bow and arrow for defense/tactical

[jbkebert]

HSO thanks for the correction. Perhaps thats why I kept having trouble finding info on the shelf bow.

I still am under the impression that a bow is a poor self defense weapon in modern times. Granted I have 7 bows within a few feet of my bed with a few dozen arrows. Not my first choice by anymeans but if some reason I could not get to a firearm. Why not although if someone where to make it into my bedroom the arrows themselves would be more benifical that used with the bow. A 30" stick with three razor blades on the end would certainly get someones attention if jabbed into their chest or swung into the face or body.

The Bear apprentice bow mentioned above is a great little bow at a moderate price. Its design is to accomadate young shooters and women. Draw length is adjustable from 17.5-29" and draw weight from 20-50#. A surprisingly quick little bow that provides tons of growth as shooters age and progress in skill. Another similar product is the Menace by Mission archery. Sightly more expensive but a good product. And yes these things are powerful. I have seen numerous hogs and deer killed with these setups. My family owns one of each for the kids.

 

[loneviking]

For the price of a good compound bow, a 12 gauge can be easily found that would be a much better choice for home defense. One of the big problems with a bow (besides the problem of multiple shots) is the size. Recurve bows start around 50 inches, Compounds average in the 30's, that's tough to maneuver with in the confines of a house! Certainly not my first choice.

 

[M-Cameron]

honestly, the thought of using a Bow and arrow for self defense sounds Zombie apocalypse mall ninja-ish.........


i really cannot think of a situation where a bow would be more effective than a shotgun....

if you cant own a gun...a baseball bat is a good choice...

if you need to something to protect yourself from someone at "a distance" that you couldnt use a bat or a shovel.....its not self defense.

 

[leadcounsel]

Common, inexpensive household items that are as good or better than a bow in a typical home defense situation:
Hammer, axe, baseball bat, machete, hunting knife, large steak knife...

A moderately skilled person could certainly use a bow in home defense. That's not my point. Keep in mind that you may only get one shot and in that tense situation you may either miss or be outnumbered and get only one...

Why limit yourself to a bow if guns are available? Makes no sense... if it's due to the laws of where you live, MOVE... if the laws are so anti-gun strict, I would venture that home defense laws will also be strict.

 

[X-Rap]

For defence I would put the bow just in front of the accordion. As a tactical weapon where stealth was needed and backup was just over my shoulder then maybe but we are bumping teotwawki territory so that is all I would say about that. Arrows at close range as in hand to hand may be useful as I have heard reports over the years of hunters defending themselves with arrows from bear attacks.
A good compound bow will make consistent hits at 50 yds if the shooter is capable, some will say much more than that.

 

[TimboKhan]

with a bow and arrow you dont have to close whith your enemy.(you can stand off.)

What? Who is attacking you? The Armies of King Phillip? If you're defending yourself, chances are you aren't standing anyone off. Chances are you are waking up to a loud noise and clearing your hallways. Further, who is going to arrive at your house and allow themselves to be stood off? I understand your concern about distance, but I think your being a little unrealistic in what you will be able to do with a bow.

Also, Mad Jack Churchill is not "proof of concept". Look, that guy obviously was awesome on a level most of us will never achieve, but I am betting Mad Jack would have either stabbed, shot or beat to death anyone that broke into his home, not stood them off with a bow.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

What? Who is attacking you? The Armies of King Phillip? If you're defending yourself, chances are you aren't standing anyone off. Chances are you are waking up to a loud noise and clearing your hallways. Further, who is going to arrive at your house and allow themselves to be stood off? I understand your concern about distance, but I think your being a little unrealistic in what you will be able to do with a bow.

What, so now am I going to have to go through and find all the threads with reports of folks shooting bad guys at distances longer than contact range? Oh wait, several I listed for leadcounsel apply because the shooters shot at beyond contact ranges. Take that nice lady in Oklahoma. She stood off at a distance across the room from the door they would-be was trying to enter.

No, not all self defense shootings are at contact distances. Most certainly are, but not all. As such, stand off weapons offer some real advantages to some very realistic situations that do really happen and that don't involve the Armies of King Philip. You to want have to advance to contact distances to use a contact weapon such as a knife, baseball bat, hammer, or hatchet unless you don't have any other choice. The closer your proximity to a threat, the greater the risk to you.

 

[hso]

The only reason a bow would have any merit is if you are not permitted firearms of any sort.

As pointed out, in a self defense situation it defies reason that a bow would be more practical than barricading the house and calling for help.

 

[M-Cameron]

i still dont understand why someone would choose a bow over a gun........?

 

[Bovice]

hey, if Rambo can do it, anybody can!

 

[Cosmoline]

There isn't any reason to choose a bow over a firearm for personal defense. If you're determined to go archaic, or have to for legal reasons, the flintlock 10 bore blunderbuss would work vastly better. If you can't get the buss, then use a spear. It's simple, deadly and best of all requires no fine muscles at all. It's just brute force. A spear in someone's torso is a pretty darned effective manstopper.

Even assuming you can get the bow prepared, get the arrow, draw and fire in time you have the real problem that a hit with a modern arrowhead may be lethal, but it isn't a very good stopper at all. It cuts through, it does not lacerate. The razor-tipped arrow is likely to shoot straight through cleanly, leaving your target unaware that he's even been fatally hit. Plenty of time remains for him to shoot you before he dies of blood loss.

Elemer Keith did a lot of pretty brutal testing with bows on livestock as discussed in "Gun Notes" and he found the arrows simply didn't kill quickly enough for his liking. That was not a man known for his delicate sensitivities. I think they'll work fine for hunting under good conditions, but as a man or anything stopper they're a bad choice.

 

[JShirley]

The premise of this thread is straight-up fantasy.

Bows can be used to hunt. They could be used to assassinate, though not as effectively as with firearms. They are completely unsuited for home defense.

John