How to make a mini crossbow from wood. How to make a crossbow: let's have an office battle! photo.mounting a homemade crossbow

For lovers of homemade weapons, we invite you to sit back, as in this material we will present an overview of the manufacture of a crossbow with a reverse design. First of all, let's explain why the design of this crossbow is called reverse: the fact is that its bowstring is pulled in the opposite direction, which allows it to obtain significantly more power.

What do we need to make such a crossbow:
- wooden plank 15 mm thick and 28 mm wide;
- ruler;
- pencil;
- hacksaw;
- drill;
- bolts, washers and nuts;
- two rollers;
- spring;
- two metal corners;
- nylon rope;
- door hinge;
- metal plate.

We take the bar that needs to be used to cut out four blanks. The length of the first blank should be equal to 43 cm, the second - 31 cm. The remaining two blanks should be equal to 15 cm.

Next, take two short blanks and make 1 cm marks from each edge. Also make one 5 cm mark from one edge of both blanks.

The next step is to take the middle bar and make marks 1.5 cm from both edges.

We make holes in the marked places.

At the edges of the short strips we make through holes going to the holes drilled in the previous stage.

Next, we fix the middle bar to the very length of the bar at the 25 cm mark. We will do this using bolts, washers and nuts.

For greater reliability, the author of the idea applies a layer of glue between the two planks.

Now we take two rollers, which were also used to make the compound bow, and secure them with bolts next to the middle bar, as shown in the figure below.

After this, we take a spring, which can also be purchased at the car market, and secure it to the crossbow using a metal corner.

The angle should be installed on the edge of the long bar with self-tapping screws, but it will interfere with the flight of the arrow. To avoid this, we make a small depression on the bar.

The next step is to take short strips, which we secure to the resulting base of our crossbow with the same bolts.

We take a piece of nylon rope and fasten it to the shoulders of the crossbow using through holes. Thus, we connect the shoulders together.

Next, we take another piece of rope, attach it to one of the shoulders, thread it through the roller, then through the spring, through the second roller, finally attaching it to the second shoulder. The length of the rope should be such that it is difficult for the spring to reach its middle.

Let's move on to making the trigger mechanism. To do this, fully tighten the crossbow string and make a mark at the end point.

We make a hole along the mark.
We take a metal plate and cut out a blank from it, similar to the one that can be seen in the figure below.

We fasten the plate so that the hole on it coincides with the hole on the crossbow.

We take the door hinge and connect it to the metal corner using a bolt.

Do you want to make a real crossbow that will not only look like it, but will also shoot? Then don’t pass by and read our article on the topic of how to make a crossbow with your own hands. In the article we will not only talk about the intricacies of this matter, but also show the whole process in the photo. The topic is especially relevant in the summer, when you can go out into nature and shoot at targets. And a thing made with your own hands will delight not only the eye, but also your friends or acquaintances, who, having seen such a product, will certainly set a goal and desire to own it!

How to make a crossbow with your own hands

Among simple tools created with one's own hands, the bow definitely wins. However, crossbows are also very popular. If you want to make a crossbow with your own hands, you just need to read the instructions below. A medieval design was chosen as an example due to its simplicity. Such a crossbow does not require metal welding; it can be made at home; it also does not require the presence of springs, as in its other, more advanced variations.

All that is needed to make a simple medieval crossbow is the desire to craft. Initially, you need to find a suitable stick for the base of the structure. It is recommended to use bird cherry, since after drying the wood retains good elasticity characteristics. When a suitable branch is found, you should carefully saw it off, completely remove the bark and leave it to dry in a warm place.
Typically the drying time is about 5-7 months.

Step-by-step instruction:

In addition, it is recommended to immediately bend the stick so that it does not crack during processing and fixation, as well as during use. If bird cherry is not available in the area, you can use elm or other alternative wood.

It should be remembered that for good strength, durability and elasticity of the launching part of a home crossbow, you need to stand it well. Moreover, in this case, the chances of a crack during operation of the crossbow will be significantly reduced.

To have the opportunity to practice and to avoid the need to wait again, it is recommended to prepare several sticks at once.

You can use any type of board or dry wood on the stock of a homemade crossbow. It all depends on how accurately you want to replicate the medieval model of the weapon.

Once the wood has been selected and processed, a notch needs to be made in the front of the wood to accommodate the crossbow bow. You can make a notch with any tool from a metal file to a regular knife.

