Editors' notes
What we learn between test runs: what the numbers mean, what the spec sheets leave out.
Looking for a sequence to follow instead of loose notes? The Crossbow Academy puts the posts below in order, from picking a bow to a safe first shot.
- How to adjust a crossbow scope
Adjusting a crossbow scope means three separate things: moving point of impact with the turrets, setting the speed dial so the stacked yardage lines are honest, and confirming each line. Here is how each one works.
- Cost to restring a crossbow
A crossbow string is a consumable, not a permanent part. What a restring actually costs - string only, full cable set, and pro-shop labour - how often you need it, and why a recurve is far cheaper to service than a compound.
- How long can you leave a crossbow cocked
The honest answer depends on your bow. What leaving a crossbow cocked actually does to the string and limbs, what manufacturers allow by type, and how to build a hunting-day routine that protects the bow without risking a de-cock.
- What are crossbow bolts
A crossbow bolt is the projectile a crossbow fires - shorter and stiffer than a vertical-bow arrow. What the parts are, how bolts differ from arrows, and how to read length, material, weight and nock so you buy the right ones for your bow.
- Crossbow vs compound bow
The honest differences between a crossbow and a compound bow for a new shooter: learning curve, physical demand, season access, cost and what each one is genuinely better at.
- How far can a crossbow shoot
Maximum range and ethical hunting range are two different numbers. What a modern crossbow is physically capable of, and where the sensible limit sits for a new shooter.
- How to sight in a crossbow scope
A repeatable process for zeroing a crossbow scope: where to start, which direction to move the turrets, how many bolts to shoot, and the mistakes that waste an afternoon.
- How to cock a crossbow
Cocking is the part of owning a crossbow that people underestimate. How to do it consistently, why consistency affects accuracy, and what a rope aid or crank actually changes.