Hello from Brockville, ON

Hi Timberwolf - welcome! I'd love to hear more about self-defence - an area that needs work in my preps!

Hello timberwolf. Nice to see you, love to here more about what you know. Would the arm part include any thing with cross bows. I'm looking into getting one and don't no much about the types or any thing. I don't like guns for there loudness. And cross bow seems less expensive.

greetings and salutations, welcome to the party!

Thank you everyone for the welcome. 🙂

@Beth Yes, crossbows are among the equipment we train with.

It’s a matter of using the right tool for the job. Crossbows have the advantage of being quiet, with the disadvantages of range and slow reload time.

While it’s possible (if shot in the air) for a crossbow bolt (arrow) to travel over 1000 yards, a realistic shot on target would be within 50 yards for the average person who only rarely practices. They absolutely can be lethal, no doubt about that.

There are also a lot of options out there these days in both recurve and compound crossbows. I’m not going to attempt to give anything resembling legal advice (I’ve seen a lot of well intentioned misinformation-look up the laws on the government websites) but where firearms are getting more and more tightly regulated, the same does not apply to bows and crossbows (yet) (and in my area).

Just some example resources;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossbow
http://www.tenpointcrossbows.com/
http://www.excaliburcrossbow.com/

@anitapreciouspearl

In my opinion, the most important factors in learning functional self defence skills are to use your own mind and practice. By use your own mind I mean objectively examine any given technique, skillset or martial art and judge for yourself if it fits you. Don’t accept it just because some guy in a gi says it’s deadly. I would highly recommend FMA (Filipino Martial Arts-Arnis, Escrima, Kali) and Silat to quickly learn useful blade and stick skills.

Here are a couple of examples from YouTube, they all have DVD’s for sale (I own some of them and they’re very educational);

Addy Hernandez (KI Fighting Concepts) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu-KRpOVq70

Joseph Simonet (KI Fighting Concepts) - http://www.youtube.com/user/kifighting#p/u

Michael Janich (Martial Blade Concepts) - http://www.youtube.com/user/StaySafeMedia

Luke Holloway (RAW Combat Int’l) - http://www.youtube.com/user/TeamWuJin

This is of course just a starting point, there is a virtually limitless wealth of information out there. If you’re looking to start some other way, I’ll try and assist with your search. You’re far better off trying things on your own (preferably with a like minded training partner) than doing nothing at all so if there are no good schools in your area, don’t let that stop you.

...and of course Paladin Press carries books and DVD's on a multitude of survival related topics.

http://www.paladin-press.com/

Thanks to you both - I'll be checking into the links.

Timberwolf great info, I,m looking that the licks. My cross bow hunting would be for wild turkey maybe deer. Thankfully there is many of both running around here. and if a deer jumps in my garden all be within 30 feet of the bugger. Also tree seat, not sure the technical term, up in a tree hunting. Were I live through the forest it crazy deer trail all over.

@Beth

Some more information re: bows/crossbows; the first link is about choosing a compound bow (that is, a bow with pulleys, etc...) and not specifically about a crossbow (which can also be a compound) but if you go in the compound crossbow route, the information on the link can explain what all the cams, pulleys, etc... do. The 2nd link is a ‘crossbow buyers guide’ from Bass Pro Shops.

http://www.huntersfriend.com/bowselection.htm

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPage?catalogId=10001&langId=-1&mode=article&objectID=31568&storeId=1015

I was looking at this site http://www.excaliburcrossbow.com/ very good explanation on all the in and outs of cross bows. and there a local Canadian company. they make and use there own equipment, so that's a good sign. Looks like i have some home work to do. But from what i can tell from my height and arm physique power. I can use most model they sell. Just have to learn about pulleys and what not.

It's good to know about what the technology of the compound is doing even though it isn't necessary to understand it to just use the bow/crossbow. The average user isn't going to have to worry about changing or repairing anything. I guess it probably would be something to consider in a SHTF scenario where a recurve crossbow is much simpler.

Hi Timberwolf, I look forward to reading your posts!