Daryl Dixon, the crossbow legend himself, is the walker slaying star of the cult show ‘The Walking Dead.’ Although crossbow experts may wince as he runs around with his crossbow half-cocked, exhibits superhuman speed in reloading, and manages to pierce a zombie head with a bolt designed for squirrel hunting.
None of that really matters – as the character Norman Reedus plays along with his co-star (Marianne, the crossbow named he for his Mom) fulfills the fans’ expectations of a heroic survivor of the zombie apocalypse.
So what exactly is the crossbow that Darryl favors to keep himself and his friends safe? Is it really a great crossbow or just a movie prop? To put it simply: What crossbow does Daryl use on The Walking Dead?
Daryl has used 3 different crossbows over the course of the show, namely the Horton Scout HD 125, the Stryker StrykeZone 380 and the PSE Fang 350. The Horton is essentially a kid’s bow and was mainly used because of it’s light weight during filming. If you want a bow that actually performs like Daryl’s bows do in the show, pick up either the Stryker StrykeZone or the PSE Fang 350.
Why has Daryl had 3 Different Crossbows?
Fans of the Walking dead will note that Daryl uses three different crossbows throughout the series. The Horton Scout is the go to filming prop and is really just a youth / entry level crossbow, but the StrykeZone 380 and the PSE Fang 350 are decent, usable crossbows that are lightweight, fast, and accurate.
Horton Scout HD125
This crossbow features throughout the series. It’s had its adventures – been stolen, returned, lent out, and mislaid, but this is the crossbow that many of the fans see as the Walking Dead crossbow.
It’s light at 5.5lbs and compact at 29″ long and 28.5″ wide, and it has a 125lb draw weight and an arrow speed of 250 fps. Typically referred to as a starter or a small bow for kids and teenagers. If you are accurate, it will take down a deer, but it’s not suitable for hunting in states that require a minimum of 150lbs draw weight.
Not to put too fine a point on it, the Horton Scout HD125 is a mere step away from being a kid’s toy. If your interest is in having a crossbow prop for an amateur zombie movie or Halloween party, then this will fit the bill. Treat it with respect though, it fires real bolts, and as it can kill squirrels, it can do some serious harm to people. Be like Daryl is in the series, and don’t have it cocked and ready to fire when it is just there to complete your costume.
Stryker StrykeZone 380
Daryl acquires this weapon in the episode “Arrow in the Doorpost,” and for a Walker slaying hunter like Daryl, it’s a much better crossbow. It’s fast, and it’s accurate, and it’s still relatively lightweight at 7lbs.
If there are only a few humans left in a devastated world, and you don’t want to shoot any of them by accident, and the StrykeZone 380 has some useful safety features:
Auto-Flip magnetic safety – clicks on when you cock the bow or lift the bolt receiver. Plus, if you drop it or remove the bolt, it automatically slips into safe mode. There is also a cease fire safety plug. Given that Daryl managed to shoot himself in the leg accidentally, he’d probably appreciate these features.
Choosing the Stryker as a practical crossbow for hunting or target purposes means the safety features are a plus point. Archery is a safe sport with few accidents because most archers treat their crossbows as serious weapons, and all safety features are welcome.
The draw weight is heavier (at 160lbs), and it has a faster arrow speed (380 fps), so moving up to the Stryker from the Horton Scout is a big leap in performance. On the downside, it comes with a hefty price tag for a standard crossbow, and you can get a lot more bow for less money if you choose the following bow instead…
The PSE Fang 350 appears in season 7, episode 10, for a short time. Daryl would have preferred a dog but had to wait until season 9 to acquire a canine companion. He got a new crossbow instead. Daryl uses this crossbow for a time before being reunited with the Stryker, but for functional performance, Daryl should have stuck with the Fang.
Of the three crossbows that Daryl gets to use in The Walking Dead, this is by far the best. It’s the only one that packs in all the features that make it a practical hunting crossbow at an affordable price. You get all the quality features you expect in a crossbow at two or three times the price.
The speed and accuracy of the bolt depends on the combination of features – draw weight (205lbs), cam dynamics, kinetic energy, and the power stroke (14″). The PSE Fang 350 has all the specifications necessary for a powerful hunting bow with an impressive 405 FPS arrow speed.
This crossbow is light (just 7.3lbs) and easy to handle with a slim profile (18″ axel to axel), making it maneuverable in tree stands and while taking cover.
A dry fire can ruin a crossbow, because all of the kinetic energy intended for the arrow goes into the frame instead. After a dry fire you need to stop shooting and potentially restring any bow.
Not ideal in the middle of a shooting session. The PSE Fang 350 has an anti dry fire system and auto safety triggers. These useful features mean that you can remove the kinetic energy by uncocking the bow without firing the bolt. This super helpful design will make you and your friends much safer in the field, on the range, or on a film set.
Crossbows are not naturally silent, because the bowstring vibrates on release with the trademark ‘twang’. When hunting, this warning noise can alert the target. The PSE Fang 350 has limb vibration dampeners and string suppressors built in to minimize the noise.
Considering all the points, if you are looking to pick up a crossbow worthy of Daryl, the crossbow king himself, the PSE Fang 350 is the bow for you – it’s swift, powerful, quiet, and accurate. Check it out on Amazon here.
Why did the Studio Choose These 3 Crossbows?
These crossbows have plenty of pluses when it comes to using them as props for filming The Walking Dead. Those same qualities make for a decent crossbow for hunting or range shooting alike.
