That would be up to the shooter when shooting off hand/free handed and his ability. Ppl kill elk out past 80 I'm sure and if a compound can do it then xbow can as well just depends on the person behind it.

 

How about you worry about what "your" effective range is. My rifle is capable of 2000 meter shots per a Canadian sniper...but I'll stick to 300 or less.

Not trying to be mean.

 

i still dont shoot over 40-50yrds. sure i could make one bleed at 80 but im not taking that chance with their life. i just get to ethical range or pass.

 

These “how far can a bow kill” threads always get me. I thought that archery hunting was about getting close. It’s not a distance game. I have yet to see a “precision” crossbow. You’re not an English longbowman shooting across the fields of Agincourt. More than likely you’re a suburbanite shooting at a deer, from a (hopefully) pre-scouted position. Any crossbow will kill a deer at any range that you are able to connect with it at. At what range you can effectively and ethically do that is for you to figure out.

 

What are you comfortable with as a distance? A fellow shot a deer at 80 yards and broke a rib for a kill. This was in the mid 80s. My wife shot a X-bow for the first time at about 20 yards from a rest at a meeting. Got a robinhood with two of three shots.

 

40-50 yards

 

I think crossbows are not the long range weapon most think. Yes they are capable of great accuracy at long distance. I have one that can pound 2 inch target dots all day long at 50 yards with fixed blade broadheads. But I would hesitate to shoot that far. These weapons are so loud I think there is a real possibility of the animal reacting to the sound and moving on shots past 35 or. 40 yards long before the bolt arrives. I could be wrong as I use my crossbows pretty sparingly and don’t have any kills with them. So you could throw my opinion out. But I would be uncomfortable shooting past that even though I know the accuracy is available.
The big advantage I see is the lack of movement necessary to shoot when ground hunting.
Much easier to ground hunt and get a shot than drawing a vertical bow and remain undetected.

 

Thanks for the reply I have heard of people shooting accurately to 100 yards. My range on my regular bow is 40 yards, I don't own or haven't shot a crossbow.

 

It’s still archery man. So inside 30 preferably. I’ve shot em just shy of 50 before with a crossbow, but would likely not take that shot again

 

My reply will be a question...How far can you hit a tennis ball with the bolt? That's your effective range. On a calm day I can hit one at 50 yards with no issues. But I practice out to 80 yards just for giggles. Most of my deer have been within 40 yards but I did take one at 60 and a few close to 50. But I was hunting by a highway and the deer never heard the crossbow.

But I would bet if a bolt hit the boiler room at 100 yards the elk would die.

 

My reply will be a question...How far can you hit a tennis ball with the bolt? That's your effective range. On a calm day I can hit one at 50 yards with no issues. But I practice out to 80 yards just for giggles. Most of my deer have been within 40 yards but I did take one at 60 and a few close to 50. But I was hunting by a highway and the deer never heard the crossbow.

But I would bet if a bolt hit the boiler room at 100 yards the elk would die.

I appreciate the info I havent shot one yet and do not own one. I will know my effective range when I decide on one and shoot one I was just wandering what crossbows capabilities are and how far others shoot accurately.
Thanks