leaving a crossbow cocked?

SIRGALANT

SIRGALANT

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wasn`t sure where to post this , but how long can you leave a crossbow cocked before it starts wearing out things like the string , limbs and trigger mechanism?
 
i wouldn't leave it cocked more than that days hunt.

how long are you thinking of?

even with firearms i like to release the firing pin when not in use.
 
Hello SG. Yeah, I'd have to agree with 555. When no longer in use, I'd decock it. I do not own a crossbow, but I can't imagine drawing back my recurve and leaving it like that.
 
I'm assuming you don't leave the crossbow lying around cocked, with a bolt nocked. If you do, that's a darwin award waiting to happen.

If hunting, the temptation might be to load the crossbow and put the safety on, then creep around the bush stalking beasties. If you tripped over something, the crosbow might discharge its bolt into you or anyone you are with. safety or no safety.

If you leave a crossbow cocked with no bolt, for any length of time, you run the risk of the trigger pulling for whatever reason and the crossbow dry-firing, which is unhealthy for the crossbow and most likely your wallet, because the limbs and string may become damaged or stuffed completely.
 
well i wasnt planning on leaving it cocked for any extended length of time , i was just curious what would happen if i did. i wouldn`t keep my crossbow cocked and loaded anyway . i keep it cocked but i don`t put the bolt in until i want to fire . that way if i have an AD or trip over or whatever and the crossbow goes off, it just wrecks my crossbow instead of killing someone . i store it unloaded and uncocked.
 
hikeeba said:
Hello SG. Yeah, I'd have to agree with 555. When no longer in use, I'd decock it. I do not own a crossbow, but I can't imagine drawing back my recurve and leaving it like that.
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the thing about a crossbow is that you can`t decock it , you can`t dry fire it either . if it`s cocked , you have to shove a bolt into it and shoot it.
 
With my old crossbow, it was hand drawn, so to de-cock I just grabbed the string and with the but against my hip or stomach, pulled the trigger and eased the string forward.

Now this wasn't some wicked hunting crossbow, so with a more powerful setup that may not be such a good idea.
 
Heck, I unstring my crossbow when it isn't in use, just save the tension in the string and limbs. If I need that in a hurry, well, it will explain the handbasket with a lot of postage on it that we'll all be riding in.
 
ironraven said:
Heck, I unstring my crossbow when it isn't in use, just save the tension in the string and limbs. If I need that in a hurry, well, it will explain the handbasket with a lot of postage on it that we'll all be riding in.
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Ditto, I unstring it for storage.
 
Hey Sir...

On a Recurve,, you simply anchor the bow with your foot, pull back the string and hit the trigger with your thumb...

Not sure if I'd want to try it with a Wheeled bow...

To fire it,, just pop in a Crap arrow and shoot it into the ground...

I prefer to decock by hand,, but if I'm in a hurry, I'll shoot in the ground...

In my hunting quiver I always keep one "Pokey" (Field Tip) just for that purpose, or a razor collar for Tree rats..

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
thats what i do if i don`t get to shoot it at a target again ; i just shoot it into the ground. i store mine with the string on , as its a compound.
 
I've hunted with a crossbow for the last 8 years and I only leave it cocked while hunting. They can be decocked by hand. I grab the string close to where the bolt slides in with my strong hand, get tension on it and slowly release the trigger easing the string down. It pulls on your arm but as long as you are holding tight, this method works fine.
Scott
 
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