How Far Can A Crossbow Shoot? Complete Guide 2023

Hunters are always in search of a crossbow that can shoot at long distances with power. While some target archers also need to look after that for competitions. How far a crossbow can shoot depends on various factors. This includes the features of a crossbow, its velocity, style of archery, and also the performance of the scope you are using with it.

Many new crossbow models are being made to shoot with more power, giving a range of distances that a hunter can shoot at with them. So while buying a crossbow, you should consider these factors to understand how far you can shoot with it.

Also, it matters how practiced you are and how well you can handle a crossbow with certain specifications such as the draw weight, draw length, and heaviness of the crossbow.

In this article, you can read about the aspects that affect the speed of a crossbow, the effective ranges of a crossbow, and how they can be improved.

More: Crossbow Maintenance

How Far Can A Crossbow Shoot? Effective Range

Even a beginner or an amateur archer needs a bow to shoot as far as 40 to 50 yards. Therefore, it is considered the minimum acceptable range of a crossbow.

Typically 40 to 50 yards is also the range at which the bow can shoot any animal with sufficient power. And that is also acceptable for hunters. But for target archery, a bow with better range is required as you have to shoot at further distances with speed. It can be as far as up to 500 yards. You can find quite reliable crossbows for this purpose.

To determine how far a crossbow can shoot with power, you need to know its fps. A good crossbow usually shoots at 300 to 400 fps. They are reliable for hunting and can shoot up to 400 yards quite effectively. Still, a crossbow’s shooting range is affected by various factors.

Factors Affecting the Effective Range of a Crossbow

There are several factors that can affect the range of a crossbow. Some of these are also on the part of the archer himself and not the crossbow. We have discussed all of them in detail below:

1- The angle of shooting

Although a lot might not care about it and shoot the target at the angle, they can hit it perfectly, but it impacts the speed of a bolt shooted by a crossbow.
A bolt shooted at an angle of 45 degrees will have the highest effective range for maximum distance. If you shoot the bow higher or lower than 45 degrees, it will drop at a distance less than it can by shooting at 45 degrees.

2- Draw weight

Any bow with a higher draw weight can shoot an arrow with more speed as it will have more energy stored in its string. Therefore, professionals prefer a crossbow with a good draw weight. But what’s more important is that the bow also has a suitable draw length for you and also that you can handle its draw weight with ease.

Back then, there were not any crossbows with a range of draw weight. But today, a lot of models offer a range of draw weights so that you can set it up to be suitable for you.

For estimation, changing the draw weight by 5 pounds will increase or decrease the speed of shooting the arrow by 8 to 10 feet per second, depending on other factors.

3- Arrow’s weight

It’s quite obvious that the weight of the arrow will affect how far and with what speed it goes. Arrows having more weight will require more kinetic energy to cover more distance.

So it means you need a higher draw weight to shoot the arrow with more power. The increase in the weight of the arrow will decrease its velocity and speed. As calculated, an arrow that has 10 grains higher weight than others will have a 3 fps less velocity compared to them.

4- Speed of the bolt

As mentioned above, a heavier bolt or arrow has a lower velocity. So it means that the speed of the bolt is another important factor to consider while estimating how far a bow can shoot.

Not only do you have to consider this factor as one factor, but you also understand the effect of other factors on it to estimate how far a crossbow can shoot an arrow correctly.

For calculating the speed of a bolt, multiply the distance of the bolt from the ground by 2 and divide it by the acceleration of gravity.

5- Effect of wind

As a hunter or even target archer, you might have experienced this before; even if you hit the target with full potential, sometimes it doesn’t hit the target with the expected energy due to the wind around.

Even minimal wind can affect the speed of a bolt or arrow when it is in the air. So, even if you have correctly estimated the speed of a bolt, keep in mind that it can be a bit more or less. Not only does it affect the speed of an arrow, but it can also change its direction a bit, and you can miss the target.

How to Improve the Range of a Crossbow

Although the factors mentioned above can be problematic, you don’t have to worry about them as there are various solutions and tips to improve the range of a crossbow.

Usually, beginners do not know these ways and thus find it difficult to hunt or practice hitting targets. We have discussed each of them in detail below:

1- Quality of the bolts

As discussed, the speed and weight of the bolts matter a lot. Not only that, the bolts should be made of high-quality material and have reliable fletching for accurate shooting over a long distance. Aluminum, carbon fiber, and fiberglass.

