Knowledge Base

Crossbow Safety Guide

We strongly recommend you read this guide before using your new crossbow.

Crossbows are not toys! You are buying an extremely high powered piece of kit that is designed to take down big game such as bears or elk in places where legal to do so like USA. If you haven't used a crossbow before the power may surprise you.

By reading our guide below you are will learn some invaluable and essential tips that will not only keep you safe, but also protect your crossbow and save you money in the long run by not having to repair it.

Dry Firing - NEVER DO THIS!!!

Dry firing, or a dry fire is when you shoot your crossbow without an arrow loaded onto the rail. This can cause your crossbow front-end (limbs) to break/snap and damage the crossbow or potentially yourself. This is because the crossbow string produces a high amount of energy which needs to be transferred into the arrow.

Make Sure The Arrow Is Properly Loaded

Along the same lines of a dry fire, please make sure that your arrow is properly loaded and pushed as far back as it can go so the nock (non-pointy end of the arrow) is touching the crossbow string. Otherwise this could cause a dry fire.

Shooting Awareness

We know shooting can be fun, but remember to never point your crossbow in the direction of any person or animal. We recommend you keep it aimed at the floor until you are ready to shoot.

Trigger discipline - keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. Always keep your safety switch on until you are ready to pull the trigger.

Suitable backstop - your backstop is what goes behind the target in case you miss. Always ensure that you have a suitable backstop where nobody will be in harms way. This means making sure there are no houses or public spaces behind the target.

Lubricating Your Crossbow

Most crossbows are provided with crossbow wax/lube. This is used to reduce the amount of friction the crossbow string produces when shooting which can cause fraying. We recommend that you keep your crossbow rail and string well lubricated and apply the wax/lube every 5-15 shots depending on the crossbow.

This will increase the lifespan of your crossbow string as it won't be exposed to as much pressure than if you did not lubricate it.

Wear Protective Gear

Most high end crossbows are supplied with protective glasses/goggles. We recommend that you wear some form of protective glasses when shooting or servicing your crossbow to prevent injury.

Check Your Arrows & Other Equipment Before Shooting

We recommend that you quickly check each arrow before shooting to ensure that the tips and nocks are firmly in place and to also make sure that the arrow is not bent or warped. If an arrow is bent/warped then it may not shoot straight.