How to make a children's wooden crossbow. DIY spring crossbow

The crossbow is a throwing weapon that is an advanced design of the bow. Its advantage is the ability to aim without any extra effort. The technical characteristics of the gun increase the lethal force and accuracy of fire. In our country, the use of this type of throwing weapon is unpopular, since it is difficult to find the necessary design. There is very little inventory, but user interest is quite high. Crossbows are quite expensive. However, the device of the tool is quite simple, so you can easily do it yourself.

What is a crossbow used for?

First of all, it is worth noting that the use of throwing weapons with a pull force of more than 43 kgf is illegal, whether they are homemade or bought from official manufacturers. Today, the main use of the crossbow is sport competitions and active recreation.

The device itself was first created two and a half thousand years ago in China. In Europe, the gun gained popularity only by the beginning of the twelfth century and was used exclusively for military purposes. Later homemade crossbows were used for hunting. However, only rich people could afford expensive mechanisms and special arrows.

Arrows for this type of weapon are much heavier and are more commonly referred to as bolts. Their use is necessary, since the tension force of the bowstring is much higher and requires the use of heavy projectiles. They, in turn, provide increased power when hit. Now, the ban on hunting with throwing weapons in Russia and the CIS countries does not allow the use of a crossbow to catch game. Throwing weapons are used exclusively for sporting purposes.

Differences and adaptations

The bow and crossbow have several obvious differences that must be taken into account when creating weapons with your own hands. The main differences are:

Tension force. Since the design of the crossbow allows you to pull the bowstring with more force, a reliable mechanism is required that does not fail. When buying it, you should not skimp, because it guarantees not only safety, but also durability. It is also convenient to use a device for string tension.

Use of bolts. By adding a spring to hold the projectile, the gun can be used at any desired angle. Aim. Installation additional equipment will ensure accuracy and make it easier to shoot from the shoulder, by analogy with a firearm.

In addition, when creating a throwing weapon with your own hands, you should pay special attention to the method of pulling the bowstring. There are several of them. The most reliable and popular are:

Leg or hand braces. A very popular type of tension. However, its use is only available for crossbows with low power. Belt and hook. This method allows you to fix the tool machine with your feet, like the first example. When bent, the hook clings to the bowstring, and restoring the position produces its tension and fixation. An improved type of the second method is a rope with the use of rollers. The mount is also mounted on the belt. The use of two curved levers stacked on pins is called a "goat's foot". Pins protrude on both sides of the stock. The owner pulls the opposite side towards him, thereby exercising tension. Pull lever. The essence of the method lies in the coupling of the hook and bracket on the front of the box. Thus, the bowstring is pressed back. Use of rack and pinion. A very ancient technology that appeared in the fifteenth century in Germany. The tension is carried out by a collar, which allows the method to be applied to very powerful crossbows. Very suitable for hunting, because it has lethal force.

There are also many other ways to stretch the bowstring for certain types of weapons. However, they are used much less often and were used in ancient times. Their safety is much lower, which does not guarantee the correct use of weapons. To create a crossbow with your own hands, it is recommended to use one of the above methods.

How to create a throwing weapon

When creating a crossbow with your own hands, it is important to understand that the design must be strong and reliable. Making homemade throwing weapons is not difficult, but it requires a very responsible approach to work.

First you need to decide on the purpose of using the tool. If it will be used for hunting, then special emphasis should be given to the tension mechanism and the bed. If you make the design correctly, then it will be much easier to cope with the shooting technique.

After determining the required characteristics, you need to make drawings of the future weapon or find ready-made ones on the Internet. They will not only facilitate the creation process, but also organize the workflow. It is best to use carefully designed drawings with dimensions..

Devices and materials

Before you make a throwing weapon for hunting with a small tension force, you need to organize a workplace and prepare the necessary materials. Here are the main items you will need:

two meter bars of coniferous wood; thin rail 6x1 cm; polyurethane tube with a diameter of 3 cm; nylon fishing line; wheels with a groove in the middle of the rib; screws and nails 5 cm long; glue; wooden dowels (6 pieces); adhesive tape and foam; vise and rasp; hammer, chisel, saw and drill; pen or pencil.