The next step in making a crossbow with your own hands at home is to drill holes for the bow bolts. They are placed at a distance of 8-10 cm from the front of the bed. Previously, holes were made with red-hot metal, so you can also use this method if you don’t have the right tools at hand.

Moreover, if you don’t have bolts at hand, you can use the same wood.

The upper plane of the stock should have a groove in which the crossbow bolt will be placed. Often this groove is made round, but it is recommended to plan it triangular to increase the accuracy of the bolt.

When everything is ready, you can fix the bow. This is applied to the cutout made in the front of the stock and tied tightly with rope to the previously installed bolts or their wooden alternatives. This will be enough, but for a tighter fixation it is better to use glue.

The last element of a homemade crossbow is the organization of the trigger mechanism. Usually the simplest lever type is used. The crossbow drawing below shows how such a system works.

When the bracket-lever is lowered, the pin instantly launches, and it launches the bolt forward. It is important that this system does not have any safety mechanisms, so the bolt must be installed only before firing.

The created crossbow must have a tension force of about 40 kg, so the design will not be included in the list of edged weapons. The string is tensioned by hand, so additional mechanisms are also not required.

Drawings for making at home

The photo above schematically shows a crossbow with all the necessary dimensions. Its main value is to understand what size its parts should be in relation to each other. Its entire length is 732 mm, with a height at the sight mounting point of 223 mm. The drawing shows a “pistol” handle (shaped like a pistol), for a reliable and comfortable grip.

The second hole is made to facilitate the construction, since the total thickness of the plywood handle (can be made of wood) is 30 mm. The arms are 302 mm long and are a universal option; their total length is 532 mm. For the first time, it is enough to make exactly according to the dimensions indicated in the diagram, and after testing, make adjustments.

Despite its age, the crossbow is still able to compete well with some types of weapons. Unlike its ancestor, the bow, this design has an automatic arrow release system, thanks to which the shooter can concentrate on aiming without wasting energy on pulling the bowstring. Given the popularity of this weapon, many craftsmen are interested in how to make a crossbow with their own hands. To do this, you should take into account many nuances, know the design features of a modern crossbow, the types of such weapons, factors influencing the firing range, etc.

Before you make a crossbow with your own hands, you need to understand the features of this weapon. It is also called a crossbow or arrow thrower, which perfectly characterizes the features of its design. In simple terms, this is a bow equipped with a special mechanism for cocking and releasing the bowstring.

There is a full-fledged hammer here - a trigger, through which the shot is fired. Thanks to this innovation, the crossbow is superior to the traditional bow in many respects, namely:

• lethal force;
• shot range;
• shooting accuracy.

However, in most cases, a crossbow is inferior to a bow in terms of rate of fire. To level out this drawback, special shortened arrows or bolts, and sometimes bullets, were used.

When the crossbow was used as a military weapon, there were enlarged prototypes that were installed on special machines. They were called arcbalists. At the moment, crossbows are used mainly in sports and hunting, being compact and easy to use.

Device Features

To make the stock, it is recommended to use wood material: ash, beech, birch, walnut, rosewood and even oak

The main part of the crossbow is the stock into which the arrow is placed. It is combined with the trigger mechanism.

A guide groove for bolts is installed in the upper part of the stock. At the end of the stock there is a stirrup and a cross. Wooden or steel shoulders are fixed to the latter.

The traditional trigger mechanism consists of a lever, a washer with a slot for the arrow shank and a retaining spring. Thus, when the trigger is pressed, the bowstring is released from the hook, transferring energy to the arrow.

At the moment, there are several types of triggers used in crossbows. The most popular of these is the pistol-type design.

What does a crossbow consist of?

Compared to a traditional bow, several elements have been added to the design of the crossbow. This weapon consists of the following parts:

• bed;
• trigger mechanism;
• bowstring

If we are talking about a block crossbow, then its design also involves the presence of blocks - rollers designed to tension the bowstring.

On the left is a classic crossbow, on the right is a block model

Today, there are several types of crossbows. Regarding their purpose, such structures are divided into:

1. Sports. The appearance and characteristics of such weapons directly depend on the sporting discipline in which they are used. As a rule, such designs are equipped with special aiming systems and various attachments designed to improve shooting accuracy.
2. Hunting. Such crossbows require relative compactness with high power. Therefore, block-type models are most often purchased for hunting.
3. Amateur. These are lightweight guns that are designed for target shooting and have relatively little power. Exact copies of antique crossbows are also produced, which, although they are combat prototypes, are most often used to decorate interiors and replenish collections.

