How to make a powerful crossbow at home. How to make a crossbow with your own hands at home Make a crossbow at home

The bow is rightfully considered the most popular simple homemade weapon. Its improved modification with mechanical tension retention, that is, the crossbow, is also very popular. You can make a crossbow with your own hands without much difficulty according to the drawings, and it is the most convenient, powerful and accurate throwing weapon.

What materials are suitable for making a crossbow?

For designing and assembling a crossbow, available tools are suitable. You can assemble a crossbow at home from junk in the garage. Its main materials are

• wood for making a frame
• metal arc
• thin steel cable for the throwing part

Fasteners can be made from bolts and glue, or wooden pegs and rope. For the manufacture of crossbow bolts, thin and even sticks and aluminum for the tip are suitable.

Required elements and tools

To make a crossbow at home you will need:

• A board with the dimensions of the desired dimensions of the crossbow;
• plywood for adjusting the stock;
• car spring;
• a thin steel cable, such as from a motorcycle brake lever.

The main structural elements are a frame with a stock, arms with a bowstring and a trigger mechanism. The frame is any wood turned into the desired shape. You should take a long board, which is enough to cut out the shape from the butt to the shoulders of the crossbow. The stock is cut to fit the owner's shoulder. A guide for projectiles should be provided on top. It can be cut into the wood itself, but it is more convenient to glue plywood on top.

IMPORTANT! The tools you will need are a jigsaw or any other sharp object for turning wood, glue, rope, a hacksaw and several large bolts to connect the structure.

After making the base, you can move on to the throwing mechanism. Most often, an old car spring is used for a crossbow bow. A section of the spring of the required length is sawed off. A string of cable 1.5-2.5 mm thick is stretched between the ends of the arc. The arms are fixed to the frame and fastened with bolts. After this, the main part of the crossbow is ready, all that remains is to make the trigger mechanism and prepare the shells.

Drawings and dimensions

There are several types of crossbow trigger. All of them are designed to release the bowstring when the trigger is pulled. It is not difficult to assemble the lever with your own hands, just follow the given drawing. It should be noted that the given dimensions can be increased or decreased to assemble more or less powerful weapons and for your own convenience.

Step-by-step instructions for making a crossbow

A crossbow at home is made in stages from the following elements:

1. Crossbow stock;
2. guide;
3. bow and shoulders;
4. bowstring;
5. trigger mechanism;
6. shells (bolts).

How to make a bed

The stock is cut from a solid wooden beam. It is advisable to choose viscous, moisture-resistant, smooth and aesthetic wood species. These include beech, oak, ash, birch and oak. In principle, any type of wood or board can be used, since the choice of material for this part is purely aesthetic. The optimal dimensions are approximately 3 cm thick and 90 cm long.

A recess for the bow is cut out in the front part of the stock. At a distance of 8-10 cm from the edge, a hole is drilled for attaching the bow. A bolt is then inserted into it, to which the throwing mechanism is tied with ropes. At the back of the crossbow, the butt is cut to the shape of the owner’s shoulder, for ease of aiming and accurate shooting. You can carry out optional additional decorative work to make the shape of the crossbow look more attractive.

REFERENCE: For ease of aiming, an aluminum or wooden cross is screwed onto the front of the stock. It should be screwed on top of the bow fixed to the stock. Additionally, the scope can hold the crossbow's arms, which will slightly increase the power.

Guide chute

A guide for throwing bolts should be placed on the top edge of the stock. It should be at least smooth, and ideally slippery. Modern crossbows use fiberglass and metal linings. At home, you can use plywood with a recess to fit the diameter of the bolts. The standard shape is a semicircle, but when working with plywood you can make a triangular notch, which is somewhat simpler and will increase accuracy. Cutting corners are carefully ground.

Spring shoulders

The choice of shoulder material depends on the desired power of the crossbow. If the product is made for a decorative function, old skis are suitable for the shoulders. For a historically accurate product, a branch of a strong and elastic tree, ideally hazel, has been pre-dried for at least 4 months.

If you want to assemble a crossbow at home that you can not only show off, but also use for sport shooting and even hunting, you should use a metal bow. A popular and affordable material is car spring. It has optimal flexibility and elasticity, providing excellent tension and high shot power.

Bowstring

The crossbow string must be both strong and thin. To ensure a powerful shot, it is recommended to use a thin steel cable. Overclocking it will require less energy, and its durability will be sufficient for long-term use with a reserve. Attachment to the shoulders can be used standard, with tying.

IMPORTANT! if you plan to use the crossbow for shooting at long-range targets and hunting, it is better to prefer a block system.

To do this, rollers are welded to the ends of the arm arches, between which the bowstring is wound. The roller system significantly increases the acceleration of the bolt, thereby increasing the power of the shot.

