Can You Hunt With A Ball Bearing Bow? [Expert’s Talk]

Have you ever wondered about hunting with a ball bearing bow? I know this is not common to all. So, a few days ago, my friend Joseph and I were going to hunt with our traditional bow. Suddenly, we say an archer was hunting with a ball-bearing bow. We are astonished and can’t even imagine it. 

Well! but, not all states allow the use of it. Before using a ball-bearing bow, you must check the hunting regulations in your local area. Wait, there is more to share! If you are interested in knowing about hunting with a ball bearing in detail, follow along then!

What Is A Ball Bearing Bow?

A ball-bearing bow is a certain type of bow that is used to reduce friction and improve efficiency.  It is a special type of compound and crossbow. Only some modern compound bows and crossbows come with ball bearings in the limb(limb bolts help to attach them) pocket of the bow.

Compared to the traditional bows, these bearings provide a smoother draw cycle, increased speed, and higher accuracy. In general, these are made of various materials ( such as alloy balls, baked clay balls, steel balls, cheapo steel balls, etc)and others. These are specially designed to get higher performance. 3⁄8-inch steel ball bearings are commonly used in ball bearing bow.

In ⅜ inch steel ball bearing, when the ball launcher is done it acts as a ball feeder(allows for multiple shoots). A ball holder is a game hunting tool, used to hold the ball easily.

In the case of a ball-bearing bow, The weight and size play a great role in the bow’s performance. So, I suggest you use a weight of 5 grains for each pound minimum for hunting.

Haven’t you understood? Let’s break an example: 

Imagine you have a 60-pound compound bow. So, you have to use a minimum of 300 grains for your bow. Be sure that a lightweight ball-bearing bow can lead to a dry fire of the bow that can damage it.

Now, the question is: 

Can you hunt with steel ball bow? Yes, you can hunt steel ball compound bow or with a ball bearing crossbow.

How Does Ball Bearing Bow Differ From Traditional Bows Used For Hunting?

Ball bearing bow	Traditional bow
Ball bearing is the modern version of the compound and crossbow bow.	In a traditional bow, there is no mechanical component. These have a simpler design.
These have mechanical advantages.	These have no mechanical advantages due to their no mechanical components.
These have less recoil due to their design.	They have more recoil.
The system of pulley in these bows reduces the strength to hold the bow at full draw.	These bows need more energy to hold at full draw.
These bows can travel longer distances without losing accuracy.	These bows lose accuracy.
These bows are powerful and highly efficient.	These bows are less powerful and less accurate.

Can You Hunt With A Ball Bearing Bow?

Now, let’s get into your real questions can you hunt with a ball bearing bow? Sure, you can! Ball-bearing bows are used for hunting, but they are less common than traditional bows. Although bow hunting big game is typically not advised, ball-bearing bows are excellent at hunting small to medium game. 

You can hunt small games at realistic hunting ranges (up to 50 yards with the right setup and skill) or even larger games if you’re skilled enough. Especially for deer hunting.

They don’t give off much sound. The key advantage of these is that they are deadlier than arrows. In general, the balls are made of metals and are smaller than arrows.

As a result, They create more damage to the targeted species at double speed. A ball-bearing arrow is easier to carry than a conventional type of bow arrow.

Size Or Weight Limitations For Hunting Targeted With A Ball-Bearing Bow

When you go hunting, you must consider the size and weight of the ball bearing bow. Here are some limitations:

You know that the size and weight limitations of a bow vary from state to state. In the case of ball bearing crossbows, These are specially designed to release ball bearings as an arrow. As you are a novice, it is pretty critical to understand before using.

Let’s clear with an example,

The Talon Raptor Crossbow is a ball-bearing bow that is capable of firing 8 mm ball bearings at an average of 420 feet per second. A Raptor steel compound bow offers to shoot a steel ball at 450 ball bearing bow fps with a 10 mm steel ball. A 50 to 80 poundage is the recommended poundage to use it.

Then one questions pop up in mind, is it legal to hunt with a bow?

