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When shooting at game with your crossbow, you want to be able to make the perfect shot. To do this you need the correct equipment that is effective in bringing down the target silently so as not to frighten the animal away. There are several accessories to look for to help you make the perfect shot.

Choosing the Correct Sighting

For hunters there are 3 main types of sights that can be used. These are the peep sight, scope and red dots.

Peep Sight

The peep sight is the cheapest and easiest of the three choices. This is the sight that is usually included when you purchase a crossbow. When the light is good, this type of sight works just as well as all the others. However you can only use light coming through the small hole in the aperture to set this sight. Needless to say in bad lighting this sight is almost worthless.

Red Dots

Red dots are great to use in all kinds of lighting. They provide an easy-to-see well lit spot for aiming and they weigh less than the heavier scope. In addition rain does not ruin their effectiveness. However, as they run on batteries, there is the chance of the batteries running out of power leaving you sightless. In addition red dots do not gather light.

Scopes

Scopes are the most popular selection of crossbow hunters. They gather light by using magnification so it is easier to see your target in dim lighting. Some scopes also come with crosshairs to make up for crossbow trajectory. Unfortunately their range of vision is limited. This can cause serious problems at close range. Do not use a scope that has more than a power of 4X or all you will see a piece of blurry fur. In addition a scope is heavy and will fog over in the rain.

Proper Projectiles for your Crossbow

Now that you have your sight set consider the type of ammunition you are using. You want the edge of the projectile's blade to enter your target effortlessly and cause maximum amount of damage for a quick kill. Therefore what really matters is how sharp the edge is.

A dull blade will not cause much damage. Instead of slicing blood vessels it will push them away. In addition a dull blade causes too much tissue damage resulting in a decrease in blood flow. This will cause your your blood trail to stop and you might not be able to find your kill.

Of all the blade heads to use the 3 bladed head is the most effective.

Keeping it Quiet

When a crossbow is shot in the woods it does make a sound and the deer does hear it. So the trick becomes not quieting the crossbow but getting the projectile to the deer before the deer can run from the sound. To do this, the arrow must be faster or the deer must be closer. In addition never shoot a deer when it is looking in your direction as light travels faster than sound and will react much faster. You are sure to miss the shot.

The best thing you can do is know the range where string jump becomes a problem and be sure to use the fastest arrow your crossbow can safely handle.

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