Also, in the process of work, additional materials may be needed to give an aesthetic appearance to the tool. However, you can do this at your own discretion. When using a crossbow for hunting, appearance is not so important. However, it can be polished and decorated as desired.

The working process

First of all, you need to make a tool bed. This is the main part to which the rest of the structure is attached. Take one of the prepared bars and attach it to your shoulder to determine a comfortable length. Make a mark with a pencil and saw off unnecessary part. With your other hand, mark the comfortable position of the trigger. When creating tools with your own hands, it is worth considering that power depends on the length of the stock. The longer the length, the stronger force tension. For hunting, it is better to use a longer bar. At the location of the trigger, with a chisel and a rasp, cut a rectangle measuring 10x2.5 cm. Cut a strip across the resulting hole in which the bowstring will be located.

Now along the timber it is necessary to cut a chute for the arrow. Since the work is done by hand, it is extremely important to approach this stage responsibly. The accuracy of shooting depends on the correct position. Using a drill and a hammer, knock out a 5 mm deep gutter exactly in the center and grind it.

Saw off another bar to a length of 60 cm and glue it to the main part of the crossbow. Let the glue dry. After complete fixing, if desired, parts can be polished. You can make it with your own hands, or with special polishing devices.

Now that the main part of the structure is ready, you need to make the shoulders. To do this, use two polymer pipes, each 90 cm long. Make cuts at the ends of one side into which the bowstring will be placed. Their width should correspond to the prepared screws. Insert them into the cuts made and attach the wheels with the chute.

Get some nylon line. Fasten it to one of the screws, then wrap it around each wheel, going from one side to the other. After winding around the wheels, fasten the fishing line to another screw with a stretch. The result should be a curved structure with three rows of strings. When tensioned, the pipes should bend, if this does not happen, repeat the procedure again.

After completing the stage, it is necessary to fix the resulting structure on the main part of the crossbow. To do this, cut a hole at the end of the beam into which the arc will be attached. Insert the pipe into the hollow and wrap it securely with tape. Keep in mind that one string (more stretched) should be on top, and the other two on the bottom.

Now you can move on to the trigger mechanism. Take the prepared rail and cut out the letter "L" from it. At the base of the bend, cut the gutter so that it is centered and has a width equal to one-third of the full base. Now you need to cut the part so that it matches the hole in the stock. On the bend, on the side, drill a hole the thickness of the nail. Place the part in the hole in the stock and drive a nail into it so that it goes through the drilled hole in the part.

It remains only to focus. A sawn-off 20-centimeter bar will serve as it, which must be sanded for convenience. It can be attached to the main body with nails or glue. Wrap the stop with foam and secure with tape.

This completes the creation of a crossbow for hunting. It remains to make only arrows. They are easy to make from wooden dowels, cut to the desired length. On the one hand, an incision is made for the bowstring, on the other, the end is sharpened.

The main thing is not to use the tool in public places and near places of residence and objects of possible presence of people. By following the safety rules, you can have a great time not only hunting, but also doing outdoor activities.

What needs to be said in the very first lines of this article: in Russia, the CIS countries and most countries of the world, hunting with a crossbow is illegal, and the crossbows themselves (if their tension exceeds 40 kg) are equated to melee weapons. There is a fine for wearing and using them. Why, then, do I give recommendations for the manufacture of an objectively dangerous thing that can cause problems for readers? Because the ability to hunt using a wide variety of weapons, including homemade and even illegal ones, may one day come in handy for each of us. Few people think about this while store shelves are full of food - but we live in too unstable times to say with full confidence that this will always be the case.

In one of the previous articles, I wrote about hunting: with the help of this seemingly frivolous weapon, it is easy to get small fur-bearing animals, birds and reptiles. From a crossbow, you can shoot medium-sized game. Of course, we are not talking about toys from legal gun stores: you may have seen them on sale - elegant, light and low-powered. A weak crossbow is designed for sports shooting - you should understand how big the difference is between it and a real combat device. That is why the latter is banned. An arrow fired from a powerful combat crossbow pierces a person right through, even if he is wearing a Kevlar body armor.