Trigger

Organizing the trigger mechanism is the last stage of making a homemade crossbow. The standard release option is the lever type. The moment you press the bracket, the pin holding the bowstring lowers and the bow fires an accelerated projectile. It is recommended to assemble this mechanism strictly according to the above diagram.

This video shows in detail the manufacturing process with all the subtleties:

Types of homemade crossbows

A crossbow is a weapon with a long history, and throughout its existence, mechanical weapons have had many modifications. The most effective and interesting ones are still used today.

Block

In modern crossbows, to increase their power, an improved type of bowstring fastening on rollers is often used. In the standard version of the reversible bow, the projectile was fired with acceleration corresponding to the elasticity of the shoulders. When using a block trigger mechanism, acceleration increases many times over and, accordingly, such crossbows, even homemade ones made at home, are suitable for hunting and sport shooting.

Repeating crossbow made of wood

Repeating crossbows first appeared in China. Their specificity is in the original guide and in the simplified charging mechanism. The power of such a crossbow is much lower than that of a standard one and it is not suitable for accurate shooting, much less hunting. It can be assembled as an original wooden craft. The projectiles used are lightweight, without feathers or tips.

The bolts are placed in a cell above the stock and fall onto the guide as they are used. The trigger mechanism is an ancient goat's foot system, where cocking is accomplished by simply pulling a lever.

Underwater

Underwater crossbows are structurally almost no different from conventional ones. Due to its design, any crossbow can be used for underwater hunting. For more convenient operation under water, the guide can be covered with half a plastic pipe, and you can also use bolts with harpoon tips.

Mini crossbow for a child

Mini crossbows are smaller copies of weapons. They are usually made for fun and for children, using less durable materials, such as paper projectiles, rubber bands instead of strings, etc. Due to their design, the power of a crossbow directly depends on its dimensions, so mini-crossbows are significantly weaker in terms of shot power. You can also use a spring mechanism instead of a bowstring, but it will not be a crossbow.

How to make crossbow arrows (bolts)

When all the elements are manufactured, assembled, installed and fixed, the crossbow is ready for shooting. All that remains is to prepare shells for him. Crossbow bolts are a shortened version of arrows. They are distinguished by a length of about 30 cm and a short tail. It is not necessary to make a tip; it is enough to sharpen the ends of the bolts.

But for repeated use and increased penetration power, the sharp tips can be wrapped in aluminum. Another simple option is to buy ready-made crossbow bolts, which are sold separately and are inexpensive.

Is a crossbow suitable for hunting?

Most self-assembled crossbows have a tension of 30-40 kg, which allows them not to be considered a weapon and still be used for hunting small game. The crossbow can be used for shooting birds. When hunting small game such as hares and foxes, a shooting license will be required. Once you receive it, you can register your crossbow without any problems. A crossbow is not effective for hunting large game.

In this video you can see with your own eyes how accurate and powerful a crossbow is:

Conclusion

The main purpose of a crossbow is sports shooting. It can also be collected for the purpose of reconstructing historical scenes. Assembling and using for legal purposes a crossbow with a tension force of up to 42 kg is permitted in Russia without restrictions. It should be noted that the law prohibits the sale of uncertified crossbows with a tension force of more than 42 kg, but there is no liability for their manufacture, storage and transportation.

A hunting crossbow is an excellent weapon for catching food in the forest, as well as a means of survival in extreme conditions. It differs from a conventional bow in more accurate aiming, better striking power and ease of use due to the presence of a trigger mechanism. The advantage of such a weapon compared to others is that it can be made independently, you do not need to obtain a special permit for it, like for a gun, and the simplest crossbow can be made with your own hands in a matter of minutes, if time is pressing. Disadvantages include the time required to reload, as well as the short distance for sighting on the target.

A homemade crossbow allows you to hunt any game, from small to large animals. The hunting crossbow has the following design:

• The base to which the remaining elements with a guide bar will be attached. This bar determines the flight path of the bolt (arrow).
• Shoulders, or bow: determines the strength of the shot.
• The block that attaches the base to the bow.
• Trigger mechanism.
• Bowstring.

Drawings of a hunting crossbow

The base is carved from durable wood, but not heavy, so that your hands do not get tired of carrying a weapon. The ideal base materials are beech and walnut. In the wild there is no time to cut out a beautiful base, but you need to try to make it as convenient as possible for yourself. The guide bar is a groove where the arrow will be placed. It should not create friction when the bolt (arrow) moves, so after attaching it, you need to use sandpaper or a polishing wheel to polish its surface. You can make it separately using a metal tube cut in half, but when traveling, it’s easier to cut a deep trench at the base of the structure. It is better if the stock and the guide are separated from each other.

