How Does a Crossbow Work? A Guide for Beginners

If you are asking yourself, how does a crossbow work?, then you are probably  intrigued by the powerful image of a crossbow, as I was. In this article I’ll explain what I have learned about crossbows from a beginner’s perspective.

Archery with modern crossbows is getting more and more popular these days as the technology has greatly advanced in the last few years; furthermore, they are user-friendly, easy to carry and to shoot.

Keep reading to learn more about crossbows, how to use one and the advantages and disadvantages that these bows offer and more importantly… how does a crossbow work?

So, how does a crossbow work?

A crossbow is essentially a horizontal bow mounted on a frame. The bow part is called the prod and the frame on which it rests is called the tiller.

A crossbow works like a structure that holds the draw weight of the prod and makes aiming much easier.

The crossbow also provides an opportunity to increase draw weight since you will be “drawing”, called cocking, with both your hands or a mechanical device that greatly diminishes the force needed.

The prod, also called lath which is the bow part, can be a recurve bow or a compound bow.

There is a third type that is a reverse-draw compound crossbow. Go to this article for more detail about the different types of crossbows.

Crossbows do not have a draw length but rather a power stroke, which is the length of the flight rail in which the string is effectively pushing the bolt.

The longer the power stroke the faster the arrow when everything else is the same. It is measured from the position of the string at resting position to its further-most position when cocked.

Besides the stock and the prod, there is also the locking mechanism that includes the safety and the trigger. Together they hold the draw for you. So instead of holding the draw with your shoulders and back strength as you would a bow, the crossbow mechanism holds it for you while you concentrate solely on aiming.

Bow meets rifle

Crossbows are a fusion of a rifle and a bow. It shoots projectiles (referred to as bolts or quarrels) using elastic energy, like a bow, and it uses a trigger and is held over the shoulder, like a rifle. Which is why some rifle hunters, looking for a quieter weapon, are switching to archery starting with a crossbow.

Modern crossbows are decked with red-dot sights and telescopic sights, making them very precise. Modern crossbow silencers are also used for dampening the vibration caused by the string and limbs while shooting bolts.

Crossbow Origins

Crossbows were first invented in China more than 600 years before our time specifically to make archery easier to learn, to use and to master. Since then, it has been recognized as an easier weapon to fire and to learn how to use, compared to regular bows.  Even after all this time and all the added technology, they are still simpler to learn, use and master than regular bows.

How to use a crossbow

Now that we know how a crossbow works, we can learn how to use it. The first thing is to draw it. For crossbows this is called cocking, like a rifle.

To cock a crossbow, you can hold the crossbow downward with your foot in the stirrup. Then you pull the string using both your hands or a rope cocking device or aid, which helps to put the same force on both sides of the string.  Alternatively you can cock the crossbow with a mechanical crank. You can buy and use a crank with any crossbow or it can come built into the crossbow already. The crank will greatly diminish the effort needed to cock the crossbow.

Once the crossbow is cocked and the safety/ latch has engaged, you can slide the bolt into the right position. To aim, put your crossbow on your shoulder while you hold up the tiller with both hands and you look into the scope. The scope can be adjusted, called zeroing so that it is accurate for your crossbow and your specific bolts.

What shoulder are you placing your crossbow on? It depends on your dominant eye, not your dominant hand. If you are right-eye dominant, then your crossbow would rest on your right shoulder, you would aim with your right eye and you would pull the trigger with your right hand.

Are Crossbows Firearms?

Crossbows are very powerful and are sometimes categorized in the same group as firearms in terms of the law. In many parts of the world, including the USA and Canada, the regulatory bodies have authorized the use of crossbows during the conventional hunting season. This has led to a recent increase in the demand for crossbows to which the crossbow manufacturers have duly responded. Thanks to that now you can get your hands on several styles and types of crossbows. I talk about the 3 main types in this article.

Knowing how a crossbow works will help in comparing them to other bows. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of using a crossbow.

Advantages and disadvantages

Using a crossbow comes with several advantages and disadvantages. The modern crossbows are simple to use and exciting to shoot for either bow hunting or target archery. Crossbows are heavier overall, but the weight is distributed over the shoulder and both arms. The draw weight is held by a latch, so the archer does not have to sustain the draw weight at all. This is similar to compound bows, as they also allow for a reduction in draw weight helping the archer focus more on aiming.

The latch holding the draw weight, the fact that it is shot with a trigger, there is less torsion and twisting because of its short draw length and heavier construction, and bolts are shot at higher speed all adds up to make crossbows the most accurate and precise type of bow out there. They are so accurate and powerful that they might be prohibited or restricted by law in your area.

Advantages of crossbows

1. Easy to shoot.
2. Smaller and more compact frame. This is good for travelling and maneuverability. The compound crossbows are the narrowest of them all.
3. Easy to aim with accuracy. The mechanical latch of the crossbows holds the draw weight of the bow, that saves the energy of the archer.
4. Much quieter compared to firearms
5. Bolts are shot faster than arrows. As compared to the other bows, crossbows can release the bolts with higher acceleration and speed, as their draw weight is much higher and is pulled with the help of a foot and both hands. The higher speed keeps the bolt from forming to much of an arc which results in a perfect shot. Bingo!

Disadvantages of crossbows

1. Heavier weight. The lightest crossbow I know is 4.8 lbs. But on average crossbows weigh 7 or 8 pounds, with all the out-fittings. They could weight 10 or more lbs.
2. Crossbow use and ownership may be restricted. Many countries prohibit or restrict the use of crossbows for shooting and archery due to its speed and power. Check your local rules and regulations before investing in a crossbow.
3. Bolts are more expensive than regular arrows. You cannot shoot the traditional arrows using the crossbows.

Conclusion

I have hopefully answered your questions about how a crossbow works. Crossbows are known for their speed and accuracy. Archers whose primary concern is accuracy and simple technique during shooting will undoubtedly prefer crossbows over all other traditional and modern bows.

Additionally, if you have never tried archery before but you are a hunter (using firearms) and would like to try something different, then I highly recommend adding a crossbow to your arsenal. The learning curve would be low since crossbows aiming and trigger are basically the same as on firearms. I have also heard from hunters, that eventually they want a quieter hunting experience and that is when they buy their first crossbow.

If you are thinking about buying a crossbow check out my tips on buying a crossbow, and read about my top 7 crossbows of 2020.