But until the BP has struck, we are peaceful hunters, and we are not thinking about the use of deadly weapons against people. Why am I writing now about homemade crossbow for hunting? Why not buy ready-made or order from an experienced craftsman? Because legally nothing worthwhile will be sold to you. And it’s better not to buy illegal weapons at all if you don’t want to get in trouble with the law. Yes, having something killer in the bins and being able to use it is useful, but not a single living soul should know that you have it. It is better not to dedicate even friends and relatives to this - not to mention completely strangers like sellers and couriers.

How to make a crossbow at home?

So, how to make a crossbow with your own hands? First of all, decide what power the weapon you need - its design and materials directly depend on this. For hunting ducks and hares, the simplest device with a wooden arc is suitable. On a larger animal, a metal one is already needed. There are also so-called composite arcs, which are a combination of several materials (traditionally - wood, antler, veins, but now different types of plastic are more often used). Their specifications excellent, but it is almost impossible for a non-professional to make such a detail “on the knee” with high quality. In order to avoid injury among readers, I will not even give a description of the assembly of the composite arc here.

My opinion: it is advisable to use a metal arc. The power reserve will not be superfluous - in addition, the wooden parts fail faster, which is also fraught with injuries for the shooter himself. Since your goal is to do enough powerful crossbow, look for springs from Soviet cars through friends or in the secondary market for auto parts. Humanity has not yet come up with anything better to use as an arc. But if you still did not manage to get this rarity, take any elastic metal strip 2-3 cm wide and 3-4 mm thick.

The bed is most often made of wood (spruce, aspen), less often of metal. The more powerful the crossbow is planned, the more durable and massive this part should be. Stock designs may differ, but there should be a groove for an arrow on it, as well as a stock and mounts for a trigger, arc and other functional elements.

As a bowstring, an inelastic rope made of synthetic fibers, a steel cable or a guitar string is used. You may be surprised, but it is the first of the three options that demonstrates the best tensile strength. Durable, cheap and affordable - what else do you need? .. And here's what: beeswax impregnation will extend the life of a synthetic bowstring, protecting it from moisture and friction.

The crossbow mechanism, rollers and mounts are the most interesting. “On the knee” it is difficult to make them if you do not have the skills to work with metal. Below I give drawings of a homemade simple crossbow (1) and a powerful combat one (2). All parts that you cannot make yourself, order in the workshop, providing drawings of the parts of interest.

Drawing of a simple crossbow (1) *click to enlarge*

Combat Crossbow Blueprints(2) *click to enlarge*

How to make arrows for a crossbow?

Bolts - arrows for a crossbow, it's easy to make with your own hands. For these purposes, wood is most often used, less often plastic and metal. Why is a tree better? A wooden bolt has the optimal weight: a light plastic arrow quickly loses speed, and a piece of steel wire is heavy and will not fly far. The shaft must be planed along the fibers for better flexibility and then dried well. At the end, leave a cut into which the tip will be inserted.

The tip itself must be cut out of a steel sheet (thickness not less than 0.7 mm) with metal scissors and modified with a grindstone - align and sharpen the edge. We insert the tips into the cut, lubricating it with epoxy. You can also wind it with a thread for strength, and apply a layer of epoxy on top.

There are also many options for making bolt plumage, but the best, in my opinion, is bird feathers. Ideally, goose, but they will fit even from the tail of a dove, which is much easier for a city dweller to find - they roll underfoot. We split the feather in two, cut each half in half and glue it to the arrow. For strength we wrap with threads.

Here's what happened in the end:

It is important that all the bolts are the same in weight and length - this will make it easier to shoot your homemade crossbow. And it is necessary to shoot him: the hunt will wait, first you need to master the new weapon well, to feel it. Even if you have experience shooting a crossbow, this one will be a little different, more "yours" - like any thing made by yourself.

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This article will be devoted to such throwing weapons as a homemade crossbow. From the following lines, you will not learn how to make a crossbow yourself, but you will get information about what homemade crossbows are and how well they shoot. Also within the framework of this article we will touch on the issue of the legality and expediency of such a hobby.
The material will be critical and we will try to dissuade you from such a dubious undertaking as making a crossbow at home. Let's get started, I hope you enjoy it.

