Any way to avoid AoO when using a crossbow in melee?

[Oddstar]

Are there any ways to avoid AoO's when using a crossbow or other ranged weapon than a bow in melee combat? Combat Archery, as written, seems to apply only to bows, as does the spell Arrow Mind. In know that Order of the Bow initiates get this ability at 2nd level, and Master Thrower with thrown weapons (but not crossbows), but I'd prefer a feat or spell to a class feature, if at all possible.

[infomatic]

It's another class feature, but pick an Exotic Crossbow (including hand) and Exotic Weapon Master has a trick that will work with a 1-level dip.

Perfect Archery (PsyWar2) works with all ranged weapons, I think.

[WeaselGuy]

( Drow of the Underdark, p. 53)

[Fighter Bonus Feat, General]


You have learned to combine attacks with the favored weapons of the drow.

Prerequisite

DEX 15, proficiency with rapier and hand crossbow,


Benefit

Whenever you are armed with a rapier in your primary hand and a hand crossbow in your off hand, you are treated as having the Two-Weapon Fighting feat for the purpose of calculating attack penalties.
In addition, you do not provoke attacks of opportunity from adjacent opponents when you make ranged attacks with a hand crossbow.
Special

A fighter can select Versatile Combat as a fighter bonus feat.

Nicely paired with:
( Drow of the Underdark, p. 50)

[Fighter Bonus Feat, General]


Your hand crossbow attacks gain accuracy and speed.

Prerequisite

Base attack bonus +1, Proficiency with hand crossbow,


Benefit

You can reload a hand crossbow as a free action.

You also gain a +1 bonus on attack rolls with a hand crossbow. This bonus does not stack with the bonus from Weapon Focus, but it is the equivalent of Weapon Focus for the purpose of qualifying for feats, prestige classes, and anything else that requires the feat.

Special

A fighter can select Hand Crossbow Focus as a fighter bonus feat.