The next question that most prospective crossbow archers ask is whether a faster crossbow is always the most effective. This same equation applies to vertical bows and can be figured in an identical manner. Simply input a bow’s rated FPS speed in the equation above and solve for the undefined variable (MPH). This same equation can be used to figure any bow’s speed in MPH. On the other hand, the fastest crossbows on today’s market, which are often rated at speeds of 500 FPS, would be propelling arrows or bolts to approximately 340 MPH. Using 400 FPS as an average crossbow speed, one could determine that most crossbows are propelling bolts/arrows at average speeds of just in excess of 272 MPH. Luckily, such findings are easily tabulated using a specific formula, which is as follows: This unit of measurement is, at times, more easily described to those that are now familiar with crossbows or archery in general. Though the speed of a crossbow-fired projectile, whether a bolt or arrow, is generally listed under the measure FPS (Feet Per Second), it is not uncommon to wonder what this would equate to in miles per hour. On the other end of the spectrum, crossbows shooting at speeds around 350 FPS can often be purchased at an economical price point. Generally speaking, the speed of today’s crossbows falls within a range of 300-500 FPS, with somewhere in the neighborhood of 360-440 FPS serving as a reasonable average.Īs a rule of thumb, faster crossbows are priced accordingly, with crossbows nearing the 500 FPS mark carrying rather steep retail prices. Like all forms of archery equipment, crossbows have only become more efficient with the passage of time.Ĭrossbows are now capable of firing at much higher speeds than they were just 20 years earlier, continuing to advance in this facet with each passing year. When kinetic energy is maximized, damage to a game animal’s vital tissue is increased, with more defined blood trails often coming as the most noteworthy result. The higher this energy, the greater penetration an arrow or bolt achieves. Kinetic energy is important, as it directly determines the amount of downrange force transferred to a specific target. Since the mass of a projectile remains the same, speed becomes the most pertinent factor of influence at various distances. In fact, downrange kinetic energy is derived by factoring arrow/bolt speed and arrow/bolt mass. It is also important to consider the fact that the downrange kinetic energy delivered by a bolt or arrow is directly influenced by the speed at which it is fired. This makes it easier to overcome slight miscalculations in the overall shot distance. Simply put, arrow drop is minimized at higher speeds, while it is exemplified at lower speeds.Īs such, one is required to compensate less for arrow drop when shooting a relatively fast compound bow when compared to that which is required when shooting a slower crossbow. The faster a crossbow’s speed, the flatter the trajectory of an arrow or bolt that is fired. The first performance characteristic influenced by a crossbow’s speed is the overall arrow/bolt trajectory. A crossbow’s overall speed is of vast importance for a number of reasons, many of which are performance-related in nature.
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