Archery market in Russia is growing year by year. More and more fans of silent and accurate shooting appear in the country, and what could be better suited for this activity than a crossbow? Perhaps a compound bow, but to accurately shoot a bow, skill and some experience are needed.
With a crossbow, everything is somewhat simpler. The form factor of a rifle with a shoulder rest, the ability to install optics or a collimator make shooting from this type of weapon more familiar, and, therefore, more popular among consumers.

There are not many brands in the world that produce high-quality and reliable crossbows. You can count about a dozen companies, and almost all of these manufacturers are represented on our website. But in general, manufacturers satisfy the demand of almost all categories of consumers. The price of a crossbow starts from 5000 rubles, the question is natural - to whom and why in such a situation to make a crossbow on their own, if you can just buy it in a store.

As a rule, very young people under 20 years of age, or experienced men who are fond of designing, and very often designing everything, are engaged in this kind of crafts. Very rarely, almost never, a homemade crossbow is started by a person who is sorry for the money to buy.

In fact, despite the deceptive simplicity of design, making a crossbow on your own is not as easy as it seems. Most often, homemade crossbows are made from bows, or spring-like steel plates with blocks. As a bowstring "Kulibin" uses a metal cable. Such bulky things shoot badly, weigh a lot, and hit crookedly.
Speaking of blocks for homemade crossbow, then they, as a rule, are either machined on their own, or, in some cases, they use aluminum coils from old tape recorders. The wear of such eccentrics is extremely high and they fly even from an ordinary shot, not to mention a blank

The bed of a homemade crossbow can be either steel or wood. It all depends on the imagination of a particular "Kulibin". As a descent, there are mechanisms from old guns, or everything is made independently on milling machines. Popular among homemade and such a game as making a block crossbow from a recursive one.

As a spoonful of honey, let's say that sometimes very spectacular gizmos are obtained, of impressive size and impressive power. The main problem of homemade crossbows is the accuracy of hits, which cannot be compared with branded models. On various forums you can see photos of homemade crossbows with brief description specifications. And among the mass of slag, you can find models with a tension force of 40 kg. and a range of about 100 meters. But here's the catch - homemade crossbows, as a rule, have no ballistics, and getting somewhere even from 50 meters, not to mention 100, is almost impossible.

For you to understand, branded models are carefully tested and shot at targets before being released into production. various types and any deficiencies found are corrected. Then, already modernized and devoid of flaws from the last test, the crossbow is tested again. And so on, until the declared range and aiming accuracy are reached. Is it necessary to say that in the case of "home-made" all this is not?

Another disadvantage is the legality of such a hobby. If you go too far with increased tension, you can get an impressive administrative fine, provided that the police find the product in your possession. However, the police will be obliged to seize such a thing from you, even if the tension increase does not exceed 40 kg, because you will not have certificates for the product.

If you want to make a crossbow yourself, we strongly recommend that you think carefully before you get started. This activity, although interesting, is labor-intensive, and the result is completely unpredictable. At the exit, you can get either a deadly bazooka or a zilch.
At the same time, remember that it is difficult to call this activity legal. In the best case, the product will be confiscated from you, in the worst case, you will also pay for it. This opinion is a purely personal point of view of the author of the article and may not coincide with yours. In our opinion, it is much easier, smarter and more convenient to buy a crossbow in an online store.
In this case, you will receive a guaranteed result, the declared technical characteristics and a full package of documents, including certificates, that this product is not a weapon.

A copy of an ancient crossbow is a very interesting thing, both in terms of appearance, and when shooting from it. Now let's talk about how to make a crossbow at home so that it really looks like ancient weapons. Nowadays there are many modern crossbows, but their cost is quite high, and I want to hang on the wall in the bedroom exactly the current copy of the ancient crossbow.

Now let's take a step-by-step look at what is needed to create a wooden crossbow. Few tools are needed.

1. Well sharpened knife.
2. Drill.
3. Hacksaw for metal.

Material preparation, or How to make a crossbow out of wood

To make the product look and shoot like a real weapon, you need to make it from suitable wood:

1. poplars.
2. Ash.
3. Pines.
4. Oak.
5. Maple.
6. Acacias.

