Ready Your Crossbow And Aim For The Stars

The crossbow is easily one of the most recognisable weapons throughout history, and they are still extremely popular for hunting and target shooting. Especially for those individuals interested in a more level hunting experience, as crossbow hunting takes tremendous skill. In this guide, we will look back in time to the origins of the crossbow and explore its rapid advancement in recent years. On top of this, we will delve into the capabilities of modern crossbows, and offer a few recommendations from our online store.

For a vast selection of crossbows, compound bows, bolts and arrows, tactical gear, outdoor equipment, gadgets, and more, there is simply no better choice than Futurama. Regardless of your hobbies, needs, or passions, it is almost certain that we stock something that is right up your alley. If you are intrigued about the history of the crossbow, we encourage you to read on and find out more.

What Was The Purpose Of The Crossbow?

The crossbow was used for a variety of purposes, including hunting, royal entourages, widespread military use, and personal protection. Once the technology behind them had advanced to a point where they could fire multiple bolts in quick succession, they became a staple in most armies across the globe – proving to be highly effective and reliable over an untold number of military campaigns.

 

Is A Crossbow As Powerful As A Bow?

The answer to this question comes down to draw length, or power stroke in the case of the crossbow, which refers to the distance between the furthest point of the drawn string and the notched arrow. Typically, bows have a larger draw length as a result of their overall size, and this allows for more energy to be imparted to the arrow. Ultimately, this means that good-quality bows usually offer more velocity than crossbows of the same draw weight.

 

How Far Can A Crossbow Shoot?

A powerful crossbow can facilitate accurate shooting up to 80 metres, but the general range falls between 40 to 60 metres. The higher the fps, or feet per second, the better the velocity of the bolt, and the further you will be able to precisely hit targets. Faster, more powerful bolts mean less drop-off over longer distances, making efficient shooting significantly easier.

 

A Few Crossbow Recommendations From Our Online Store

As we usually do, we will provide a few excellent products from our online selection. You would be hard-pressed to find a more comprehensive catalogue of crossbows anywhere in South Africa, and we exclusively stock products from highly regarded companies and manufacturers.

 

Man Kung MK-150A1PB Recurve Crossbow – 150lbs

For those looking for a fantastic entry-level crossbow, ideal for beginner shooters, this could be the right choice for you. The Man Kung MK-150A1PB is one of our best-selling models, and it is quite easy to see why. It features an aluminium barrel, fibreglass limbs, simple to use adjustable sight, and it is extraordinarily comfortable. If you like, the crossbow includes a dovetail rail, which makes mounting a scope easier than ever. With a draw weight of 150lbs or 68kg, this recurve option can produce an impressive velocity of 210 fps – allowing for accurate shooting up to 45 metres. If you are considering trying your hand at shooting, the MK-150A1PB is a great option.

 

EK Archery Hex 400 Crossbow

EK Archery always goes above and beyond with their products, and the Hex 400 is certainly no exception to this. This crossbow has a lot to offer, including a reinforced composite, adjustable stock, ergonomically textured grip with soft finger grooves for ultimate comfort and control, and Anti-dry fire safety trigger pull.

There is no doubt that this crossbow is designed for more experienced shooters, with a power of 210lbs or 95kg. It is capable of sending arrows down range at a whopping 433km/h, making it a perfect choice for hunting or long-distance target shooting. It is ultra-lightweight, at only 3kg, and comes standard with anti-vibration rubbers and string dampers, which make the shooting experience as smooth as silk. At only R8,439.00, this is one of the best value-for-money products on the market

Crossbow History: The Origins And Progression

There is some uncertainty about the exact beginnings of these weapons, with certain sources claiming that they were invented in the 1^st century AD by the Greeks, and others stating that ancient China was responsible for their creation in the 6^th century. Whatever the case, crossbows represented a huge shift in the use of projectile weapons, and many civilisations used them to devastating effect. As you can imagine, the first iterations of these weapons were quite simple in their construction, made with a basic wooden stock and a small bow attached crosswise to the stock.

The first ground-breaking advancement was observed in the Records of the Three Kingdoms, which detailed the first use of repeating crossbows that could fire multiple bolts without needing to reload. These weapons were so effective that Sun Tzu made mention of them in “The Art of War”, explaining that they were undoubtedly the most efficient option to use against cavalry charges. Interestingly, the crossbow seems to have been independently invented by both Europe and China, at a time when there was not much interaction between these two ancient powers.

