ANSWER: Comparison tests have proven that there is a negligible ballistic difference between compound bows and crossbows. These tests disprove the groundless claims that crossbows perform like firearms. Crossbows typically start losing velocity and energy at 30 yards. A 150lb crossbow has the same effective range of a 70lb compound bow.

ANSWER: Crosman Archery does not recommend loosening or letting down the tension on limbs in the off season. There is no way to let off enough tension on your string & cables to keep them from stretching. Also, you can end up doing damage to your limbs if not properly tightened before shooting and your crossbow performance will probably suffer.

ANSWER: You should lube your rail approximately every 75-100 shots under normal conditions. Applying too much lube can cause excessive wear on your string's center serving. You should also lube your rail after you have gotten your crossbow wet, dry it thoroughly first, then re-apply a fresh coat of rail lube. After approximately one hour after application, the rail lube will dry to a thin glaze.

ANSWER: Crosman Archery recommends Carbon Express, carbon crossbow arrows, with a crescent moon nock. These arrows should be 20" in length and total finished arrow weight should not be under 400 total grains.

ANSWER: Crosman Archery recommends that all finished arrows weigh at least 400 to 415 total grains.

ANSWER: Crosman Archery recommends changing the string and cables approximately every three years under normal use. Both the string and cables will stretch over time and result in lower draw weight.

ANSWER: Crosman Archery recommends starting at 10 yards to ensure that your new crossbow is shooting straight and on target. Once you have done that, you should only have to make minor adjustments to "fine-tune" your scope settings. When fine-tuning, move your target out to 30-yards and make all of your adjustments using the middle dot or line at that distance. When you have sighted in your crossbow & scope at 30-yards (using the middle dot or line) your top dot or line will be right or near at 20 yards and your bottom dot or line will be on or near at 40 yards.

ANSWER: On the outside edge of the light intensity dial there is a threaded cap that will come off when twisted counter-clockwise. The battery sits inside that compartment with the wording/number facing outward. The battery is a 3 volt lithium with the number CR1620 on it. The replacements can be purchased at most grocery, department or electronics store.

ANSWER: At the request of the American Crossbow Federation, Michael J. Budzik, the then Director of the Ohio Division of Wildlife, wrote a letter on December 13, 1999, addressing various crossbow related issues. In his letter he addressed the poaching issue with the following: "From a law enforcement standpoint, violation statistics are just about equal between crossbows and vertical bows, and the total of both is an extremely small portion of the overall enforcement effort." As you can see, Ohio's experience and data suggest that the anti-crossbow claims about crossbows being the preferred weapon of poachers is simply not true. Conventional wisdom also suggests that the crossbow would not be an efficient poaching weapon.

ANSWER: In 1994, Ohio published year-by-year deer harvest data going all the way back to 1900. Ohio first allowed crossbows in archery season in 1976 and the conclusions are clear: Over the 18-year span since crossbow use has been permitted, crossbows have not decimated the deer population, the archery season has not been eliminated or shortened; and crossbows did nothing to diminish archers' opportunities to hunt or their chances for success. On the contrary, the opposite occurred. The deer population increased; the season got longer; more counties opened for hunting; more hunters participated; and the harvest-to-permits-sold ratio improved dramatically.

ANSWER: It all depends on where you intend to hunt. Many states have special restrictions or require special licenses or permits for crossbow hunting. You should check with the agency responsible for regulating hunting in the area you plan to hunt.