PSE Fang". They are sold out everywhere you look. Has anyone tried this one? Would this be a good starter crossbow?

I bought an Excalibur a few years ago now and like it. I like the fact that I can take the string off and let the limbs relax in the off season. I also like that I can change the string myself. I have the cocking aid the is hand pull and not mechanical. It works good for me since I can use it to uncock the crossbow also. They make a mechanical crank that will work with most crossbows. Some are built in and some are put on and off when needed. I have a Equinox Litestuff and it is a bit wider/longer than their newer models. Being wider I have to be careful about what I hunt out of or do more trimming to create more space to swing side to side for a shot. It is a bit heavier than some of the other models I have seen also so a rest of some sort is needed for longer shots. This model is also a bit louder so I have to allow for that in my shot placement. It is much louder than my compound. It is very accurate and holds its grouping year to year. I have shot the top of the line Ten Point Crossbow about 7 yrs ago that was very accurate. It was a bit quieter than my Excalibur and narrower. Weighed about the same though. It was about twice as expensive as what I have now though.

Excalibur crossbows are very, very good. The Equinox is great; I decided if I was only buying once I'd buy up and bought a Matrix 380. It's just a shade too much for my dad (76) to draw well but he can get it done. They make lighter weights, and if space is an issue they now have a Micro version that is about the same width as most of the wheeled competitors. Maintenance is very easy.

I've owned a Parker Tornado, and now own an MXB 360. I had to start shooting crossbows once they became legal for everyone in Texas because the osteoarthritis in my back was getting too much for me to draw back my Mathews FX compound bow. I like both Parker and Mathews crossbows. If pulling back the cable with a rope device to set it is a problem, you can either get a hand crank for the Parker (aka, Sidewinder), or a hand crank for the MXB (an RSD). I'm very much impressed with the RSD; it makes no noise at all while being cranked, whereas the Sidewinder made a clicking sound while being cranked, which really annoyed me while trying to keep quiet in the woods. However, you can only use an RSD on an MXB. In any case, I think either crossbow would be a good investment.

I recently bought a Carbon Express Intercept Supercoil. It came almost fully assembled. All I had to do was put the scope on. Sighting in was a breeze. And, I'm scared to shoot twice at the same bullseye. The arrows get expensive when you start cutting them.

My 16yr old has never shot a crossbow. So, I did a little training with him, and let shoot. He shot really well with the Supercoil, hitting bullseye's almost every shot. The bow is compact, light weight, fast, accurate, quiet. I can't ask for more.