For target work with medieval style crossbows, what bolts do you use and/or recommend?
Latest topics
» Codex Löffelholz crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Tue Jan 24, 2023 4:14 pm
» Digitar prodsc
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Jan 15, 2023 2:42 pm
» Troubleshooting
by Andy. Fri Jan 06, 2023 12:29 pm
» Arab Crossbow
by kenh Thu Jan 05, 2023 8:39 pm
» Skane/Lillohus crossbow thread
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Jan 01, 2023 12:22 pm
» Wood Prods
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Dec 30, 2022 12:47 pm
» Colletiere a Charavines crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Dec 30, 2022 8:54 am
» Simplified Löffelhotz speedloader
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Dec 09, 2022 4:05 pm
» Fiberglass H-bows
by c sitas Sat Nov 12, 2022 8:44 am
» Bad Antler
by drawknife Sat Nov 12, 2022 3:48 am
» Anyone make their own bolts?
by Juniper Mon Oct 17, 2022 8:20 am
» Josef alm in English
by Juniper Sat Oct 15, 2022 4:22 am
» Qin/Han lock drawings
by kenh Fri Sep 23, 2022 8:16 pm
» stirrup dimensions?
by stuckinthemud1 Thu Sep 01, 2022 1:49 pm
» Skane/Lillohus lockbow information needed
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Aug 14, 2022 6:23 am
» need help contacting le musee Dauphinois Grenoble
by stuckinthemud1 Sat Aug 13, 2022 3:22 pm
» Low Draw Weight Build
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Aug 12, 2022 3:09 pm
» Trigger testing Rig/Jig?
by ora8i Fri Aug 12, 2022 1:13 pm
» best type of horn to use..
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Jun 24, 2022 6:13 am
» Han Dynasty Chinese Crossbow
by hullutiedemies Fri Jun 17, 2022 1:00 pm
» Drawing of Crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Jun 03, 2022 3:01 am
» "How To Make Everything": Early Crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Thu Jun 02, 2022 3:41 am
» Black inlay
by stuckinthemud1 Fri May 13, 2022 3:18 pm
» Roller nut details
by drawknife Thu Apr 21, 2022 2:44 pm
» 330#/7" wood bow
by Anatine Duo Tue Mar 29, 2022 11:08 am
by stuckinthemud1 Tue Jan 24, 2023 4:14 pm
» Digitar prodsc
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Jan 15, 2023 2:42 pm
» Troubleshooting
by Andy. Fri Jan 06, 2023 12:29 pm
» Arab Crossbow
by kenh Thu Jan 05, 2023 8:39 pm
» Skane/Lillohus crossbow thread
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Jan 01, 2023 12:22 pm
» Wood Prods
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Dec 30, 2022 12:47 pm
» Colletiere a Charavines crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Dec 30, 2022 8:54 am
» Simplified Löffelhotz speedloader
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Dec 09, 2022 4:05 pm
» Fiberglass H-bows
by c sitas Sat Nov 12, 2022 8:44 am
» Bad Antler
by drawknife Sat Nov 12, 2022 3:48 am
» Anyone make their own bolts?
by Juniper Mon Oct 17, 2022 8:20 am
» Josef alm in English
by Juniper Sat Oct 15, 2022 4:22 am
» Qin/Han lock drawings
by kenh Fri Sep 23, 2022 8:16 pm
» stirrup dimensions?
by stuckinthemud1 Thu Sep 01, 2022 1:49 pm
» Skane/Lillohus lockbow information needed
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Aug 14, 2022 6:23 am
» need help contacting le musee Dauphinois Grenoble
by stuckinthemud1 Sat Aug 13, 2022 3:22 pm
» Low Draw Weight Build
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Aug 12, 2022 3:09 pm
» Trigger testing Rig/Jig?
by ora8i Fri Aug 12, 2022 1:13 pm
» best type of horn to use..
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Jun 24, 2022 6:13 am
» Han Dynasty Chinese Crossbow
by hullutiedemies Fri Jun 17, 2022 1:00 pm
» Drawing of Crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Jun 03, 2022 3:01 am
» "How To Make Everything": Early Crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Thu Jun 02, 2022 3:41 am
» Black inlay
by stuckinthemud1 Fri May 13, 2022 3:18 pm
» Roller nut details
by drawknife Thu Apr 21, 2022 2:44 pm
» 330#/7" wood bow
by Anatine Duo Tue Mar 29, 2022 11:08 am
3 posters
What bolts do you use?
stuckinthemud1- Crossbow Junkie
I live here!
- Posts : 497
Join date : 2014-02-05
Age : 54
Location : south wales valleys
- Post n°1
What bolts do you use?
Gnome- Crossbow Junkie
I live here!
- Posts : 451
Join date : 2011-10-16
Age : 58
Location : North Georgia
- Post n°2
Re: What bolts do you use?
Of course length, thickness, total weight, etc., vary from bow to bow, but I have settled in the last few years on using blunt metal tips for target work. Since they don't penetrate as much as points, they're easier to get out and I strip a lot less fletches.
Gnome
Gnome
hullutiedemies- Workshop Savvy
Did you see my tool collection?
- Posts : 198
Join date : 2012-07-03
Location : Fennoscandia
- Post n°3
Re: What bolts do you use?
Here are a few points of my heavier bolts, all of these have seen use.
All of them work and are easy to make

From top to bottom
- 125mm M10 bolt fixed with heat shrink tube
- 8" nail
- 5" nail
- M12 nut
- a "period" point from 10mm tube cut in an angle and flattened, These pull out well from bag targets, but might be problem with foam.
- 7.5mm aluminum shaft with 5" nail pushed in to make a blunt point. Aluminum bends easily in use.
- 8mm solid fiberglass snow plough marker shaft & regular field point. 30-40gram bolts of practical length can be done this way.
- just plain wood, As far as the shaft is heavy enough these are quite good. I do most of my long range field shots with these. Since they get easily lost , I want them to be biodegradable.
- hardwood in brass tube, This is an archery arrow. I used these when I was still shooting fiberboard and foam targets at club ranges.
Couple reinforced butts.
- coffee filter with PVA-glue
- Heat shrink tube.
All of them work and are easy to make

From top to bottom
- 125mm M10 bolt fixed with heat shrink tube
- 8" nail
- 5" nail
- M12 nut
- a "period" point from 10mm tube cut in an angle and flattened, These pull out well from bag targets, but might be problem with foam.
- 7.5mm aluminum shaft with 5" nail pushed in to make a blunt point. Aluminum bends easily in use.
- 8mm solid fiberglass snow plough marker shaft & regular field point. 30-40gram bolts of practical length can be done this way.
- just plain wood, As far as the shaft is heavy enough these are quite good. I do most of my long range field shots with these. Since they get easily lost , I want them to be biodegradable.
- hardwood in brass tube, This is an archery arrow. I used these when I was still shooting fiberboard and foam targets at club ranges.
Couple reinforced butts.
- coffee filter with PVA-glue
- Heat shrink tube.
stuckinthemud1- Crossbow Junkie
I live here!
- Posts : 497
Join date : 2014-02-05
Age : 54
Location : south wales valleys
- Post n°4
Re: What bolts do you use?
Thank you for posting that, what sort of draw weight(s) were you using?
hullutiedemies- Workshop Savvy
Did you see my tool collection?
- Posts : 198
Join date : 2012-07-03
Location : Fennoscandia
- Post n°5
Re: What bolts do you use?
Anything from 90# to 240#
140-180# mainly, wooden or fiberglass bows.
140-180# mainly, wooden or fiberglass bows.