The arms of a crossbow are an important structural part. A simple do-it-yourself crossbow has a classic bow design: the string is statically attached to the shoulders, transferring the force of the shot from them to the arrow. To make a bow, you need to use flexible wood that will hold its shape without breaking from numerous bends: ash, maple, acacia. The shoulders are hewn out with a knife symmetrically and in such a way that their base has a larger diameter in girth than the edges. At the edges you need to cut out fastenings for the bowstring. To attach the bow to the base, you need to make a block.

Usually the block for attaching the base and bow is made of metal. In field conditions there is no such possibility, so the simplest model of a hunting crossbow can have a wooden block. For this you need a strong tree, ideally oak. The block is attached to the base, then the bow is attached. Everything is connected into a single structure using self-tapping screws, nails, or strong rope.

To fire a shot, you need to make a trigger mechanism. In order to integrate the trigger, you need to make a vertical slot in the base. A retaining bar should be attached over this slot to prevent the bowstring from accidentally slipping off.

For the bowstring you need to use a material that is strong but not too elastic. Suitable materials for this include: fabric, wire, fibrous plants, bark, horsehair, animal tendons or skin. Using these materials, you need to weave a bowstring using the braid method; hair, leather and tendons can be used in their original form. Once the bowstring is in place, the homemade crossbow for hunting is ready.

Instead of arrows, like a bow, bolts are used here, which have greater lethality. They are made from durable and elastic material. The bolt must have a perfect shape, and the center of gravity should be in the first third of the shaft. All bolts must be the same length and weight, otherwise the results from the shots will always be different. Good bolts are made from fiberglass telescopic rods. The tip is made of a metal sheet, cut with metal scissors. The tip is lubricated with epoxy glue and inserted into the cut at the end of the shaft.

Homemade crossbow for spearfishing

There is an opinion that what is often mistakenly called an “underwater crossbow” is rather a weapon that operates on the principle of a slingshot for underwater fishing. A crossbow is not suitable for underwater hunting, since the resistance of the water will not allow you to make a successful shot. However, you can build a homemade crossbow for underwater hunting in the sense that you can use it to shoot fish from above, in shallow water, and underwater.

Homemade underwater crossbow (in the process of making)

A homemade underwater crossbow is, essentially, a rubber shotgun. There are also pneumatic weapons, but assembling them yourself is difficult and requires special skills and abilities.

Underwater weapons consist of the following structural elements:

• Lever
• The basis
• Trigger
• Headband
• Rubber bands and hook

The principle of operation of the device is that the projectile pushes the harpoon and returns it back through rubber bands. The trunk can be cylindrical or irregular in shape. Its task is not only to hold the guide, but also to resist the bending loads created by the rubber bands.

The underwater crossbow guide serves to stabilize the position of the harpoon. It is better to make it from an aluminum pipe divided into two parts. One of them needs to be attached to the head of the gun, the second - at a distance of about 10 cm from it. The harpoon should pass through them without hindrance. The headband can be open or closed. In the first case, ring cords are attached, in the second - paired ones. When using ring rubber bands, the acceleration of the harpoon will be greater than with pairs. Unbalanced power of the strands will either not create enough force to launch the harpoon, or will create excessive stress on the bending of the barrel. The rods must be attached on each side to the coil holder, secured with clamps. The second end of the strands must be passed through a special ring; it will be more convenient to shoot with it.

Depending on the size and power of the weapon, the harpoon has different lengths and thickness. The hooks on it are of the cut or sharpfin type. The dihedral shape of the harpoon blunts less, while the trihedral shape has a higher penetrating ability. The design of the handle on a homemade crossbow is an individual matter; it may not exist. If you plan to hunt large fish, you must have a reel. It is most convenient to install the coil in the front end of the barrel.

A spring crossbow differs from a regular crossbow in that it is fired due to the elasticity of the bow. To make such a model, you can use available materials: a spring mesh from an old bed, a spring processed with a grinder, shock absorbers from bicycle wheels. The spring of this type of crossbow can be located inside the stock; there can be two of them for each shoulder or one for both shoulders. The spring inside the stock is small in size; such a weapon is convenient to carry and use in the forest. The spring can be used not only for tension, but also for compression, and by increasing the number of turns, you can adjust the tension force of the bowstring. A spring projectile can be built if you slightly re-equip your crossbow with a conventional device.

A crossbow is a small weapon. The principle of shooting is similar to archery. Nowadays, crossbow shooting is a fairly popular sport. But the cost of a crossbow starts from several tens of dollars. Therefore, many adherents of the crossbow try to make it with their own hands, at home.

Pull it only if you need to. Wilbur shook his head, grinning. "I think one of us might tell you more soon, you shouldn't talk like a hunter." "Hope so". Mia took the crossbow and the tremble and walked to the small alcove at the back of the room where her bed lay. When she returned, Wilbur had already cleared the bowls.