These trees are perfect.

The crossbow consists of two main parts - the bow and the stock. If we make weapons with a capacity of up to 20 kilograms, for a bow you need to find an even branch five centimeters thick and a meter long. If the power of the crossbow is planned to be more than 20 kilograms, then it is better to take a blank 10 centimeters thick and a meter long. For the crossbow bed, we select a branch with a diameter slightly thicker than the blank for the bow. If there are branches on the sawn material, in no case should they be completely cut off. You just need to shorten them so that the length is from three to five centimeters. If you cut off the knots completely, they will immediately crack, and the workpiece will be spoiled.

Drying of harvested wood

Before you make a crossbow with your own hands, you need to ensure that the material dries gradually. To do this, you need to cover the saw cuts with varnish so that moisture does not come out through them too quickly. Slices on knots are also covered. If this is not done, then due to rapid evaporation, the tree will crack, and this is undesirable. After that, the blanks should lie for a month in a dry and dark place. The longer the tree dries, the better.

Primary processing

The material is ready, we can proceed. Let's start with the bow. We examine the annual rings of the tree. Where they are thinner, the north side, that's what we need. In this place, the structure of the material is much denser. Now you need to cut the workpiece in half and take the north side for the product. After everything is done, the tree must be allowed to lie down for another week so that the remaining moisture comes out.

Making a crossbow bow

We start making a bow, during which we will see the structure of the tree and learn how to make a crossbow at home using ancient technologies. So, let's get started, you need to cut the layers of the tree, where its core is present. If you leave it, then there is a risk that longitudinal cracks will go. After we measure the middle of the onion and begin to cut off the excess material, making the onion. When processing, it is necessary to ensure that his shoulders are the same. We check for bending all the time. As soon as the shoulders begin to bend even a little, you need to make a trial bowstring.

A trial bowstring is a strong rope, on which there is one loop on one side, and several, located at different distances, on the other. They are needed in order to measure the bend of the bow limbs. The more material is cut off, the more they can be bent, while changing the loops to the nearest ones. By pulling the test string constantly, it is easy to track whether the bow is even after processing the bow. After all, if you look only visually, you can make a big mistake. The density of the tree is not the same in all places, so a seemingly perfect bow can bend unevenly. Sometimes it happens that a thick section is a weak point, and a thinner one, on the contrary, does not bend. In order not to make a mistake, you need to constantly check the bow. Only by studying all the nuances, you can make a working copy, understand how to make a crossbow with your own hands, and fully display the power and beauty of the ancient weapon.

Making a crossbow stock

In front of the bed, you need to cut a two-centimeter recess where the bow will be located. After we mark 30 cm from the edge, a bowstring and an arrow will walk on this surface. We level this plane if it has bends or branches. After you need to measure the place for the gutter 1 cm thick and 0.5 cm deep, then cut out the holes for the bow and the trigger. It is better to do this with a chisel or a carpenter's cutter, and in order to understand in detail how to make a crossbow, drawings to help.

Trigger mechanism

Take the simplest hold, called a nut. It is a cylinder that rotates freely on an axle. On the one hand, its hooks for the bowstring, on the other - an emphasis for the L-shaped trigger. If the crossbow is up to 30 kg of tightness, the descent can be wooden. However, if the power is greater, it should be made of metal.

Making a bowstring

You need to take a board and insert pegs 1 cm thick. They should protrude 3 cm. The field of which, from one to the other, we wind a nylon thread in a circle. When the thickness of all the threads is about 5 mm, it is necessary, without removing from the pegs, to wrap this skein around once in a circle so that all the threads are tightly wrapped. After that, near the peg, we collect two halves of the bowstring with our fingers and wrap it again, but already much denser, until the next peg. So, we get a bowstring with two loops. A diagram of how to make a crossbow will help you understand everything. Everything about her is very clear.

We collect the crossbow and pull the bowstring

First you need to attach a bow to the stock, then we mount the trigger mechanism, after that we pull the bowstring. You can’t just pull it, so you need to use the trial. Next, you need to pull the crossbow. When the bow is bent, we hang the bowstring. After that, the test is removed. Everything, the ancient weapon is ready. Here's how to make a crossbow at home using only the simplest tools.