In the UK, these types of bows are legal to use because they are traveling down a rail. There is no specific restriction to use or no need for a hunting licence. It is better to check your local regulations.

In the case of draw weight,

For a ball-bearing bow, there is no specific recommendation to use a minimum weight. But we know that, for a traditional bow, the minimum draw weight must be 40 lb and it is good for hunting season.

This also ensures to absorb the minimum kinetic energy and momentum to ensure a successful hunt of the animal.

So, it is also the weight limitation for a ball bearing bow. Check your local area regulations to know about the size and weight limitation of your bow.

How To Hunt With A Ball Bearing Bow?

Do you wish to use a hunt with a ball-bearing bow? Don’t know how to hunt with a ball-bearing bow? Don’t worry! So, let’s start to hunt with a ball-bearing bow:

Step 1: Choose The Right Bow

To use a ball bearing, you first have to purchase a bow that can fire a ball bearing. Only some crossbows and compound bows are capable of firing ball bearings. 

According to research,

Only about 4 to 5% of crossbows are specially designed to shoot ball bearings. For example, The Taplon Raptor crossbow is the best ball-bearing firing crossbow that can shoot a ball-bearing bow at fps 420 with an 8 mm ball.

Step 2: Check Your Equipment

Before going to hunt, make sure that your bow equipment is well in condition and that all of them are working well.

Don’t target to check your bowstring of the bow because it plays a crucial role in ball bearing firing. Make sure that it is good or replace it.

If you use a compound bow, ensure that the cables, pulleys, and other accessories are working well.

Step 3: Prepare Your Ammulation

You know that the firing of a bearing bow creates more damage to the target and is only used for hunting small to medium-sized animals, such as rabbits, birds, pigeons, etc.

In general, The ball bearing is deadlier than an arrow. These offer more damage to the target with double speed. So, make sure that the ball bearings are also working well and ready to use.

Step 4: Practice Regularly With Ball Bearing

As you will shoot a ball-bearing bow for the hunt, it is crucial to achieve the perfect accuracy to make a successful hunt.  You know that the ball bearings are small in size compared to arrows. So, to shoot ball bearings, you will need different techniques.

So, practice regularly to shoot ball bearings with perfect accuracy and consistency. If you face a problem, seek guidance from expert ball-bearing shooters. But, can you use any bow for hunting? Yes, any type of can be used for hunting if it maintains the minimum poundage to make a successful kill.

Now, the question is:

Are compound bows good for hunting? Yes, these are modern bow and specially designed for hunting from small to big game animal.

Now, it is time to go hunt with your ball bearing bow. Wait and be patient to make a chance of a successful shoot. Always follow the safety rules to being safe and never shoot over a ridge.

Can You Use A Ball Bearing With A Traditional Bow To Hunt?

Well! You know that traditional bows mean recurve bows and longbows, and these are generally used to shoot arrows.

Traditional bows have specific weight, balance, and aerodynamic design to hoot arrows accurately. 

Typically, the ball bearings are smaller in size and have different weights and aerodynamics. As a result, if you want to shoot ball bearing instead of arrows, you must have to face some problems.

Here are the reasons:

• Accuracy: Since their weight and size are different from arrows. Therefore, it will behave in abnormal flight of the arrow. As a result, it will significantly affect the accuracy of the arrow during shots.
• Damage Your Bow: Here, a sudden release of tension will happen because of the lighter weight of the ball bearing compared to the arrow weight. As a result, it could potentially damage your bow.
• Safety Concerns: Safety is the crucial concern of shooting ball bearings from traditional bows. If you can’t handle it properly, it can lead to harmful for you.

However, I won’t suggest you use a ball bearing with a traditional bow. Always be aware of your safety concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, you have got a clear vision of “Can you hunt with a ball bearing bow?” These are specific types of bows ( such as compound bows and recurve bows) used to reduce friction and improve efficiency.
These are used to hunt small game only (such as small to medium game animals). Never use a ball bearing with a traditional bow.

It can lead to harm for you. Always be aware of your safety concerns. Stay with Archery Magic for more info like this.