Gary, how do you like the Barnett so far? Barnett has not had the best reputation in the past but I understand they are under new ownership and their quality has been greatly improved.
I have been using a Scorpyd RDT 125 for the last three seasons, mostly due to back problems. My only complaint with the Scorpyd is the weight. With a Hawke scope, quiver and sling it comes in at about 11 lbs. However, the Scorpyd has been very reliable and I have taken several deer with it. BTW, even though my bow is only rated at 125 lb draw weight, it still shoots a 22" bolt at about 375 feet per second. Due to the Reverse Draw Technology it has a very long string travel when compared to most "conventional" crossbows.
One of the common misconceptions about crossbows is that you can shoot much greater distances than with a vertical bow. While it is true that crossbows can be shot more accurately by more people than a conventional bow, they do not have much of a range advantage, especially compared to today's modern compound bows. Most hunting shots are going to be taken in less than ideal conditions meaning that there will probably be obstructions like small tree limbs between you and your target that could easily deflect an arrow or bolt. Even at over 400 fps there will still be a considerable amount of arc in the arrow's flight at anything over 30 yards and that could cause the arrow to hit objects above what might look like a clear opening to your target. That coupled with a deer's tendency to bolt at the sound of the shot means that long range shots are usually not very ethical, regardless of the type of bow.