Even if you do it just for me. "Now don't think about anything." Mia grinned at him, ignoring the suffocating feeling in her stomach. Wilbur stood up. You will see. The Church will send help. Or, if you decide to write this letter, your father will return soon.

Let's look at what components a crossbow consists of:

• Bed;
• Trigger;
• Bowstring;
• Arrows or bolts.

What do you need to make a crossbow from wood with your own hands?

Minimum set of tools:

• Very sharp knife;
• Drill;
• A grinder with a wood disc or a regular hacksaw;
• Hammer;
• Plane;
• Chisel.

To make a crossbow you need a piece of wood. It is advisable to take a tree:

"If there is". Mia couldn't help herself. Wilbur gratefully accepted her remark. “I hope my father will do everything to protect us.” Wilbur looked at her seriously. Mia walked towards him until her nose tips almost touched each other. She then placed her hand on his forehead and gave him a gentle push.

Wilbur laughed in surprise, stumbling back. Wilbur grinned and waved before turning around and leaving the cabin. Mia walked to the door and watched him disappear into the night. It was the right answer to his stupid face. The serenity of this evening did not last long. There were days in a row that were cold and cloudy. As winter approached, the fog extended its gray arms further and further from the lake to reach the village before the weak sun could carry it back to the shore.

• hazel,
• ash,
• poplar.

You can also use birch or oak. The wood of these trees is more resistant to moisture, viscous, does not splinter and is beautiful. The wooden blank should have a length of about 900 mm and a thickness of 30 mm. Coniferous wood cannot be used.

To make a crossbow, the wood must be properly prepared. Only from the “correct” wood will a crossbow shoot for a long time with great power. Having cut a tree trunk or branch to the required length and thickness, the cuts must be painted over. This is done so that moisture leaves the wood gradually, and, therefore, the wood will dry more slowly and evenly. The clogged branches will be placed away from sunlight. They stay like that for about a year. After a year, the bark is removed from the workpieces, and it dries for another week. And only after all these procedures are completed, the branch is sawed lengthwise and the making of the crossbow begins. Of the two parts of the branch, take the northern one, guided by the annual rings. On this side, the fibers fit closer to each other, which means the material will be stronger.

On a cold morning, he even made it to Mia's hut on the hill. Mia kept her crossbow near her bed at night and took the time to practice its safety. During all this time there was no church ranger. Soon the merchants' carts were completely lost, and more and more fishermen were squeezed, moaning and whispering around the market square. Mia gave up and wrote to her father. Ten projects crumpled it before sending a brief and formal request for help.

Soon after this, Postreiter did not return to the village. Within two days, the story that Gitrog ate from rumor to narrative became fact. Mia thought that the poor guy didn't want to make the difficult trip to some remote village before the cold. He probably decided to spend the winter in Durnau instead.

photo: correctly carved wood for a crossbow

On the board, draw the shape of the future base and cut it out using a grinder or a hacksaw. Make a groove on top for the arrow. A groove is cut on one side to secure the arc. If knots or chips appear during the work, they must be processed with a sharp knife and then with sandpaper.

However, there were many rumors about Gitrog, for which Mia did not find such a simple explanation. Three more sheep disappeared before the first snowfall. Every time the fence was destroyed in a different place - it was as if someone was trying to use the elasticity of their horse. Or, as Mia reminded herself, frightened sheep had simply broken through at various points on the fence. The last time she heard the fence had burst during the night, but when she ran out of the hut, crossbow in hand, there was nothing to find but splintered wood and distressed bleating.

After this, she finally intervened to ask a local carpenter to help her strengthen her horse's fence and pay the money her father had left her. Although she hated spending something she didn't deserve, she knew she was lucky to have such a nest egg. Fishermen, who had been driven off the lake since the start of the season, had difficulty finding sustenance with the snow. Many trusted their neighbors' willingness to help, but the village's sparse fields barely produced enough food for everyone. The number of battles in the village administration increased.

The second step will be making an arc. For it, take a board with a thickness of 20 mm and a length of at least 750 mm. The board must be smooth and free of knots. The board must be thoroughly dried, left for several days, and only then trimmed. The width of the arc is approximately 40 mm in the middle; towards the edges its width decreases to 15 mm.

