| Fact: Modern hunting crossbows are of the compound or recurve archery bow design that shoot arrows that are the same as any hand-held bow's arrow. Compound Crossbow Description:
Compound Crossbows: Riser, Limbs, Wheels, Cams, Powerstroke, Energy, Models.
The compound crossbow has an string attached to pulleys, one or both of which has one or more cables attached to the opposite limb. When the string is drawn back, the string causes the pulleys to turn. This causes the pulleys to pull the cables, which in turn causes the limbs to bend and thus store energy. Compound crossbows, the string is held back mechanically and released by a trigger mechanism mounted internally and is only released by a crossbowman.  Compound Crossbow Riser:
A compound crossbow's central mount for the limbs, is called the riser. Risers are designed to be as rigid as possible. The central riser of a compound crossbow is usually made of aluminium or magnesium, and many are made of the aircraft-grade aluminium alloy. Compound Crossbow Limbs:
Compound crossbow limbs are made of composite materials and are capable of taking high tensile and compressive forces. The limbs store all the energy of the crossbow, no energy is stored in the pulleys and cables. The limbs of a compound crossbow are usually much stiffer than those of a recurve crossbow. This limb stiffness makes the compound crossbow more energy efficient than other crossbows, but the limbs are too stiff to be drawn comfortably with a string attached directly to them. Compound Crossbow Wheels And Cams:
The compound crossbow has the string attached to the pulleys, one or both of which has one or more cables attached to the opposite limb. When the string is drawn back, the string causes the pulleys to turn. This causes the pulleys to pull the cables, which in turn causes the limbs to bend and thus store energy. Compound Crossbow Cams:
Compound crossbows generally use only pulleys that are both round and concentrically mounted, in order to capture the maximum available energy from the relatively short draw length. When cams are used, this unique feature in design allows more arrow velocity in a given draw distance or (powerstroke) as opposed to a recurve crossbow of the same weight pull. Compound Crossbow Powerstroke:
Speeds are not only derived from the draw weight of the crossbow. The longer the power stroke, the faster the arrow will travel. This in conjunction with weight and harness assembly, i.e. high energy cams, and synthetic cables and string store more energy than a heavier weight crossbow with a shorter power stroke. Compound Crossbow Energy:
Two factors determine the amount of energy a compound crossbow can hold.
1. Its draw weight is the amount of force required to draw the bow. A crossbow's draw weight increases the farther back you pull the string.
2. Its draw length is the distance between the crossbowstring's position at rest and its position when drawn.
The total amount of energy that a crossbow can hold is approximately equal to its draw weight, times its draw length, divided by two.
Crossbow manufacturers express this energy in terms of: The crossbow's energy, measured in foot-pounds, The arrow's velocity, measured in feet per second. Compound Crossbow Weather Affects:
The compound crossbow is little-affected by changes in temperature and humidity and it gives superior accuracy, velocity, and distance in comparison to other crossbows. Compound Crossbow Maintenance:
Compound crossbows require slightly more effort to service because of wheels, cams, cables and strings, but are more compact in design, deliver more energy per inch of power stroke and are up to 15% more efficient. Compound Crossbow Cocking And Accuracy:
Cocking is typically easier due to the shorter overall length as well as the built-in "let off" in draw weight, making it less critical to cock evenly due to the working characteristics of the wheels or cams. Compound Crossbow Trigger Mechanism Stress:
A compound crossbow will "let-off" about 33% when the wheels roll over on most current compound crossbow models. Not only is it easier for the user to cock a compound crossbow, but also it is less mechanical stress on the trigger mechanism. 2010 Compound Crossbow Models, Overviews & Specifications; See all Compound Crossbows at Cabela's. | 