Medieval Europe quickly integrated crossbowmen into their military, to such an extent that traditional bows were almost entirely replaced. There were a few reasons for this preference, perhaps the largest being that significantly less training was needed to become proficient with a crossbow. The longbows of the era were notoriously difficult to use and required a massive amount of strength to get into a fully drawn position. On the other hand, crossbows were just as accurate and almost anyone was able to use them effectively.

As time passed, crossbowmen were at the epicentre of most European militaries and were held in such high regard that they were paid more than any other foot soldiers – some were considered to be as important as the knight class. The widespread military use of crossbows lasted all the way until the 16^th century when firearms first appeared all over the world. However, this was not to be the end of crossbows, not even close it would seem. Beekeepers in Europe used them to scare off bears that ventured too close to their hives, and they were common hunting essentials up until the end of the 18^th century.

Nowadays, they are still loved by enthusiasts, target shooters, and hunters, and are even implemented by certain police forces to this day. In fact, they are occasionally used for anti-sniper and ambush-style military actions, as well as an efficient way of creating zip lines in challenging conditions. This makes them one of, if not the longest-lasting weapon to remain in active military use – rather impressive if you ask us.

Crossbow Meaning: What Makes Them So Effective?

The name ‘crossbow’ is fairly self-explanatory, a small bow is attached crosswise onto a base, hence the title of ‘cross-bow’. Now that you have a good sense of where these weapons originated and their role in history, let’s delve into a few benefits of modern crossbows, and what makes them so effective:

 

1. Unparalleled Consistency – Crossbows offer some of the most impressive consistency of any projectile weapon, especially in comparison to traditional bows. The reason for this is quite simple – the accuracy of your shot is not reliant on your ability to hold the string back, which can be strenuous and often negatively impacts your ability to be precise. Once the bolt is in place, all you need to do is acquire your target and pull the trigger. The velocity and trajectory of the bolt are identical each time you pull the trigger, this also assists in consistent, accurate grouping.

 

2. Impressive Power – We mentioned earlier that high-quality compound bows can offer greater velocity than modern crossbows, however, this does not necessarily translate to more power. Crossbow bolts are much heavier than most aluminium arrows, usually weighing around 400 grains, with some being substantially heavier. These heavier bolts, moving at speeds of around 400 fps, produce huge amounts of energy and power when impacting targets.

 

3. Much Easier To Use – Modern crossbows, much like ancient crossbows, have a greatly reduced learning curve when compared to recurve or compound bows. Once you understand how to properly load the bolts, the process is rather simple and requires very little practice to become proficient. It can take months, if not years to become an effective archer, which makes bows less accessible. If you are interested in target shooting or hunting, but you don’t have the time to practise for months, crossbows are undoubtedly the way to go.

Crossbow Hunting: How To Properly Load A Bolt

Allow us to offer a quick overview of how to use one of these exciting projectile weapons. Firstly, place your foot in the cocking stirrup; this will assist in keeping the crossbow firmly planted into the ground while loading it. We should state that there are a few ways to load a crossbow, as some implement different mechanisms – this is the commonly used method of loading a bolt. Then, correctly place your cocking ropes in the centre of the groove. This should tighten the cocking rope as you pull on the other side.

This next step is crucial, try to position the centre of the bowstring on the top groove near the stock of the crossbow. If done correctly, this will be what creates the tension that assists in pulling the bowstring back into a fully drawn position.

After that, place the cocking hooks firmly onto the string, do this on either side of the barrel – ensure that the hooks are facing away from you, otherwise, it will not work as intended. If you like, it would be a good idea to mark the spot where you place the cocking hooks with a permanent marker. This can make a world of difference to the consistency of your shot, as it guarantees that you are loading the bolt in exactly the same manner, every time.

Once you are content with the position of the hooks, pull the ropes slightly so that the handles distribute the force evenly. Now all that is left to pull back with force, try to do this in one motion, without staggering the movement. Keep pulling until you hear 2 – 3 clicks, which indicate that the bowstring is in a fully drawn, ready position.

Keep in mind, it is essential to keep your finger off the trigger throughout the process, and preferably ensure that the safety is on. Then, simply place the bolt into the groove on the barrel, with the coloured fletching going into the groove first. After these few easy steps, you are ready to fire your crossbow!