The curses on Gitrog became louder. More and more villages retired early and early in the evening to their homes, closing their doors and nailing down their windows as the stubborn fog grew thicker and denser than ever before. Wilbur seemed to be right when he thought his father was going to do something. As winter became more severe, armed men and women began patrolling the streets. Some carried torches and blades, but many carried only a muck fork or a butcher knife. They always wore heavy coats, the hood of which pulled deep into their faces - on the one hand, as protection from the cold, but also as a uniform.

photo.string of a homemade crossbow

An arc for a powerful crossbow can be made from a spring leaf of a UAZ car. Using a grinder, we cut an arc from the spring. Its dimensions are as follows: length 850 mm, width at the ends 15 mm, and in the middle 30 mm. Next, using a sharpening stone, bring the thickness to 8 mm in the center and 4 mm at the periphery. Drill holes for fastening with a Pobedit drill

Mia didn't know what the baker was supposed to do with the bread-knife against Gitrog. It gnawed at her until one afternoon she made the mistake of asking Wilbur about it. “We will be careful and alert when we see something.” Wilbur looked annoyed, his lanky figure dripping with moisture from the rain.

"I'm just wondering if it's really helpful." Mia wondered why he refused to take off his coat and boots. “Some of us have other things to worry about.” Wilbur crossed his arms over his chest and Mia thought as he overhead. Do you need to walk around and swing a fishing rod to protect people? The words were already there before her heart begged her, but please remain silent.

Preparing the groove for the arc. We make a hole for fastening from a rope, at a distance of 100 mm from the cut groove for the arc. We insert the arc into the groove and secure it with a rope. Or you can make a metal frame that will cover both the stock and the bow. The next step is to attach the bowstring to the ends of the bow, using the cuts made in advance. Stretch the string as you would when shooting. Thus we will find the most distant point. After this, we determine the optimal size of the crossbow, which is equal in length to your forearm.

You only have a superficial understanding of what we do to protect the village and keep the people alive, and everything you do is mocking. The truth in his words scraped away at her like sandpaper on her heart, leaving her bloody and broken.

"Why are you still here, Mia?" Mia looked at the stern line of the mouth, at the wrinkled forehead and cold, questioning eyes. Her stomach rumbled with laughter of anger and sadness as her throat burned. Wilbur continued, "Why didn't you stand up at Shields headquarters to take the test and leave us like your father?"

We will make the bowstring from lavsan or fastfly. You can use a thin cable. Wrap the threads stretched between two nails, and make loops at the ends for putting on.

We wind the threads to a thickness of 5 mm. Then, without removing the threads from the nails, we wrap the threads once so that they are tight to each other. After this, we collect both halves of the bowstring at the first nail, and wrap it tightly again to the second nail. As a result, we got a bowstring with loops at the ends. The middle part of the bowstring must be wrapped very carefully, since a very large friction force acts on this part. The cut threads must be coated well with glue so that all the threads are monolithic. We tighten the bowstring using a stirrup made of wire. Having secured the bowstring, we adjust the degree of its tension. If the bowstring is too thick, the force of the shot will be reduced, and if it is too thin, it will break. Therefore, you need to make a bowstring of medium thickness. You can make a bowstring in the likeness of sports models.

Wilbur laughed and Mia's heart sank. She had never heard of him, and she was full of joy and dagger. You knew it would snow before your birthday. You knew there would be a passage through the aisle after this. If you really wanted to take the exam, you would have already gone. His words were as cold and biting as the cluttering cold air. You are afraid. Be afraid that you can no longer remember all these rules and play you.

Mia grabbed a tuft of wool and threw it at him. Take it. Wilbur reached for the clip on his belt, but Mia pushed him hard. I said, "Get out of here!" Keep your father's money. "You mean you don't need it." It was her fault that he knew exactly how to hurt her.

photo: crossbow trigger

An important step necessary to make a homemade powerful crossbow

And so, we come to the most important part of our design. We will make a crossbow trigger mechanism. This will be a pin type lock. To do this, drill a through hole at the point of maximum tension on the bowstring. Make a transverse recess in the upper part of the bed. The next step is to secure the lever at the bottom of the crossbow. We make the axle out of wood and fasten it with wire.

Wilbur turned around with the fur under his arm and dropped the wallet behind him as he crossed the threshold. Coins fell out and spread across the floor. Despite the cold, she was sweating. This was the third time today she had to change the water for her sheep and break the ice that had formed in the Trgen River. Besides, with all the other errands and homework she had to do, she barely had time to breathe. The sun was already dropping below the horizon, casting its last few weak rays into a sky filled with leaden clouds.

The wind howled as she returned to her hut and dragged her through the cloak into the marrow. At least it's not snow, she thought. Two hours later, she was looking out the window as a white vortex slowly enveloped the landscape. What a fitting end to a cold and miserable birthday.

Another type of trigger is called a nut. It consists of a cylinder that rotates freely around its axis. On one side it has hooks for the bowstring, and on the other side there is an L-shaped trigger stop. If the crossbow's power is up to 30 kg, the cylinder can be made of wood, but with a power over 30 kg it must be made of metal. Make the “nut” that will hold the bowstring from a piece of iron without welding to make it stronger.

