www.worldcrossbow.com
WHAT
ARE CROSSBOWS?
Crossbows have been around for perhaps 2500 years, having first been developed by the Chinese. They have been developed in parallel with other bows and were mainly used for military purposes. The crossbow was still being used in warfare well after the introduction of firearms and it could be said that they are the "link" between the bow and the firearm.
The crossbow has a relatively short, transverse prod, lath or bow fixed to a stock or tiller. The tips of the bow limbs are connected via a cord or string. The bow is effectively a pair of leaf springs and is a means of storing energy. The string is drawn back to the catch or latch which forms part of the trigger mechanism. When the latch is released, the string moves forward to propel a bolt or arrow. The bolt is guided by a track or bolt rest.
Compared with "vertical" bows, the crossbow is relatively cumbersome and slower to shoot. (Students of military history will know that the English longbowmen of the middle ages were able to shoot up to 6 arrows in the same time as crossbowman could loose one bolt. Modern crossbows are a lot faster). The crossbow is generally more accurate than the vertical bow, however modern target compound bows are not far behind.
The crossbow is less efficient than a vertical bow in storing energy due to the short prod and the shorter "power stroke" (the distance from the string at rest and the catch). This means that in order to achieve the same ballistic effect, the crossbow draw weight needs to be about 2.5 times that of a vertical bow.
There are many different types of crossbow, including:
- Sporting, or hunting crossbow
- Match crossbow
- Target crossbow
- Medieval re-enactment, Traditional, reproduction and replica crossbows
A recurve type Sport crossbow
A compound type Sport crossbow
Match
crossbows (10 and
30m) 
Target crossbow nomenclature
Medieval style modern crossbow used for re-enactment purposes
The most numerous group is the sporting or hunting crossbow. These are typically 125 to 225 lb (57 to 102 kg) in draw weight They are very effective for harvesting feral and game animals at distances to about 50m. These crossbows are also used for competition shooting including Target, Field and 3D.
Match crossbows are heavy and spanned with a lever. They are used for competition shooting at distances of 10 and 30m on pistol or air rifle ranges.
Target crossbows are limited to 95 lb (43 kg) draw weight and are used at archery clubs. Competition covers target (both outdoor and indoor), Field, Clout and 3D.