

A nock is attached to the back of the shaft and is typically made from aluminum or plastic. Nocks keep a bolt in place as you line up your shot. Bending will impact accuracy and consistency – especially once a bolt is released – so it’s important to control the spine on a bolt. This can be influenced by string force, fletching, nock weight, and static spine. Dynamic spine refers to how much a bolt bends once it is fired. The stiffness of the materials in the shaft help determine the spine. If a bolt is more resistant to bending, it has a higher static spine. Shafts will vary in degrees of stiffness. Static spine is the stiffness of the bolt. Spine comes in two degrees: static and dynamic. But the price is also higher and carbon shafts shed velocity much quicker once released. Carbon shafts reduce wind drift better and shoot flatter. On the other hand, they do not shoot as flat as other arrows and can decrease in strength as the weight increases. Aluminum shafts typically cost less, are quieter, and offer more spine choices. They are also durable because they are bend resistant and do not splinter. Both carbon and aluminum are light-weight materials. Shafts on crossbow bolts are typically composed of carbon or aluminum. Small diameter bolts will cut down on wind drag when the bolt is released and offer increased durability, along with a boost in penetration power, compared to conventional diameter bolts. If a bolt is too short, the tip can interfere with the rail when you release the bolt.īolt diameter is a critical factor in penetration. Check with the manufacturer’s recommendation for your crossbow to see what length you need. The average crossbow bolt is 20 inches long. It is also ideal for pursuing game with thick hides.īolt length typically ranges from 16 to 22 inches. A heavyweight bolt is the best choice when hunting in poor weather conditions or dense habitats. Still, heavyweight bolts will lose trajectory more rapidly, so judging distance accurately is critical. They offer greater in-flight stability in inclement weather. The end result is a greater ability for target penetration. Heavyweight bolts produce and retain a larger amount of kinetic energy than lightweight or standard bolts. Standard bolts can be used in a variety of habitats and weather situations. It reduces vibration and noise and improves accuracy and penetration power. The increased weight in grains means that more energy is transferred from the crossbow to the bolt. They offer a good balance between speed and kinetic energy. Standard bolts are essentially all-purpose arrows that fit with most hunting situations. These bolts are best used in open areas where judging distance from the bow to target is more difficult. Lightweight bolts are also more prone to getting deflected away from your intended target by wind, rain or airborne debris. This heightens the risk of doing damage to the crossbow itself. On the other hand, they also produce increased vibration, stress, and noise. Lightweight bolts will boost overall speed and create flatter downrange trajectory. Crossbow bolts come in three standard weights.

That means a lighter bolt shoots faster and a heavier bolt shoots with more power. It’s important to choose a bolt that has maximum penetration power over one that is simply the fastest.Ī crossbow will deliver the same amount of force to a bolt every single time it launches the bolt. Drag forces began to slow a bolt from the moment it is released. But speed can only do so much once a bolt is released. Speed gets more emphasis as a primary draw for choosing a particular crossbow over another model than just about any other factor. Kinetic energy is just as important as speed when sizing your bolts. Consult the manufacturer’s recommendations to see what the proper length and weight is needed for your crossbow TenPoint Heavier bolts typically generate more energy downrange, which ultimately means better target penetration. Total bolt weight combines the fletched shaft, nock, insert, and the broadhead or field point. There are some key elements you should consider before selecting from the crossbow bolts covered later in this guide, so you can get the results you need every time you use your crossbow. They also have special nocks designed to assist in launching the bolt down the rail. Bolt shafts are constructed to a shorter length to fit the shorter power stroke from a crossbow. Bolts should always be sized correctly to meet the speed, momentum, and accuracy required to make your hunt successful.īolts share some characteristics with traditional compound bow hunting arrows. *Last updated at 10:52 / Product Links & Images from Amazon Product Advertising APIįinding a bolt that is a perfect match with what your crossbow requires is absolutely essential.