She hoped to get to the village, hoping to find a way to Wilbur's house. They haven't spoken to each other since their fight. The passage of time weighed heavily with each passing day, maintaining the silence between them and widening the gap that now separated them. Although she had little hope, she believed that her birthday might have caused Wilbur to visit her as he always did.

She sighed and pressed her forehead to the window glass. She didn't know when she left. She only knew that something had called her some time later. The fire had burned down to warm, glowing embers, and outside, the pale moonlight had drawn the outline of the landscape as sharply as with scissors. The storm was clear and the stars sparkled in the sky. But why did she wake up?

We fix the stock and the lever with ropes so that the lever moves with minimal friction.

For the boom, the groove should be located from the top hole of the lock to the leading edge. The depth of the gutter is equal to a quarter of the diameter of the boom.

The wooden crossbow is ready. Now let's start processing the details. First, we process all the parts with sandpaper. After this, they can be coated with protein mixed with water. Then check how the lock works. Make sure the mechanism is as strong as possible.

There was a loud explosion in front of the hut. Mia shuddered and her heart was furious. She listened and looked into the silvery semi-darkness - all her senses were sharpened, her thoughts were delirious. She took a deep breath and leaned back. Her head fell sleepily back onto her hand. It was probably only frozen wood when its resin expanded in the cold.

Suddenly Mia stood up, reached for her crossbow, threw herself on the cloak and ran outside, while fear and horror lay around her like groups of iron. The sound didn't frighten her. Silence followed. Without bleating, the sheep was scary. Even when she ran out into the snow, she heard nothing. She held the crossbow ready to fire and slowly walked towards her, getting closer to the handle.

To make the crossbow more beautiful, cover the wooden parts with stain and varnish, and the metal parts with black paint.

Now let's move on to the arrows. You can also make them yourself. To do this, you can make blanks from an ordinary board. Then these blanks need to be carefully planed. It is recommended to choose light wood. When making the tip, you should not drive nails in, as if it hits the target, the arrow may split.

The sight of her suggested frozen blood in her veins. The entire side of the horse was in ruins, the fence poles were torn off the ground. Scattered planks lay in the snow, and while she was still looking, one of the support pillars on the dugout, whose trump card had collapsed. Mea approached slowly, still excited and hopeful, although she already knew what she expected. As she stepped in cautiously, her fears were confirmed.

Not a single sheep is visible. Instead, blood and guts covered the ground and smeared the few remaining boards. A cold wind blew through the wreckage and the biting smell of entrails hit her. The crossbow fell to the ground as she pressed the sleeves of her coat over her mouth and tried to soothe her stomach.

We looked at how to make a regular “medieval” crossbow.

The crossbow can be block. It can also be made at home. It is made of fiberglass, 10 mm thick.

First, fiberglass shoulders are made. To do this, you need to cut from 30 to 40 strips from fiberglass or Kevlar. Glue them together with epoxy glue and place them under a press until completely dry. After 24 hours or more, these structures need to be leveled and thoroughly cleaned.

As she caught herself again, the strange shape of the snow caught her attention. She cursed that she didn't bring a torch and moved slightly to the side to move her shadow. Bright moonlight fell on a huge footprint in the fresh snow. The imprint looked like a large foot with floating pools and three claw-like spikes at one end. As she examined the pencil, she saw further impressions of the view between the sanding marks and the bloodshed.

Mia's heartbeat roared in her ears as she stared into the distance. A wide trail of tracks and thirteen prints led from the pen to the forest near the lake. Fraud threatened to overwhelm them. He devoured her flock. And this meant that he was quite far from the lake. And that meant he was probably in the village too! She had to tell Wilbur. She had to apologize. She walked with her boots crunching in the snow on her march towards the dim lights in the distance when a stubborn voice in her head stopped her.

photo.mounting a homemade crossbow

The bed, as in the previous case, is made of wood.

The blocks are made of aluminum. It is better if they are on bearings. The middle parts of roller skate wheels are perfect for these purposes. The axles for them need to be taken with a diameter of 5 mm. They can also be taken from skates. Fasteners are made of steel or other durable material. If, when making the shoulders, the ends are made thicker, there is no need to make fastenings. The next step will be to install a trigger mechanism with a trigger and an arrow holder on the crossbow. All this is connected using bolts and washers. In block-type crossbows, the bowstring is slightly longer and is tensioned differently. It seems to cross, and the arrow flies with double energy. A thin cable is used as a bowstring, which can withstand sudden pressure when fired.

