Hattila ships worldwide, including to your country (United States). VAT and shipping costs will automatically adjust according to your delivery address close
Nos Home
Categories : Crossbows

How does a compound crossbow work?

In the age of knights, the crossbow was one of the modern engineering jewels capable of piercing armor at long distances. During this time, the power of this weapon effectively repelled the enemy. Although its shooting power and accuracy leave something to be desired except at short distances, the modern version has become a powerful hunting weapon. Indeed, today's crossbows have more advanced technologies such as anti-vibration, a silent shooting system, which is a great argument for hunters and shooters.

Used for hunting, the crossbow is without doubt a very powerful, accurate and silent weapon, provided that legislation allows it.

For optimal quality and performance, the crossbow can be equipped with pulleys. How do these compound crossbows work? We will find out now in this article.

Crossbow with increased line speed

With a compound crossbow, the use of the compound is crucial for the proper functioning of the weapon. With this kind of weapon, shooting power is centralized on the limbs. Unlike the limbs of a conventional crossbow, those of a compound crossbow are generally stiffer. This stiffness will generate more energy. However, these limbs will usually be too difficult to cock by just pulling on the strings. For this reason, a pulley system is required to reduce the force needed to stretch the bowstring and cock the crossbow. As soon as the crossbow string is drawn, the presence of the pulleys allows the string to be released and increases the speed and power of the shot. In the case of compound crossbows, gravity adds extra force for more power than a conventional model with the same weight bolt.

Easier to use shooting weapon

By using a pulley system,cocking the most accurate crossbow is easie. In fact, with a conventional model, it takes a colossal effort to pull the string, place the projectile on the rail. With the help of pulleys, the shooter will use a minimum of effort to complete this entire cocking process. In addition, the tension of the string with this technology is optimal for a more powerful throw.

A weapon with a pulley system for more power

Generally, crossbow guns are classified by their power, which ranges from 80 to 260 lbs. This value corresponds to the tension measured on the string. For example, for deer hunting, choose a crossbow with a power of 150 lbs to 220 lbs. Unfortunately, this activity is not allowed by current legislation in France. To practice hunting with a crossbow, you must travel to a country like the United States. With such power, the projectile will be able to penetrate the animal completely.

The toughest shooters will be able to manually cock a 150-200 lbs crossbow with a stirrup. However, the less robust should use pulley crossbows to facilitate the cocking of the string to a reduction in effort to tension the shooting string up to 30%. Also, they can use a rope banding device to reduce the draw weight by up to 50%. Currently, most manufacturers of compound crossbows can provide this device.

For high-powered crossbows, assistance systems such a lever, and anti-return rack and pinion pulley are required. This way, only 10 to 15 lbs of power is needed to cock the string.

In terms of power, 1 lb is equivalent to 0.454 kg. For example, a 150-lbs crossbow delivers 150 x 0.454 kg of power (or about 668 Newtons). To get the power in joules, simply multiply the force by the crossbow's cocking length.