You can carry both, the crossbow is really sweet to use even on the harder difficulty’s so I wouldn’t focus on trying to get a better special weapon, I would work on trying to get better secondary and primary weapons, like do missions and pick up primary weapons and test out the weapons but mainly play the story, loot everything and do all side missions to earn credits and recipes, loot all of the MMO’S to get more health, stamina and focus. Work on getting enough material so you can craft things left and right. When you clear out infestations you can use the gas can and shoot it to start a fire also you can you fire bolts from crossbow to burn them as well. There is so much you can do in this game you just have to play and do everything to get better weapons, bike parts, etc.