Regarding the design, there are:

1. Classic models. In this case, energy is accumulated directly in the arcs, after which it is transferred to the bowstring. The operating principle of such crossbows is similar to the simplest bow models.
2. Block. This is the most advanced type of this weapon. A special system of blocks in this case contributes to proper distribution of the load between the elements of the system. Thus, the power of such a crossbow increases, and its dimensions decrease.

The design of a block crossbow is particularly complex. Even the banal process of replacing a bowstring in this case requires professional intervention.

Depending on the type of projectile used, crossbows can be:

1. Classic. In this case, we are talking about the use of special crossbow arrows or shortened “bolts” that increase the rate of fire of the weapon.
2. Schneppers or balestres. A typical projectile in such weapons is a metal ball.

Model manufacturing technology

To make a bow, a car spring is used, and rollers (blocks) are used as a string (cable) fastening system.

Making a crossbow with your own hands will be somewhat more difficult than making a bow. The fundamental difference in this case is the presence of a stock and a trigger mechanism. However, if you have skills in working with hand tools, then you should not have any particular difficulties.

Material selection

Before you make a crossbow from wood, you need to learn how to choose and prepare the material correctly.

Wood has the best properties for making a crossbow. This is an indispensable material for creating a stock and bow, since the wood is easy to process, has good flexibility and is very durable. In addition to wood, various composites and spring metal are used in the manufacture of arches today. However, for DIY production, it will be easiest to use wood.

Of course, something more reliable and wear-resistant should be used for the trigger mechanism. That's why it is made of iron.

If you plan to make a crossbow, the tension force of which does not exceed 20 kg, then it is quite possible to use beech or other hard wood to turn the parts of the trigger mechanism.

To make the body of a crossbow, it is best to use the following types of wood:

• poplar;
• ash;
• maple;
• acacia.

The density of these rocks is quite sufficient to withstand significant loads exerted on the stock and bow of a crossbow. Soft types of wood such as pine and linden are absolutely not suitable for the manufacture of these parts.

Preparation of material

The wooden blank for the crossbow must be dried for a year

Due to the significant loads placed on the elements of the crossbow, it is not surprising that sooner or later they will fail. To prevent this from happening in the near future, it is necessary to use pre-prepared material in the production of the crossbow.

The wood should be collected wet and dried within a year. To make a bow and stock, you must select branches that meet the following characteristics:

1. For a one-piece design of a stock with a butt, you should choose a branch at least a meter long. To make arcs, the length of the branch must be at least 180 cm.
2. The diameter of the workpieces must be at least 10 cm.

Advice! Before drying the raw materials, the saw cuts should be protected with paint or varnish. Any glue can also be used for this. This approach is necessary so that the wood dries more slowly and more evenly. This will protect the workpiece from the appearance of internal cracks, which will significantly extend the service life of the crossbow.

After protecting the cut points, you need to do the following:

1. The workpiece is sent to a dry place, protected from sunlight.
2. It is advisable that the raw materials remain here for at least a year.
3. Next, you should clean the workpiece from the bark, after which it should be kept in a dry place for another week.
4. Now the log can be sawed in half, after drying for about a week.

Making shoulders

The simplest thing is to use ready-made bows for sports shooting

On the workpiece, you should choose the side that is characterized by thinner annual rings. As a rule, this is the northern side, on which the fibers are denser than in other parts. The bow or shoulders are made from this part.

The production of shoulders is carried out as follows:

1. First, the middle is outlined, from which you should measure 2 cm in each direction to install the crossbow stock. This part of the bow should have maximum thickness.
2. From the middle we begin to gradually cut off excess material, moving towards the edges. The workpiece should be thinned in this way on both sides.
3. From time to time it is necessary to check the bending of the bows using a test bowstring. It is a strong rope with many loops. By placing a string on the bow, you can determine the degree of deflection and its uniformity. This way, the places where excess material should be removed are identified. This process continues until the product bends evenly on both sides.

