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Crossbows - Everything about Building, Modding, and Using your Crossbow Gear

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» 12th Century Chinese Crossbow Chronographed
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» [solved]Skane/Lillohus crossbow thread
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» Bad Antler
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» Anyone make their own bolts?
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» Qin/Han lock drawings
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» Skane/Lillohus lockbow information needed
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3 posters

    Crossbow Newbie

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    Mister Frost
    Fresh Blood

    Doesn't mean
    I'm new to crossbows


    Fresh Blood Doesn't meanI'm new to crossbows


    Posts : 2
    Join date : 2013-09-22
    Age : 28
    Location : Cincinnati

    Crossbow Newbie Empty Crossbow Newbie

    Post by Mister Frost Sun Sep 22, 2013 7:35 pm

    Hello, folks. I'm a new user here, and just today I picked up this:

    image:

    at the Renaissance fair (They may be about as historically accurate as Pirates of the Caribbean, but at least they have nice weapons for sale).

    I've got a good deal of experience with firearms (I actually leave for Army Basic Training on the 15th of next month) but this is my first crossbow. I was hoping for some beginners' advice--shooting tips, loading tricks, what-have you; anything's helpful. I was also hoping to learn to make my own bolts, which would undoubtedly be far cheaper and less of a hassle than buying them from specialty shops.

    Thanks in advance.
    Geezer
    Geezer
    Master Crossbowyer
    Master Crossbowyer


    Posts : 1194
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    Age : 76
    Location : Austin, Texas, USA

    Crossbow Newbie Empty Re: Crossbow Newbie

    Post by Geezer Sun Sep 22, 2013 9:15 pm

    Frost:  Welcome aboard.  The bow you bought at the ren-fair is reasonably authentic.  Around here it's called a Skane bow, after historical bows found in an archaeological dig at Skane castle in Denmark or Sweden, depending on where the border is drawn these days.  These bows are generally reliable and easy to maintain.  Just don't dry-fire (release without a bolt) and keep an eye on serving-wear at the center of the string.  The simple notch and pushpin lock tends to wear serving pretty quick.  Also, be sure and stop your bolt just ahead of the notch.  If you let the butt get above the notch, you're pretty much assure misfire, which may break or lose your string.  Otherwise, shoot and enjoy.  Geezer.
    avatar
    Mister Frost
    Fresh Blood

    Doesn't mean
    I'm new to crossbows


    Fresh Blood Doesn't meanI'm new to crossbows


    Posts : 2
    Join date : 2013-09-22
    Age : 28
    Location : Cincinnati

    Crossbow Newbie Empty Re: Crossbow Newbie

    Post by Mister Frost Mon Sep 23, 2013 1:54 pm

    Thanks for the advice, Geezer. I've done a little bit of shooting with it already, and I definitely appreciate the challenge of shooting more intuitively rather than simply lining up sights.
    Gnome
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    Crossbow Junkie

    I live here!


    Crossbow JunkieI live here!


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    Crossbow Newbie Empty Re: Crossbow Newbie

    Post by Gnome Thu Sep 26, 2013 6:25 pm

    Mr. Frost, welcome to the forum and good luck in the Army.
    You're right on track with wanting to make your own bolts. After you research a bit and decide what type you want and how you want to make them, I'd advise getting plenty of materials so you have them on hand whenever you might have time to work on them. Don't make too many at once, though. It's nice to have matched sets that you construct as identically as possible so that they fly consistently, but I've found that with bolt making, like a lot of skills, you're going to get better at it the more you do, and you'll be sad if you have three dozen mediocre bolts and you run out of shafts or tips or fletches just when you're getting good at it. Now I make just 3 at a time and try to shoot them a few times at least to think about how I can do it better next time.
    Nice looking crossbow, by the way.
    Gnome

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