How to Cock a Crossbow the Right Way!
Whether or not you shoot down your game and take a winning home depends on little things, such as how you cock your crossbow. It’s often the little details that make or break a hunt. A minor variation in how your cock a crossbow can mean the difference between bagging a game and returning home empty-handed.
It is critical to learn how to aim a crossbow properly. When you discharge a bolt, an improperly cocked crossbow can cause significant accuracy issues. Practicing correct cocking will assist you in attaining accurate bolt flight.
A bolt that is released with unequal energy will wind up off-target downrange. In addition, if you know how to cock a crossbow, purchasing a new crossbow becomes easier since you know how much force you would be willing to put into the cocking.
This post will teach you how to cock a crossbow correctly, what errors to avoid while cocking, as well as some info on the standard cocking tools that make the task easier.
Basic Steps of Cocking a Crossbow
If you’ve got a new crossbow and are excited to go and try it out, remember that it is not like a regular bow and arrow. It requires a lot of attention, and there are certain things you must know before using it.
Let’s dive into the steps you need to cock your crossbow. These are the basic steps of cocking a crossbow with a rope since we are not a big fan of hand cocking.
Step 1:
Point the crossbow at the ground so the foot claw contacts it. Putting your foot through the stirrup and the front of your crossbow on the basis will provide the necessary support for loading your crossbow.
Step 2:
Make sure your crossbow’s safety switch is in the shooting position, or you won’t be able to fully retract the string. Some crossbows do this automatically, while others require you to do so directly.
Step 3:
Place the cocking mechanism for the rope on the stock. Crossbows have a shallow groove near the rear of the store for a rope cocker. Place your cocking device’s cord into this groove, one hook and roller on each side.
Step 4:
After verifying your hooks are in the proper position, grab the handles of your rope cocking device and begin to pull up. Take hold of the string with both palms. Ensure you have a solid grip and that your hands are positioned so that you are not pulling harder on one side than the other.
Step 5:
Smoothly and consistently pull the thread back. Do not pull the string back abruptly. Pulling the rope back could damage the crossbow and injure you.
Step 6:
When you first start pulling, you should be bent over, and as you draw back, you should stand up to better use your back and shoulders to help cock the bow.
Step 7:
The rope will lock into position once the bow is fully drawn. You can now fire an arrow from the bow. Always ensure that safety is turned on before launching an arrow. Load an arrow and prepare to fire.
Tips on How to Cock a Crossbow:
Some important things to keep in mind before cocking your crossbow:
Hand Cocking a Crossbow:
Hand cocking a crossbow is by far the fastest method to cock a crossbow, particularly when you’re out in the field. Hand cocking your crossbow is straightforward; simply pull the bowstring back into the latch until you hear the click, at which time you should be ready to fire your bolt.
The issue with hand cocking your bow is that the chance of dry firing increases, which can be hazardous to your bow and those around you. When a bow is launched without an arrow or bolt, this is known as dry firing. Crossbows, on the other hand, store a lot of potential energy, and if that energy isn’t transferred into the bolt and back into the bow, it can cause significant damage.
If you want to cock your crossbow with your hands, mark the string with two lines along the flight path so that when you draw the string, you know exactly when the string is centred into the latch. Only discharge when you hear a click into the trigger box.
Cocking a Crossbow with Cocking Aids
Cocking aids are a lifesaver, quite literally, when it comes to loading crossbows. Since you can injure your limbs when cocking the crossbows by hand, making use of cocking aids in the market seems to like the only safe and reasonable way to cock your crossbows.
Here are some of the devices you can make use of for cocking:
Rope Cockers
Rope cocking devices are one of the most popular systems to cock a crossbow. As explained earlier, they are relatively safer to use. They are also easier to use and take more than 50% of the weight off the cocking. It helps greatly to keep consistent accuracy and precision.
There are also fewer chances of dry-firing when using a rope cocker. You can choose one of the many different rope-loading devices available in the market according to your liking.
Cranking Devices
Cranking devices are typically equipped with a detachable handle. This handle has a cranking mechanism that can lower the weight by up to 5 pounds. Most versions have a removable handle from the shooter sight for shooting. For each model, each brand presents its crank cocking mechanism. Here are some examples to show you what is available on the market.
Cranking devices are simple to use, and since they lower cocking weight, they make drawing the crossbow easier. They also make cocking uniform that makes the precision more remarkable.
The only downside of cranking devices is that some people may find this not quick enough. The clicking noises can also be annoying for some people.
Final Words on Loading a Crossbow
Now you know all the different ways to cock your crossbow and the various devices that make drawing a crossbow an easier task. It entirely depends on your personal preference and physical condition on what cocking methods you opt for, as using bare hands to cock a crossbow can be challenging for some. Using the tips and tricks we have provided, you can identify what model crossbow works best for you. Happy hunting!