How to handle knots

When preparing material, it is advisable to choose those branches that are as free as possible from knots and other defects. It should be understood that any large knot is a weak point in the structure. However, if you were unable to find a workpiece completely free of defects, it does not matter.

Important! Under no circumstances should you cut off knots before drying the material! Otherwise, the raw material may crack.

The removal of knots must be carried out already in the process of shaping the crossbow's shoulders. A well-sharpened knife is used for this. They should be cut in such a way that a protrusion about 1 mm high remains above the surface of the workpiece. Next, the defect is sanded with sandpaper.

Making a stock

The bed is made to suit you - for maximum comfort

After the arms of the weapon are ready, you should proceed to making the stock. To do this, you must follow these instructions:

1. Initially, we select the location of the groove along which the arrow will move during the shooting process. This place must be perfectly level. Any notches or irregularities can disrupt the trajectory of the arrow, dampen some of the inertia, or even make the weapon unusable.
2. Typically the gutter is about 30 cm long. It should be carefully hollowed out and sanded.
3. Behind the chute it is necessary to cut a recess for the trigger mechanism. In the front part, grooves are created for installing the shoulders.

All wood cutting work should be performed with a special carpenter's knife or chisel.

Trigger

To understand how to make a trigger mechanism for a crossbow, you first need to understand the features of its design.

If you do not plan to make a powerful weapon, but want to create a light and compact crossbow, then the arrow release mechanism can be made of wood. Beech or oak wood is used for this. If we are talking about weapons with a tension force of more than 20 kg, then the parts of this mechanism should be made of metal.

The most primitive trigger mechanism is called a “nut”. Its design is extremely simple. This element is a cylinder and consists of the following elements:

• on one side there is a trigger stop;
• at the opposite end there is a bowstring hook.

Powerful crossbows use an improved trigger system. It provides a light trigger pull under high load conditions.

Crossbow assembly

Advice: don’t worry about making arrows, they are much easier to buy

All that remains is to connect the manufactured elements together. Initially, it is necessary to install the trigger mechanism in the stock. To do this, a seat of a certain size must be machined into it. Next, the shoulders are installed. They can be either a solid arc or two separate elements. They are attached to the base using a special furniture glue, which will ensure reliable adhesion of the elements.

At the last stage, the bowstring is pulled over the shoulders. A strong nylon rope is most often used as a bowstring. It is attached to the ends of the bow, and the crossbow is ready for its first shot.

Making fiberglass arms

If you want to make a really powerful crossbow, then the arms of this design would be best made from fiberglass. Such a bow will not only be stronger, but also more durable than a wooden one. The manufacturing instructions are extremely simple:

1. We take Kevlar or fiberglass, cutting it into strips. To make the shoulders for an average crossbow, about 40 strips are required.
2. We glue the resulting elements with epoxy resin, tightly connecting them to each other.
3. After gluing, it is necessary to place the resulting workpiece under the press. The best option for this are flat boards, between which the shoulders are placed, clamped with clamps.
4. The structure hardens in 24 hours, provided that the workpiece is in a warm room.
5. After the shoulders have completely hardened, their protruding edges should be trimmed with a knife and sanded with sandpaper.

Epoxy adhesive should be prepared in such a way that the thickener content in it is minimal. Experts advise using no more than 10% thickener.

To make curly arches, you need to make a special mold for the press. It is made from plywood, which bends after pre-soaking.

How to make a mini crossbow?

Shooting from a mini crossbow will be quite interesting, because... You can use sharp bamboo skewers as arrows, which can even pierce cardboard.

To shoot a crossbow, it is not at all necessary to acquire skills in working with wood, purchase the necessary tools and procure raw materials, waiting a year to start work. The current model can be made from ordinary corrugated cardboard. Naturally, such a crossbow will not be suitable for sporting or hunting purposes, but it will be just right for target shooting.

The production of such a prototype involves several stages:

1. First we make the shoulders. To do this, you need to cut out several identical blanks from corrugated cardboard, which are fastened together into a single structure. Thus, the necessary rigidity is created, because this part of the crossbow will bear the maximum load.
2. Then cut out the trigger and locking mechanism from cardboard. They are also made from several layers glued together. To create additional rigidity, it is necessary to reinforce these structures with ice cream sticks.
3. The main part of the crossbow is represented by the stock, just like in its combat prototypes. This design consists of two identical parts that are connected to each other by means of jumpers.
4. We insert the trigger mechanism inside the stock and glue the main part of the crossbow.
5. Now you need to attach the shoulders to the base. This should be done very carefully to avoid distortion, otherwise the accuracy of a shot from such a crossbow will be in question.
6. At the last stage, you need to tighten the bowstring. For this purpose, stationery rubber bands are used, which are intertwined with each other. The more rubber bands you use, the more powerful your crossbow will be. However, you should not overdo it here - three or four layers will be enough.