Making a toy mini crossbow

For fun at home with the kids or for fooling around with friends, you can make a mini crossbow from improvised materials. What is needed for this:

1. Two wooden skewers.
2. Carpenter's cutter or knife.
3. Scotch.
4. Wooden clothespin.
5. Bead.

Scheme, or How to make a mini crossbow from what can be easily found at home

1. We take wooden skewers and cut off the sharp ends from them. After that, we tie them together at the edges. This will be the crossbow bow.
2. We take a bead, mark two segments on it, equal to the length of the bow of our miniature weapon. After we cut off these two parts and connect them together with adhesive tape. This is the stock of a crossbow. Tape the bow on the front.
3. After that, we pull the bowstring on the crossbow.
4. We delay it and look at what distance to set the hook. They will serve as a clothespin, or rather, its spring and one half of the wooden part.
5. On the bed of the crossbow we cut out the necessary grooves so that it becomes instead of the missing part of the clothespin. We collect our hook.
6. The crossbow is ready, we press the clothespin from above, thereby unclenching it, we pull the bowstring along with the arrow and clamp it. To shoot again, press the top.

We figured out how to make a mini crossbow, and now we can go ahead and create weapons from pencils.

Create a crossbow from pencils

For this you need to take:

1. Four pencils.
2. Seven rubber bands
3. Ballpoint pen case.
4. Scotch.

Shall we start?

1. First you need to take the pencils and connect them two by two together. You can use rubber bands or tape. This will be the bow and crossbow bed.
2. In front of the bed, we wind the bow from below.
3. From above on the bed we tape the body from the handle with tape, this will be the guide for the arrow. It can be made from the core of the same pen.
4. Now we put one elastic band on the ends of the bow, and we tie their edges with threads or tape to make a single bowstring. Now we grab the bowstring with the enclosed arrow, run it into the guide from the handle body and release it.

Here's how to make a pencil crossbow that shoots great.

Let's start creating a paper crossbow

This requires:

1. A4 sheets - 9 pieces.
2. Popsicle sticks - 4 pieces.
3. Scotch.
4. Durable nylon thread.

How to make a crossbow out of paper that will shoot pencils?

1. We put three sheets of paper in front of us lengthwise. We bend from left to right. Cut in half along the fold line. It turns out six sheets, the width of which is 10.5 cm and the length is 29.7 cm. We divide them into two piles of three sheets.
2. Using a pencil, we twist one, and then the second stack of sheets into tubes. Their length should be 10.5 cm, and the diameter should be slightly thicker than a pencil. So that they do not unwind, we fasten with tape.
3. We insert into one end of the tubes a popsicle stick a third of their length. We break off the protruding part. On the free side, we insert a whole stick of popsicle also by a third. These are the shoulders of the bow. Now you need to bend them in the center of the paper tubes in half.
4. We take five more sheets of paper, twist them with a pencil, this will be the bed of the crossbow.
5. We wind the shoulders of the bow to the resulting tube in front. It is necessary to evenly wind them in front of the bed of the product. Here's how to make a crossbow at home out of paper. Now he needs a hold, a trigger and a guide.
6. We tie the thread to the shoulders of the bow and pull it to understand where the hook will be. Having decided, we cut through the bed in this place. After that, we cut off a piece of the stick 3-4 cm in size and insert it into the hole so that it protrudes 5 mm from above and is a trigger from below.
7. And the final touch. We make a tube 3 cm long so that a pencil can freely pass into it, and we fasten it with tape in front of the crossbow above its bow. This is a stele guide. That's it, now you can pull the string, put, for example, a pencil into the guide and shoot.

Here we looked at the creation of a copy of an ancient crossbow. However, it was also interesting to create throwing weapons from improvised materials, as they say: on the knees. From paper, they even showed how to make a crossbow out of pencils, and a mini-weapon that turned out to be quite powerful for its size. So it’s worth looking at the world more broadly and always improvising, only in this way you can achieve excellent results in deeds worthy of admiration by people around you.