If a threat from a monster rather than a human is certain, the hunter must follow the monster and render it harmless. Keep it away from villages and cities - avoid the panic and chaos of frightened innocent people. Mia stood there and her breath froze to pale clouds as she was torn on what she was supposed to do. Surely she couldn't handle something like Jitrog. For not warning the village, she seemed incredibly stupid. She had to talk to Wilburg, or rather her father.

Kalim and the elders knew what to do. But could they help her? And even if: what could they do? The gaze of bakers and peasants armed with bread knives and marbles appeared before their inner eyes. Mia looked at the crossbow in her hand. The silver shone in the moonlight. She ran her fingers over the runes etched on the side. She reached to her hip and placed her hand on the handle of the long dagger. The familiar blade was used far more often than knives, but its cutting edge of cold wrought iron was intended for slaying ghosts and witches.

Read how:

To conduct targeted shooting from a crossbow made by yourself at home, you need to adjust the stock. It needs to be adjusted taking into account the flight path of the arrow. The bed should be at an angle of 5-6 degrees. It’s even better to decide on the shooting distance and zero the crossbow you’ve made, after each series of shots, changing the angle of the stock.

photo: homemade wooden crossbow

The trigger mechanism can be anything, as long as it does not fire prematurely, under the force of the bowstring. The string should, after the shot, return close to the stock, but without strong friction.

Video instructions on how to make arrows for a crossbow

Video instructions on how to make a toy crossbow

One of the most popular types of small arms is the crossbow. And although hunting with such a device is prohibited in our country, there are still many who want to acquire such a “toy” in order to shoot at targets. At the moment, you can buy such weapons on many websites or in stores, but such a purchase will be very expensive. It is much more profitable to make a crossbow with your own hands at home, and you will find out what is required for this below.

Preparation

Today there are many varieties of this sporting weapon. First of all, these are classic models familiar to us from historical films and block crossbows - modern weapons equipped with complex mechanisms. The last option will be quite difficult to create at home, so let's focus on the classic one.

What parts does a crossbow consist of:

• Trigger;
• Bowstring;
• Crossbow stock;
• Bolts and arrows.

Making a crossbow at home will be much easier if you immediately stock up on all the necessary materials and tools. For this you will need:

• Well sharpened knife;
• Hammer;
• Drill or brace;
• A regular hacksaw, which can be replaced with a grinder with a wood disc;
• Plane;
• Chisel.

How to make a crossbow with your own hands

In addition to the tools to create this small weapon, you will need a piece of wood measuring 900 mm in length and 30 mm in thickness. In this case it will do:

• ash;
• hazel;
• poplar.
• birch.

First of all, you need to prepare a wooden blank. To do this, cut the branch to the required size and paint over the cuts. This must be done so that the liquid comes out of the wood slowly and evenly. Please note that the wood must lie in a dark place for at least a year, only in this case the weapon will fire with special power. After this, the bark is removed from the workpiece and left to dry for another week. Next, the log is sawn into two parts and the crossbow itself is made from the northern part - the strongest.

Draw the stock of the weapon on the board and cut it out using a hacksaw or grinder, then make a small groove for arrows on the top of the workpiece. On the front side, cut a groove in which you will attach the arc. If knots or chips appear on the stock during the process, remove them with a knife and treat the area with sandpaper.

How to make an arc

For this part you will need a flat board with a length of at least 750 mm, a width of 200 mm, and a thickness of 60 mm. We dry the workpiece well and let it stand for several days, and level it. The width of the part in the middle is 40 cm, and at the edges it narrows to 15 cm.

At a distance of 100 mm from the cut groove for this part, we create a through hole through which we stretch the rope - it will become the main fastener for the crossbow arc. Then we insert the part into the groove and fasten it firmly with a rope, as shown in the bottom figure.

This part plays a fairly significant role in the “lethality” of the weapon, and to create it you will need the following materials:

• nylon threads;
• wooden plank;
• two nails without a head;
• rubber glue.

First of all, you need to make a special machine for weaving this part: take a rope and measure the length of the bowstring. After this, saw off a board with dimensions slightly larger than this parameter. Next, mark the length of the string on the board and drill two holes in these places - this is where you need to insert your nails.

Take the thread, tie it to one of the nails, and leave a margin equal to the length of the bowstring. After this, begin to evenly wrap the threads around the nails (Dacron is best). Continue this process until the base of the bowstring reaches 5mm. To do this you will need to make 5-6 full turns. Try to keep the threads equally tight.

Next, wrap the base near the nails on both sides several times with wrapping material. This will create loops at the ends. You can understand how to do this from the above diagram. Do not forget to wrap the middle of the bowstring, because this part suffers greatly from friction. Tie the cut ends of the threads with a sailor's knot and lubricate them thoroughly with glue so that the entire structure is strong. After which you can pull the bowstring onto the arc and adjust the degree of its tension.