You can use regular ballpoint pens as arrows for such a crossbow. They are quite heavy for a targeted flight, and the inertia of the rubber band will be more than enough to launch such a projectile.

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 gain information about what kind of homemade crossbows there are and how well they shoot. Also, within the framework of this article, we will touch upon the issue of the legality and appropriateness of such a hobby.
The material will be of a critical nature 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 find it interesting.

Archery market in Russia is growing year by year. There are more and more lovers of silent and accurate shooting in the country, and what could be better suited for this activity than a crossbow? Perhaps a compound bow, but to shoot accurately with a bow you need skill and some experience.
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 a dozen companies, and almost all of these manufacturers are presented on our website. But in general, manufacturers satisfy the demand of almost all categories of consumers. The price of a crossbow starts from 5,000 rubles; the natural question is: who and why in such a situation should make a crossbow on their own, if you can simply buy it in a store.

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

In fact, despite the deceptive simplicity of the design, making a crossbow yourself is not as easy as it seems. Most often, homemade crossbows are made from bows or spring-like steel plates with blocks. Kulibin uses a metal cable as a bowstring. Such bulky things shoot poorly, they weigh a lot, and they hit crookedly.
If we talk about blocks for a homemade crossbow, then, as a rule, they are either machined independently, or, in some cases, aluminum reels from old tape recorders are used. The wear of such eccentrics is extremely high and they fly even from a normal 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 the particular “Kulibin”. The triggers are made using mechanisms from old guns, or everything is made independently on milling machines. A popular game among DIYers is making a compound crossbow from a recurve one.

As a spoonful of honey, let's say that sometimes you get very impressive gizmos, impressive in size and impressive power. The main problem with homemade crossbows is the accuracy of hits, which cannot be compared with branded models. On various forums you can see photographs of homemade crossbows with a brief description of the technical characteristics. And among the mass of slag you can find models with a tension force of 40 kg. and a firing range of about 100 meters. But here’s the catch - the ballistics of homemade crossbows, as a rule, are poor and it’s practically impossible to hit anything even from 50 meters, let alone 100.

So that you understand, before being released into production, branded models are carefully tested and shot at various types of targets, and all detected deficiencies are corrected. Then, already modernized and free of defects from the last test, the crossbow is tested again. And so on until the declared range and shooting accuracy are achieved. Need I say that in the case of “homemade” ones, all this does not exist?

Another disadvantage is the legality of such a hobby. If you overdo it with increased tension, you can get an impressive administrative fine, provided that the product is found in your possession by the police. However, the police will be obliged to confiscate such a contraption from you, even if the tension gain 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 getting 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 zilch.
However, 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 simpler, smarter and more convenient to buy a crossbow in an online store.
In this case, you will receive guaranteed results, declared technical characteristics and a full package of documents including certificates stating that this product is not a weapon.

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 its silent shooting. Therefore, when using it, it is quite difficult to scare the animal.

Design features

What does a hunting crossbow consist of? The photos presented in this material allow us 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 a basis for installing functional parts.
2. Blocks are part of the structure for installing bowstring tension arcs.
3. The stock is the part of the crossbow that is used to place the arrow.
4. The bowstring is a functional part that serves to propel the projectiles used.
5. The shoulders are an elastic structural element that releases energy when the bowstring is pulled.
6. A stirrup is a part that makes loading a crossbow easier.
7. The trigger mechanism is a device due to which the lock opens and the bowstring is released when fired.
8. Sight - mounted on the crossbow to facilitate aiming at the target.

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 an example of reliability. Products in this category are frankly short-lived and therefore are not in very high demand. Most often, such a hunting crossbow is used as a collectible, decorative weapon.

Crossbow with metal arcs

An extremely common option. Hunters pay attention to such crossbows because they demonstrate high power when shooting. Hunting bows and crossbows with metal arches are suitable not only for training, but also for use in the field when tracking down 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-handle and convenient device to use. It has small dimensions and improved characteristics. Easily disassembled and transported.