Make a crossbow with my own hands, You will not regret!

A hunting crossbow is a fairly effective weapon, which, if necessary, can serve as a worthy replacement for a rifle. The main advantage of the weapon is the noiselessness of firing. Therefore, during its use it is quite difficult to scare the beast.

Design features

What is a hunting crossbow made of? The photos presented in this material allow you to see that the following components can be distinguished in it:

1. The body is the main power unit, which bears the load when lowering the bowstring. Serves as the basis for the installation of functional parts.
2. Blocks - part of the design for installing bowstring tension arcs.
3. stock - a part of a crossbow that is used to place an arrow.
4. A bowstring is a functional part that serves to set the used projectiles in motion.
5. Shoulders - an elastic structural element that gives off energy when the bowstring is pulled.
6. The stirrup is a part that facilitates loading the crossbow.
7. The trigger mechanism is a device due to which the lock opens and the bowstring is released when fired.
8. Sight - mounted on a crossbow to facilitate targeting.

Hunting crossbow with wooden shoulders

It is the simplest design. As follows from the definition, the shoulders here are made of wood. Such a crossbow cannot be called a model of reliability. Products in this category are frankly short-lived and therefore are not in high demand. Most often, such a hunting crossbow is used as a collectible, decorative weapon.

Crossbow with arcs of metal

An extremely common option. Hunters pay attention to such crossbows, as they demonstrate high power when fired. hunting bows and crossbows with metal arcs are suitable not only for training, but also for use in the field when tracking prey. For manufacturing, both solid arcs and composite structures are used, which are assembled from several symmetrical parts.

Recurve crossbow

Classic version with curved shoulders. Such a hunting crossbow is an extremely easy to use and easy-to-use device. It has small dimensions and improved characteristics. Easily disassembled and transported.

Recurve crossbows contain reinforced shoulders, the tension force of which can reach about 50 kg. This, in turn, opens up the possibility for hunting small and large animals.

Block crossbow

The design includes a whole system of eccentrics, thanks to which the process of loading the weapon is facilitated and the arrow is accelerated. Compared to recursive models, a block hunting crossbow is more compact. The power figures here are also on top.

Insignificant dimensions are ensured by the installation of short arcs. The application of this solution contributes to the easy overcoming of the areas covered with thickets and shrubs by the owner of the weapon.

The characteristics of the block-type hunting crossbow provide a simple cocking of the bowstring and a slight return, which is achieved due to the rational distribution of the force vector.

type

• due to the reduced dimensions, they are an extremely convenient weapon for transportation;
• have high power and allow you to hit targets both at medium and long distances;
• they have less lethal force compared to block systems, but they throw arrows at a higher speed;
• in addition to arrows, they can fire darts, harpoons, metal balls.

sights

The main feature of shooting from a crossbow is a significant shift in the aiming line. In other words, after the shot is fired, the fired projectile begins to gravitate towards the ground rather quickly. Therefore, it is advisable to install optics with a special crossbow net on such weapons. For effective targeting, it is enough to equip crossbows with optical sights with 4x zoom.

Some hunters prefer collimator systems, which also prove to be quite effective. Moreover, this option makes it possible to hunt both in the daytime and in the evening. Collimator sights are extremely convenient to use when pointing at moving targets.

Do-it-yourself hunting crossbow

Having decided on the necessary parameters and characteristics of the future weapon, it is worth moving on to the development of the appropriate drawing. As a sample, you can use a ready-made scheme or draw up the latter yourself. Be that as it may, a do-it-yourself made hunting crossbow will eventually have to be customized.

In the course of preparing the drawing, it is worth focusing not only on personal wishes, but also take into account the availability of the necessary materials, proceed from their cost, and the complexity of processing.

How to make a hunting crossbow with your own hands? Usually, to begin with, a bed is prepared, on which the shoulders, stirrup, guide, and trigger are subsequently attached. difficult for self-manufacturing arcs act as an element. Therefore, in some cases it is better to purchase them ready-made.

They will help to make hunting drawings, examples of which are shown in the photos below.

