A crossbow is a mechanical ranged weapon that fires short projectiles called bolts. It uses a horizontal bow assembly (the prod) mounted on a stock with a built in trigger. Unlike a traditional bow, where you hold the drawn string while you aim, a crossbow locks the string in the cocked position and releases it when you pull the trigger.
They have been around for over 2,000 years, played a decisive role in military history across Europe and Asia, and today are used for target shooting, sport, and collecting. We sell crossbows from our shop in Scarborough and online, and we get a lot of first time buyers through the door. Here are the essentials.
How Does a Crossbow Work?
The basic principle has not changed much in two millennia, even though the engineering has moved on considerably.
You pull the bowstring back along a grooved rail until it locks into a catch. This is cocking, and it is the step that stores energy in the crossbow's limbs. The limbs flex as the string is drawn back, and the further they flex, the more energy is stored.
With the string cocked, you place a bolt on the rail in front of it. Aim. Pull the trigger. The catch releases, the limbs snap forward, and the string drives the bolt downrange.
Cocking can be done by hand using the front stirrup for leverage, with a rope cocking aid that halves the effort, or with a built in self cocking mechanism. Self cocking crossbows are popular with beginners because they remove the physical strain entirely.
What Does a Crossbow Shoot?
Bolts. A bolt is essentially a short, heavy arrow, typically 6 to 22 inches long. It has a pointed tip (the head), a rigid shaft, and plastic vanes at the back (fletching) to stabilise it in flight.
Target shooting bolts use field points: simple, streamlined metal tips that penetrate targets cleanly. Broadhead tips with wide cutting blades are designed for hunting and are being banned in the UK under upcoming legislation.
What Is the Difference Between a Bolt and an Arrow?
People mix these up constantly. Bolts are shorter (16 to 22 inches for a full size crossbow) and built heavier and stiffer to handle the higher forces crossbow limbs produce. Arrows run 26 to 32 inches for a recurve or compound bow. Some manufacturers label crossbow bolts as arrows, but the correct term is bolt.
You cannot use arrows in a crossbow. Wrong length, wrong weight, wrong stiffness. Using incorrect projectiles is dangerous. Always use bolts specified for your crossbow model.
Types of Crossbow
Pistol crossbows are compact and lightweight, typically 50 to 80 lbs draw weight, firing short 6 to 8 inch bolts. Many are self cocking. Great for casual target shooting and beginners. Effective range around 15 to 25 yards.
Recurve crossbows have simple curved limbs with no pulleys or cams. Draw weights of 120 to 175 lbs. Reliable, quiet, easy to maintain, straightforward to restring. The traditional choice.
Compound crossbows use a cam and cable system at the limb tips for greater mechanical efficiency. They produce higher bolt speeds at the same draw weight, tend to be more compact, and are the most popular choice for serious target shooting. Draw weights of 130 to 200+ lbs with bolt speeds reaching 350 to 420 FPS on high end models.
Repeating crossbows have a built in magazine that auto loads the next bolt after each shot. Faster to shoot in succession but typically less powerful and less accurate than single shot models. A different kind of fun.
A Brief History
Crossbows appeared in ancient China around the 5th century BC. Their military advantage was enormous: a crossbowman could be battlefield ready in weeks, compared to years for a competent longbowman.
Medieval European crossbows, often using steel prods and cranking mechanisms, were powerful enough to punch through armour at close range. The Catholic Church tried to ban their use against Christians in 1139. The ban was enthusiastically ignored.
Firearms displaced crossbows from military use during the 16th and 17th centuries, but they never disappeared. They evolved through sporting and recreational use into the precision engineered tools we know today. A modern compound crossbow would be unrecognisable to a medieval soldier, but the core principle, a locked string releasing stored energy into a bolt, is exactly the same.
What Should I Look for in My First Crossbow?
Keep it simple.
Draw weight: An 80 lb pistol crossbow is perfect for learning the basics. Stepping up, 130 to 150 lbs in a compound or recurve gives you serious target capability without being unmanageable.
Cocking mechanism: Self cocking is easiest. For manual cocking models, a rope cocking aid is worth the small investment. It halves the effort and improves consistency, which means better accuracy.
Scope: Most full size crossbows come with a 4x32 scope. Perfectly adequate for target shooting at typical crossbow distances. Do not spend extra on optics when starting out.
Build quality: Solid stock, tight string alignment, clean trigger break. A poorly made crossbow is frustrating to shoot because inconsistent mechanics mean inconsistent results. Stick to established brands and avoid the cheapest unbranded imports.
How Much Does a Crossbow Cost?
Basic pistol crossbows start at £30 to £50. A decent mid range compound with scope and bolts runs £100 to £200. High end models go higher. Beyond the crossbow itself, budget for replacement bolts (£1 to £3 each), a crossbow rated target, and possibly a cocking aid and maintenance kit. Total startup cost for a complete setup: roughly £80 to £250 depending on where you pitch it.
Is It Legal to Own a Crossbow in the UK?
Yes, at the moment. You must be 18 or older. No licence currently required. But the government has confirmed plans to ban sales and introduce mandatory licensing. If you want to get into crossbow shooting, buying sooner rather than later is worth considering. Full legal picture in our guide to UK crossbow law.
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