My crossbow is almost complete and I need to focus shortly on making bolts. Im thinking of making them out of either 3/8 inch or 1/2 dowels and making the vanes out of wood as was traditionally done. My question is what kind of commercially available points will fit on those diameters? Do any of you have a source for points that will fit? Thanks!
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4 posters
Bolt question
mazawakhan- Fresh Blood
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I'm new to crossbows - Posts : 14
Join date : 2015-11-23
- Post n°1
Bolt question
OrienM- Workshop Savvy
Did you see my tool collection?
- Posts : 195
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Age : 47
Location : New Mexico, USA
- Post n°2
Re: Bolt question
If you use 3/8" shafting them most archery glue-on heads will be usable. I used 1/2" shafts for my bolts, and have had the same problem, finding heads that will fit them...hopefully someone here will know. It would be great to find some 1/2" glue-on field points, in particular.
Currently I'm using hex nut heads, much like these: https://thearbalistguild.forumotion.com/t1486-hex-nut-plinking-bolts#14232
They work OK for field use, but tend to damage foam targets when target shooting. Heads with some sort of pointed tip would be a big improvement.
Currently I'm using hex nut heads, much like these: https://thearbalistguild.forumotion.com/t1486-hex-nut-plinking-bolts#14232
They work OK for field use, but tend to damage foam targets when target shooting. Heads with some sort of pointed tip would be a big improvement.
Gnome- Crossbow Junkie
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- Post n°3
Re: Bolt question
Maz, are you interested in field points, broad heads, or both? Regular glue-on tips will work if you don't mind "barrelling" down the end of your shaft so you don't have big shoulder of wood to interfere with penetration. Barrelled shafts also don't penetrate as well, but are better than a sudden jump in diameter.
If you want to buy something more suited to larger diameters, you'll have to check out specialty sites that deal in primitive archery. I got some nice hand forged 1/2" quarrel points and 3/8" turned bullet points from an outfit in the UK several years ago, can't think of the name of it now but if you're interested I can try to look them up.
For broadheads, if you aren't concerned with historical accuracy, if you do a search for "Vintage" glue on broadheads on Ebay you can find points with plastic bodies and embedded steel blades. Those plastic sleeves were designed to be much larger than the arrow shafts they were fitted to, and so can be made to work quite well on a 3/8" shaft.
Gnome
If you want to buy something more suited to larger diameters, you'll have to check out specialty sites that deal in primitive archery. I got some nice hand forged 1/2" quarrel points and 3/8" turned bullet points from an outfit in the UK several years ago, can't think of the name of it now but if you're interested I can try to look them up.
For broadheads, if you aren't concerned with historical accuracy, if you do a search for "Vintage" glue on broadheads on Ebay you can find points with plastic bodies and embedded steel blades. Those plastic sleeves were designed to be much larger than the arrow shafts they were fitted to, and so can be made to work quite well on a 3/8" shaft.
Gnome
Onager Lovac- Workshop Savvy
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- Post n°4
Re: Bolt question
Whats the draw weight and powerstroke on your crossbow?
mazawakhan- Fresh Blood
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I'm new to crossbows - Posts : 14
Join date : 2015-11-23
- Post n°5
Re: Bolt question
Im figuring about 200lbs and about 7-8 inches for the stroke. I just ordered some 23/64 shafting and 190 grain field points. We shall see how that works out.Onager Lovac wrote:Whats the draw weight and powerstroke on your crossbow?