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

Compound crossbow

The design includes a whole system of eccentrics, thanks to which the process of loading the weapon is facilitated and the acceleration of the arrow is ensured. Compared to recurve models, a compound hunting crossbow is more compact. The power figures here are also excellent.

Small dimensions are ensured by installing short arcs. The use of this solution makes it easier for the weapon owner to overcome areas covered with thickets and bushes.

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

type

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

Sights

The main feature of crossbow shooting is a significant shift in the aiming line. In other words, after firing the shot, the fired projectile begins to gravitate towards the ground quite quickly. Therefore, it is advisable to install optics with a special crossbow reticle on such weapons. To effectively target a target, 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 during the day and in the evening. Collimator sights are extremely convenient to use when aiming at moving targets.

DIY hunting crossbow

Having decided on the necessary parameters and characteristics of the future weapon, it is worth moving on to developing the appropriate drawing. You can use a ready-made diagram as a sample or create one yourself. Be that as it may, a home-made hunting crossbow will ultimately have to be customized to suit you.

When preparing a drawing, you should focus not only on personal wishes, but also take into account the availability of the necessary materials, based on their cost, and the complexity of processing.

How to make a hunting crossbow with your own hands? Usually, to begin with, a stock is prepared, onto which the shoulders, stirrup, guide, and trigger are subsequently attached. Arcs are a difficult element to make on your own. Therefore, in some cases it is better to purchase them ready-made.

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

Frame

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

The crossbow stock is fixed in the central part of the body and at the end using bolts. The use of such a solution facilitates the rapid assembly of weapons to bring them into combat condition and disassembly during transportation.

A stirrup is welded to the body at the bottom. The latter makes it possible to hold the crossbow with your foot when the bowstring is pulled. It is recommended to use wire with a diameter of 6 to 8 mm as the material for making stirrups.

Shoulders

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

There is a widespread opinion that the use of metal springs as the basis for making shoulders is a rather dangerous decision. And in fact, when using a homemade crossbow in conditions of low ambient temperature, the likelihood of the part breaking increases, especially at the fastening points. Such cases are accompanied by the release of small fragments. Therefore, you should apply the idea at your own peril and risk.

Blocks

Ready-made drawings of a hunting crossbow often include block devices. The latter ease the tension and give an advantage in strength. It is easier to put such a crossbow into combat condition than by simply connecting the ends of the bowstring to the ends of the arms. 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 the increase in the overall weight of the crossbow.

Bowstring

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

To fix the bowstring at the ends of the arms, it is enough to make a regular loop. It is better to place pieces of leather or any other dense material under the cable fastenings in advance. This solution allows you to avoid chafing of the bowstring when in contact with metal shoulders.

Lodge

To make the part, you can use an easily processed wooden blank in the form of a board about 30 mm thick. 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 when in contact with moisture. Therefore, the type of wood should be selected depending on the goals and conditions of future use of the crossbow.

How to make a hunting crossbow truly practical? During manufacturing, special attention should be paid to the guide in the form of a groove for the arrow, which you should try to make as even, smooth and polished as possible. The condition of the groove largely affects the accuracy of shooting. It is advisable that the width of the stock be equal to the diameter of the arrows used. You can cut it using a circular saw.

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

Trigger

The material used to manufacture the part will be sheet iron. It is desirable that its thickness be at least 6-7 mm. The mechanism drawing is presented in the following diagram:

All parts are placed directly into the stock. Here a special nest is cut out, through holes are made under the axes of the mechanism, onto which the trigger elements are subsequently installed. An example of setting the trigger is shown in the figure below.

Sighting optics

Factory optics from firearms can be used as a crossbow sight. A fairly practical solution is to use a front and rear sight. Using the latter, you can make vertical corrections. It is convenient to make horizontal adjustments using a front sight mounted at the intersection of the shoulders and the stock.

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

Finally

Making and operating a hunting crossbow with your own hands is a rather radical solution. Often, in the absence of experience in this type of activity, the quality and reliability of a homemade device leaves much to be desired. In reality, even crossbows of the budget category, factory-made, the cost of which is about 3000-4000 rubles, turn out to be much more effective, convenient and practical compared to the creations of your own hands.

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