How to make a crossbow for hunting with your own hands?

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 sports competitions and outdoor activities.

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:

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:

1. Leg or hand braces. A very popular type of tension. However, its use is only available for crossbows with low power.
2. 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.
3. An improved type of the second method is a rope with the use of rollers. The mount is also mounted on the belt.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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 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 used, 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 the 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 the tension force. 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.