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LEARN MORE ABOUT CROSSBOWS

What's a crossbow?

The first crossbows appeared in China in the 5th century BC. Over time, their mechanism and design have evolved tremendously. Today, among the modern crossbows we find different models with very innovative technologies. What is the principle of the crossbow? How is it used? What are its characteristics? What is the speed of a crossbow bolt? This is what we will see here.

In its principle it is a bow placed horizontally on a tiller, (the body of the crossbow) and whose mechanisms (a built-in mechanism that holds the drawn bow string, as well as a trigger mechanism) that allow the constant tension of the string, so that there is no longer any effort required to hold the string as on a bow the shooter can concentrate on his shot and the accuracy is easily improved.

With a crossbow you always have the same power in the tension of the string and you can even shoot lying down ...

Another advantage with a crossbow: the bolts are not made according to the shooter's morphology.

Once the trigger is pulled, the bolt of the crossbow (also called "quarrel") is propelled by the string.

Here are some explanations of the power in "pounds or lbs":

  • Power: 150 lbs (this is the force exerted to keep the crossbow armed but also the force that will propel the quarrel, it corresponds to a weight of about 150 pounds, or 667 newtons; the denomination "power" and its measurement in "lbs" are traditional in archery, although it is a force and not a power)
  • Muzzle velocity: 228 mph (approx. 334 fps)

The crossbow is still used as a weapon, in shooting societies (North of France, Belgium, Netherlands...).

There are two disciplines recognised by the French Shooting Federation:

  • the Match crossbow (shooting at 11 yds and 33 yds),
  • the Field Crossbow (shooting at 11, 20, 38, 54 and 71 yds).

Crossbow hunting is technically possible, but sometimes forbidden (especially in France), because a crossbow is powerful, silent and compact; thus, being easily used from inside a vehicle, it is an ideal weapon for poaching.

On the other hand, it is widely used on the North American continent.

Crossbows and Crossbow Pistols

Our site Hattila.com offers you crossbows and all their accessories. We have selected and tested all the crossbows for sale on our online armoury. All our products have proved their worth, whether the 1st price or the top of the range. We have diversified the categories by offering crossbows for leisure or sport shooting.

We offer, as said above, all the necessary accessories: bolts (also called quarrel), targets, range, string, scope, sights, broadhead...

The speed of the bolts

Depending on the model and power of the crossbows, the speed at which the bolts propel themselves varies significantly. In general, mini crossbows from 50 to 80 lbs throw bolts at speeds ranging from 150 fps to 269 fps. Larger crossbows between 150 and 180 lbs fire bolts at speeds between 173 fps and 364 fps.

Some crossbows are specially designed to be very powerful, such as the Missile 200 which shoots bolts at a speed of 405 fps or the Excalibur Bulldog 440 which shoots bolts at 440 fps.

Powerful and light

First of all, we must not forget that these are not toys and that the sale is forbidden to minors. We have crossbow pistols at 50 and 80 lbs. Then we're going to go to 120, 150 and 180-lbs crossbows.

The materials that make up the crossbows are varied: fibre, plastic, wood or metal. This information is always specified in the product description.

The use of a crossbow

Again: it's dangerous, so go play crossbow where you won't hurt anyone or any animal (also avoid putting your target in front of a bush for example, if someone passes behind at the wrong time it would be dramatic). Our crossbows are mainly intended for fun, you can practice intensely and why not get a taste for it?

The handling is childish, on a crossbow pistol you have a lever or a stirrup to cock the string, on the bigger ones you will have to put your foot in the stirrup and cock it with your hands.

Then you aim at the ground and insert your bolt, be careful: check before the safety is engaged! Then you aim at your target, remove the safety with your thumb and you can shoot.

Here are some links to buy crossbows and accessories:

Sources :

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbalete_(weapon)