How to make a trigger mechanism

The simplest option would be a pin-type lock; we will choose it for our weapon. Pull the string as far as possible and drill a through hole in this place. Also make a small transverse recess at the top of the crossbow stock. Now secure the lever at the bottom of the part. Make a wooden axle and secure it with wire.

Secure the stock and lever with ropes so that the latter moves with maximum friction. The depth of the “ammunition” groove should be equal to 1/4 of the volume of the arrow, and this recess must be “sawed” from the top of the lock to the front edge of the crossbow.

How to make arrows

In order to get ammunition for your small arms, you don’t have to run to a sports store, because you can easily make it at home. To do this, you will need several ordinary wooden blanks, which need to be well planed and treated with fine sandpaper. It is better to choose light types of wood for arrows; in this case, shooting will be more accurate. As for the tip, if you don’t have special ones, then sharpen the tip of the arrow - with such ammunition it will be quite possible to shoot at targets. You should not drive nails into the head, because this increases the chance that the arrow will split when it hits the target.

Be that as it may, you should remember that in our country, shooting with crossbows is equivalent to using firearms. So if you want to make such a device, then under no circumstances use it for its intended purpose. Treat your crossbow as a beautiful souvenir, and then the law will not have any claims against you.

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 very impressive gizmos are obtained, of impressive 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 crossbow is a throwing weapon that is an improved design of a bow. Its advantage is the ability to aim without unnecessary effort. The technical characteristics of the gun increase the destructive power and shooting accuracy. 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 design of the weapon is quite simple, so you can easily make it yourself.

What is a crossbow used for?

First of all, it is worth noting that the use of throwing weapons with a tension force of more than 43 kgf is illegal, whether it is homemade or purchased from official manufacturers. Today, the main uses of the crossbow are sports competitions and outdoor activities.

The device itself was first created two and a half thousand years ago in China. In Europe, the weapon gained popularity only at 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 often called 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 upon impact. 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

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

Tension force. Since the design of the crossbow allows the bowstring to be pulled with greater force, a reliable mechanism is required that does not fail. When purchasing it, you should not skimp, because it guarantees not only safety, but also durability. It is also convenient to use a device for tensioning the bowstring.

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

In addition, when creating a throwing weapon with your own hands, you should pay special attention to the method of tensioning 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. Strap and hook. This method allows you to fix the machine tool with your feet, similar to the first example. When bent, the hook clings to the bowstring, and restoring the position is done by tightening and fixing it. An improved type of the second method is a rope using rollers. The mount is also installed on the belt. The use of two curved arms placed on pins is called a goat leg. The pins protrude on both sides of the stock. The owner pulls the opposite side towards himself, thereby exerting tension. Release lever. The essence of the method is to connect the hook and bracket to the front of the stock. Thus, the bowstring is pressed back. Using rack and pinion gates. 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 used for very powerful crossbows. Very suitable for hunting because it has killing power.

There are also many other ways to tension the bowstring for certain types of weapons. However, they are used much less frequently and have been used in ancient times. Their safety is significantly 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 the work.

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

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

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

Also, during the work process, additional materials may be needed to give the tool an aesthetic appearance. 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 gun bed. This is the main part to which the rest of the structure is attached. Take one of the prepared bars and apply 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 a comfortable position for the trigger. When creating a weapon with your own hands, it is worth considering that the 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, use a chisel and rasp to cut out a rectangle measuring 10x2.5 cm. Across the resulting hole, cut a strip in which the bowstring will be located.

Now you need to cut a groove for the arrow along the beam. Since the work is done with your own hands, it is extremely important to approach this stage responsibly. The accuracy of shooting depends on the correct position. Using a drill and hammer, knock out a 5mm deep groove exactly in the center and sand it.

Cut another block to a length of 60 cm and glue it to the main part of the crossbow. Let the glue dry. After complete fixation, if desired, you can polish the parts. You can do it with your own hands or with special polishing devices.

Now that the main part of the structure is ready, we 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 you made and attach the wheels with the groove.

Take a nylon fishing line. Secure it to one of the screws, then wrap it around each wheel, going from one side to the other. After wrapping it around the wheels, secure the line to another screw with tension. 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 secure the resulting structure to 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 taut) should be on top, and the other two on the bottom.

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

All that remains is to focus. It will be a sawn-off 20-centimeter block, which must be sanded for convenience. It can be attached to the main part using nails or glue. Wrap the stop with foam and secure with tape.

This completes the creation of a crossbow for hunting. All that remains is to make the arrows. They can be easily made from wooden dowels and trims to the required length. On one side a cut is made for the bowstring, on the other the end is sharpened.

The main thing is not to use the weapon in public places and near places of residence and objects where people may be found. By following safety rules, you can have a great time not only hunting, but also engaging in active recreation.