Crossbow advice

[Verbal]

Hiya.

Just thought I'd sound people out about using a crossbow for home defence.

I live in the suburbs in the UK and civilian gun ownership is a big no-no. Illegal gun ownership brings its own problems.

Using this reasoning I came up with the crossbow being a big improvement over the baseball bat I currently have. Another plus is the fact that crossbows are quiet and legal, meaning I could train with it.

Any advice on brands, techniques, tips, me being completely wrong etc are welcome.

 

[hillbilly]

Actually, for self-defense, a baseball bat would be superior to a crossbow in some ways.

With the crossbow you get one shot only.

Good luck trying to evade an attacker if you miss with your first shot while you try to re-cock and reload the crossbow.

Equally good luck if you are faced with two or more determined attackers if all you have is a crossbow.

With a bat, you can always just swing again or even use both ends to jab with.

hillbilly

 

[JShirley]

Had a Saxon crossbow years ago. It was fairly inexpensive, and could have shot through a human at close range.

It was also sturdy enough to make a decent improvised weapon when not loaded. (I knocked a deer off his feet with it.)

Keeping the strain on the bow by having a bolt loaded might make a crossbow for defense problematic, unless you keep it unloaded. If you have the luxury of time, I agree a CB beats a dirty look any time.

 

[Mulliga]

How about a sword? Are those legal in the UK?

A baseball bat is an honest-to-God decent weapon. Innocuous, yet with fair range and power. Just make sure whoever's invading your place isn't illegally carrying a gun.

 

[mete]

How things have changed ! It used to be in england that all able bodied men had to train with the longbow. That policy certainly helped the country. For your problem a crossbow is strictly a one shot deal. A longbow would be better,quicker to load and the possibility of a second shot. But a mastiff and a baseball bat would be better.

 

[Verbal]

Thanks for the replies.

I think I will stick with the bat for the time being.

Instead of getting a halfway weapon in the UK, I'll wait till I can emigrate to somewhere I can own a gun legally.

 

[TallPine]

Instead of getting a halfway weapon in the UK, I'll wait till I can emigrate to somewhere I can own a gun legally.

Well, just take a trip to Mexico. From there it is only a short walk to the USA.

Heck, 10,000 Mexicans a day can't be wrong!