FAQ
The questions crossbow buyers actually ask
Short answers with a link to the full guide on each one. Cocking effort, specs, bolts, broadheads, targets, noise, range and the rules.
Crossbow questions and answers
What is the easiest crossbow to cock?
One with an integrated crank. TenPoint publishes 5 pounds of cocking effort for its ACUdraw and ACUslide systems, and the Wicked Ridge Rampage XS publishes the same figure at the lowest price on this site. A rope cocker only halves the pull. See crank vs rope cocker.
How much does a cocking aid reduce the draw?
Rope cockers publish 50 percent across every brand. Aftermarket cranks publish 70 percent (CenterPoint Power Draw) to 93 percent (Barnett, which also states 13 pounds at the handle). Integrated systems publish 5 pounds. On a 200-pound bow that is 100 pounds, 14 pounds, or 5. See cocking effort explained.
Will a crank cocking device fit my crossbow?
Only if your exact model appears on the device's published compatibility list — these are brand-specific and often model-specific. Check the model suffix too. A universal rope cocker is the genuinely universal fallback. See universal crank compatibility.
What draw weight crossbow do I need for deer?
Every bow on this site exceeds what whitetail deer require. Where states set a minimum it typically falls between 75 and 125 pounds. The more meaningful figure is kinetic energy, where common guidance puts deer around 25 foot-pounds against published crossbow figures of 134 to 152. See crossbow draw weight.
How many FPS does a crossbow need?
Less than most buyers assume. Anything from about 330 fps is ample for deer inside 30 yards and 350 to 400 fps is comfortable out to 40. Above 400 fps your target and broadheads both have to be rated for it. See crossbow speed and FPS.
What cocked width do I need for a ground blind?
Ten inches or less works in almost any pop-up blind. Pop-up windows commonly run 12 to 16 inches and you need two to four inches of margin to swing the bow. Fifteen inches is an open-ground bow. See cocked width and ground blinds.
What is the narrowest crossbow?
The Ravin R18 at a published 1.3-inch cocked height, then the Ravin R26X at 5.75 inches. Outside the Ravin line the CenterPoint Hellion 400 and Xpedition Xtraction 400X both publish 8 inches at a fraction of the price. See best compact crossbows.
Can you de-cock a crossbow without shooting it?
Only with a bow designed for it. TenPoint's ACUslide and ACUdraw De-Cock backwind with an Auto-Brake that holds the handle wherever you let go, and Killer Instinct's DSC decocker does the same. Otherwise, firing a bolt into a target is the only safe method. See how to de-cock a crossbow.
How long can you leave a crossbow cocked?
Makers generally advise against extended periods and the guidance varies by bow, so check your manual. A day's hunt is normal; overnight in a vehicle is bad for the string and worse for safety. The practical question is how you will unload it.
What length crossbow bolt do I need?
Whatever your bow's manual specifies, with no substitutions — common lengths are 16, 18, 20 and 22 inches. The arrows that came with the bow are your reference. A bolt shorter than specified can leave the rail before the string releases it. See best crossbow bolts.
How heavy should a crossbow bolt be?
Around 400 grains complete, including the point, which is close to what most bows ship with. The hard limit is your bow's published minimum total arrow weight — going heavier is almost always safe, going lighter is not. See crossbow bolt weight.
What is the difference between a crossbow bolt and an arrow?
In current usage, nothing — makers use both words for the same product. Historically a bolt was shorter and often unfletched. What matters is length, weight, nock type and diameter. See crossbow bolt vs arrow.
Can I use regular broadheads on a crossbow?
Not safely above about 400 fps. Crossbow velocity opens mechanical blades in flight on heads designed for compound bows. Use a crossbow-specific head, and on a fast bow look for a published speed rating. See broadheads for 400 fps bows.
Should I use mechanical or fixed broadheads?
Both work if rated for crossbow speed. Mechanicals open a wider wound channel and fly like field points; one-piece fixed heads penetrate better and have nothing that can fail. For quartering shots prefer fixed; for broadside shots from a fast bow, either. See mechanical vs fixed blade.
Will a crossbow shoot through an archery target?
Yes, if the target is not rated for your bow's speed. Most bag targets stop at 400 to 425 fps and modern crossbows reach 470. Only two targets on this site clear 450 fps. See targets for fast bows.
Can you shoot broadheads into a bag target?
No. Bag targets stop arrows with layered fiber fill and broadhead blades cut it apart from the inside. Use a self-healing foam target that states broadhead compatibility, and shoot only the three arrows you need to confirm they group with your field points. See broadhead targets.
How can I make my crossbow quieter?
String silencers first — LimbSaver publishes up to 90 percent string-noise reduction for about ten dollars. Then check every screw, because a loose bracket turns the stock into a sounding board. Then a heavier arrow. See how to quiet a crossbow.
How far can you shoot a crossbow?
A bolt travels several hundred yards at an angle, which is a safety consideration. Most hunters' honest effective range on a live animal is 30 to 40 yards, set by distance estimation and hold rather than by the bow. See crossbow effective range.
Do I need a special scope for a crossbow?
Yes, if you want calibrated holdovers. A crossbow scope stacks aim points at pre-calculated drops and has a speed dial to match them to your bow's velocity — set it to your bow's published fps before you zero. See crossbow speed rings explained.
Are crossbows legal during archery season?
It depends on your state and the rules change. States fall into roughly four groups: full archery inclusion, inclusion with a permit or other restriction, firearms seasons only, and other arrangements. Check your own wildlife agency's current regulations each year. See crossbow hunting regulations.
Are rangefinding crossbow scopes legal?
Not everywhere. Several states regulate or prohibit electronic sighting devices for hunting, and Garmin states this on its own product listing. Check before buying — these are four-figure purchases to discover you cannot hunt with. See rangefinding crossbow scopes.
What else do I need to buy with a crossbow?
A cocking aid you can operate, a target rated at or above the bow's published speed, a dozen matched bolts, broadheads and a broadhead-capable target, plus string wax and rail lube. Roughly 150 to 250 dollars. See the accessories checklist.
How often should I wax a crossbow string?
Every few shooting sessions and always before storage. Work the wax into the string body with your fingers until it disappears, and skip the center serving — wax there collects grit exactly where the rail abrades the string. See string wax and rail lube.
What is the most important crossbow safety rule?
Keep your forward hand's fingers below the flight deck on every shot. The bowstring travels at exactly the height your fingers want to curl to, at hundreds of feet per second, and the injury is severe and permanent. See crossbow safety.
Does this site test the products it recommends?
Not all of them, and we say so per product. Specifications here are the manufacturer's published figures, prices come from a live data layer, and where independent testing exists we cite it by name. See our methodology.
Not answered here?
Every section of the site has its own FAQ with more detail, and the full index lists all eighty-seven pages. If your question is not covered, ask us directly — the answer usually becomes a page.