Frame

The base on which the bed and shoulders of the product are fixed is the body. It is desirable to cut it out of a metal blank with a thickness of about 2.5-3 mm.

In the central part of the body and at the end, the crossbow bed is fixed with bolts. The use of such a solution contributes to the rapid assembly of weapons for bringing into combat condition and disassembly during transportation.

A stirrup is welded to the body in the lower part. The latter makes it possible to hold the crossbow with the foot when the bowstring is pulled. It is recommended to use a wire with a diameter of 6 to 8 mm as a material for the manufacture of the stirrup.

Shoulders

The material for the manufacture of a structural element can be automotive spring. In such metal shoulders, semicircular recesses are made for bolts, with the help of which the part will be screwed to the body.

A common opinion is that the use of metal springs as the basis for the manufacture of shoulders is a rather dangerous decision. And in fact, when using a homemade crossbow in conditions of low ambient temperature, the likelihood of part breakage increases, especially at the attachment points. Such cases are accompanied by the ejection of small fragments. Therefore, you should use the idea at your own peril and risk.

Blocks

Ready-made drawings of a hunting crossbow often provide for the presence of block devices. The latter facilitate tension and give an advantage in strength. It is easier to bring such a crossbow into a combat state than with a simple connection of the ends of the bowstring with the ends of the shoulders. Moreover, during the descent, the starting speed of the arrow increases, which is reflected in the increase in the range of the weapon. The main disadvantage of installing a block system is the complexity of manufacturing and an increase in the total weight of the crossbow.

bowstring

As a bowstring, you can use a metal cable with a diameter of about 2-3 mm. A thicker bowstring will be more difficult to fix on a weapon, and a thin one will stretch as the product is used.

To fix the bowstring at the ends of the shoulders, it is enough to make a regular loop. Under the cable mounts, it is better to place pieces of leather or any other dense material in advance. This solution avoids chafing of the bowstring in contact with metal shoulders.

Lodge

For the manufacture of the part, an easily workable wooden blank in the form of a board with a thickness of about 30 mm can be used. It is worth noting that, despite the high strength indicators, oak is not very suitable for these purposes due to its significant weight. As for spruce and pine, the latter are not sufficiently resistant to mechanical damage and warp on contact with moisture. Therefore, the type of wood should be selected depending on the goals and conditions for the future operation of the crossbow.

How to make a hunting crossbow truly practical? Special attention in the manufacture should be given to the guide in the form of a groove for the arrow, which must be tried to be made as even, smooth and polished as possible. The state of the groove is largely reflected in the accuracy of shooting. It is desirable that the width of the bed is equal to the diameter of the arrows used. You can cut it with a circular saw.

It is rational to use a spring as a means to hold the arrow, which will press the projectile to the stock and will not allow the latter to slip out of the groove before the shot is fired.

Trigger mechanism

Sheet iron will serve as the material for the manufacture of the part. It is desirable that its thickness is at least 6-7 mm. The drawing of the mechanism is presented in the following diagram:

All parts are placed directly in the box. A special nest is cut out here, through holes are made under the axis of the mechanism, on which the elements of the descent are subsequently installed. An example of setting the descent is shown in the figure below.

Aiming optics

As a crossbow sight, you can use factory optics from firearms. A fairly practical solution is the use of a front sight and a rear sight. With the help of the latter, vertical corrections can be made. Horizontal adjustments are conveniently made using the front sight fixed at the intersection of the shoulders and stock.

To ensure the convenience of transporting a crossbow, it is worth making the sighting device removable. To do this, you can install the so-called Picatinny rail on the weapon, which makes it possible to mount individual factory-assembled sights.

Finally

The hand-made manufacture and operation of a hunting crossbow is a rather radical solution. Often, in the absence of experience in this kind of activity, the quality and reliability of a home-made device leaves much to be desired. In reality, even factory-made budget category crossbows, the cost of which is about 3000-4000 rubles, turn out to be much more efficient, convenient and practical compared to the creations of their own hands.

As you can see, it is quite possible to make a hunting crossbow. However, when purchasing a weapon in a specialized store, the user receives guarantees of its safety and assembly reliability. When operating a homemade crossbow, you can only rely on yourself.