Size
All three crossbows are small and maneuverable, which is a bonus when hunting in thick undergrowth and a big plus in filming. All three crossbows have a neat compact frame – you can tell that they’re crossbows on film, but they don’t dominate the scene.
Weight
All three crossbows weigh between six and just over seven pounds. If you’re going to be carting your prop around the woods on a day’s filming, it helps if you’re not struggling to carry it. The function of the crossbow in the Walking Dead is to build Daryl’s character, not to perform as a weapon any more than the guns or blades of the other actors on the show. It’s all about creating an image.
Simply put, you don’t want to be hauling around a 20 pound crossbow on a 12 hour day of shooting.
Affordability
A prop doesn’t need to be an expensive top of the line model – the focus is on the human interaction rather than the crossbow’s performance. The producers create the arrow shots with digital magic in post production. No real bolts are ever shot on the set. Norman Reedus only needs to look the part of a motorcycle riding, crossbow hunter in a dystopian world.
The Horton Scout and the PSE Fang 350 are available at budget friendly prices. The Stryker is the highest cost model, and perhaps the studio got a substantial discount for the publicity.
Safety
When you’ve got a bunch of actors running around the woods, it’s probably best that they aren’t actually firing bolts – the shots in the scenes are all digital. But, in the unpleasant and unlikely scenario where someone accidentally manages to cock and fire the crossbow, you’d prefer a lighter shorter range model to a heavy duty hunting weapon.
Anyone paying attention to the crossbows in the Walking Dead will note the limpness of the limbs, indicating that the crossbows are not cocked and ready to fire.
The StrykeZone 389 and the PSE Fang 350 crossbows are functional and in use by hunters and target shooters. The Horton Scout HD 125 is the most recognized by fans, and they’ve bought plenty of them as decorative items for their man caves.
Why Use a Crossbow Against Zombies?
The original comic book series features a crossbow, and the inclusion of one in the TV series is a nod to that. The Daryl character is not in the comic books. He was created to fit the actor, and has grown to be a fan favorite along with his crossbow.
Daryl favors the crossbow because:
- He’s a crossbow hunter, so he knows how to use it.
- Ammunition is freely available in stores and hunter’s homes.
- You can recover and reuse the bolts, unlike bullets.
- If necessary, you can build your own bolts.
- The crossbow is relatively silent and does not attract unwanted attention when dispatching walkers or hunting for food.
The downside of using a crossbow against zombies are the minor details of having to load and fire the bolt accurately while facing a horrific attack. Practice and experience reduce this issue but gaining that skill level would be a steep learning curve.
The main issue is cross contamination if you are using the same bolt for taking out zombies and then bringing down game. You need to make sure you either have a separate set for game hunting or a rigorous disinfection process.
Finally, recovering your bolts for reuse means approaching the downed walker – you need to be confident that you killed it, as all it takes is one quick bite and you are joining the other side.
Zombie Archery Targets
When it comes to target practice, you’re aiming to hit your target and land your shots in tight groups. Most archers begin with the classic paper bullseye, but you can benefit from training against different targets – a few flat and some 3D targets for some extra realism in your back yard. And if you really want to step up the fun – add a few zombie targets to your practice range!
Duramesh Archery Zombie Targets
Duramesh produces a range of archery targets to help you practice your crossbow skills, and if you want to try your skills against a zombie target, this durable, weatherproof target makes a change from the typical elk, boar, and deer.
Benchmaster offers a pack of ten heavy duty, full color, weather
resistant targets with a photo realistic mummified zombie design. Ideal for adding some gruesome fun to your shooting practice, they’re wind and tear resistant and provide an interesting shooting challenge compared to most animal targets.
Oncore produces plenty of novelty targets, and these include two cartoonish zombies for entertainment value as well as target practice.
The Strong Grey is fatter than the average zombie giving you a broader target, or you can opt for the skinnier (and more expensive) Father White.
The self healing foam provides a durable and weather resistant target with hand painted details. You simply mount them to a backstop, and in terms of performance, they are midway between a 2D image and a fully rounded 3D target.
Is Norman Reedus Any Good with a Crossbow?
Actors play many roles, and when it comes to action scenes, most of the dangerous work goes to a stunt double. Holding weapons and looking as if you know how to use them is part of the actor’s stock in trade.
Norman Reedus is not known as a crossbow hunter, as he prefers to shoot animals with his camera instead. He chose to exhibit close ups of roadkill for his first photography exhibition as an interesting reflection on wildlife in the States. None of these were death by crossbow.
In interviews, Norman explains that unlike his character Daryl he does not hunt, but he has had a go at fishing with his son but found the experience disappointing. The crossbow defines his Walking Dead character, but there is no evidence of Norman Reedus using a crossbow other than on film.
Reedus owns at least six crossbows and a Japanese longbow. He likes to take a crossbow home with him as a season souvenir, and because Daryl is the crossbow legend that he is, Reedus gets sent gifts of crossbows in the mail. The Japanese longbow (called a Yumi) is different from the traditional European longbow. The Yumi is asymmetrical, 7 feet long, and created from wood and bamboo layers. Reedus received one as a gift from his hosts on a visit to Japan. Norman guest starred on a live Japanese TV show firing and hitting the target with the longbow to the surprise of the show’s host.
So, is Norman Reedus any good with a bow? Maybe he’s got a little skill after all.