Hi Skeet
Are you referring to this page?
NBEF SPONSORS PAGE Yes we all have an interest in Bowhunting Education, and the sponsors you mention indeed do support NBEF, but I would hardly call this a mouthpiece for manufacturers and Easton makes bolts for crossbows... probably the most notable in fact...
However, you make a comment that I have begun to hear as a common lament... and that is the word compete... you used it when you said " Personally I feel they should be used in the archery seasons as they have no more range than a conventional bow or compound....and are usually used by people with handicaps that don't allow shooting any conventional type of bow. They really can't compete with even a flintlock on an equal basis...and I really don't feel that they can even really compete with any type of normal hunting bow"
Hawaii allows crossbows for the disabled. We're going to move to allow crossbows in the muzzleloading and other firearms seasons next year.
However, the performance of the crossbow is not the issue, nor do I think that it is relevant. What is relevant is what is your hunting season. Is it a general hunting season allowing all forms hunting equipment or is it a defined season.
If it is defined, then you have to fit the definition. Archery season, you fit the definition of archery equipment. Crossbows... They don't fit the definition of bow. Therefore they are allowed in many firearms seasons. Really that is the end of the story.
Muzzleloaders... hmmmm now what is a muzzleloader? Must be loaded from the muzzle. Fine and good. Is there anything else? No. So how does an inline differ from a caplock? It doesn't So if it doesn't differ from a caplock, how can one say it belongs in the general firearms season. They can't.
Now if you are saying you have a flintlock only season, then fine, that meets the definition.. nothing else is allowed. A muzzleloader season on the other hand, is and rightfully should be opened to ALL muzzleloaders.
But back to competition... how are these guns and such... competing? When you go hunting, are you competing with someone? What are the rules? What are the prizes? Is the competition organized.. or on a gentlemans agreement? I thought that hunter chose his equipment to hunt the way he wanted to hunt? If you accept the flintlock, then you are choosing to accept those perceived limitations of the flintlock. Same with the caplock, and the same with the inline. Anyone who has shot and hunted with both types of equipment can easily confirm that an inline has nothing over a caplock. Put the same bullet in an inline as you'd put in a caplock and what do you have? Similar if not identical performance.
Oh.... yes... fast twist... 150 grain loads... etc etc.... Have you checked out the RNC Flintlock....
Oh... Sabots, Scopes, pellets and smokeless ... guess what... equally at home in either sidelock or inline.. and these are not the rifle... the rifle with or without, is still a muzzleloader.
Aloha...