Nowadays, the most high-quality bolts are made from carbon fiber. Also, Besides that, a bolt should be suitable to use with the model of your crossbow.

2- Good scope

To shoot far distances, you need to have a clear and sharp view of your target. As hunters might need to shoot an arrow one after another, they don’t only need a good crossbow but also a high-quality scope with the best optics, which will allow them to view and make a shot instantly.

Therefore, don’t neglect the specifications of the scope and look for the best and most reliable ones for yourself. For hunting, a night vision scope is preferred to view clearly both day and night. While choosing a scope. Look for one with a magnification power of almost 10x to 12x for a sufficiently magnified and wide view.

The lens should not be so big that it makes the bow heavy for you to carry around. Look for scopes that have the optics with the latest technologies for your crossbow. And also, a scope having more reticles is more beneficial for shooting over more distance.

3- Broadheads

Even the broadheads of the bolts that you choose also affect the performance of the range of the bow. It is better to get a fixed blade broadhead as it has better penetrative power and is much sturdier than the mechanical broadhead. It is reliable for accurate shooting for longer distances and does not break down easily. Still, you have to ensure they are compatible with your bolts.

4- Keep practicing for longer shoots

Yes, longer shoots also need more accuracy and power on the archer’s part. If you are a beginner hunter or target archer, keep practicing for longer shoots.
Ask any professional archer friend to teach you the tips and techniques for more accurate shoots. You can also go on hunting trips with them and learn there so that you don’t face any problems when you go alone.

But if you are practicing at home, you can use the 3D targets that look like animals. It will help you better understand which part you have to shoot the animal. Keep increasing the distance of the target to shoot farther once you are practiced shooting at a particular distance.

5- Maintain your crossbow

To upkeep the performance of your crossbow, you for sure need to keep it as good as new. Besides cleaning it to protect it from dust and dirt, there are various products you can use to maintain your crossbow.

The most important thing is to keep it lubricated to prevent friction. For this, rail lubes are available for lubricating the rails. It would definitely help with the smooth and accurate shoot and keep the range of the bow consistent.
For the strings and cables, you can use wax so that they remain smooth and do not cause the arrow or bolts to go out of their course.

Lastly, keep the nuts, screws, and bowstring tightened so that they don’t affect the accuracy of the shoot. A loosened nut or screw can cause the bow to break down, while a loosened bowstring can cause the arrow to go out of the course and prevent it from wobbling.

Conclusion – How Far Can A Crossbow Shoot?

Long story short, a crossbow can shoot at a distance depending on the quality of the bow and arrow. Also, it depends on how different factors affect the range of the crossbow. But as there are several ways to improve the range of a crossbow, and you can find a number of best quality crossbows for higher ranges depending on your budget, it is not much of a problem for professional archers.

Additional Common Questions

Can a powerful modern crossbow reach as far as 500 yards?

Yes, it’s theoretically possible for a modern crossbow to shoot a bolt as far as 500 yards. Now, it’s important to understand the context here. We’re not talking about accuracy or precision. Just the simple physics of how far an arrow can fly if you’re not concerned about hitting a specific target. In the hands of a skilled shooter, a crossbow can deliver a bolt with significant power and momentum that could, under the right conditions, travel that distance. However, practical shooting for either sports or hunting typically does not involve such extreme distances.

Is it plausible to hunt with a crossbow at a distance of 80 yards?

While it’s not impossible to take a shot at a game from 80 yards out, it’s definitely pushing the effective hunting range of even the most high-end crossbows. This is the kind of distance that could be attainable for a highly experienced and skilled crossbow shooter under perfect conditions. However, if you’re a beginner or even an intermediate hunter, anything beyond the 30 to 35 yard range may be too challenging. Aim to solidify your mastery at closer distances before attempting such long shots. It’s not just about whether you can hit a target 80 yards away; it’s also about delivering a shot powerful and precise enough to ethically dispatch game.

Can a crossbow accurately hit a target positioned at 200 yards?

Trying to hit a specific target with a crossbow at 200 yards is exceedingly difficult and far beyond the typical range for most sensible uses. While some people might enjoy the challenge in a controlled, non-hunting context, this is not a realistic shooting distance for most users, nor is it ethical for hunting purposes. The trajectory of a bolt at such distances becomes highly unpredictable, and the kinetic energy significantly decreases, making it unlikely to result in a humane, one-shot kill. While the bolt from a potent, modern crossbow might physically travel that far, the likelihood of hitting a precise target intended at that distance is minimal.

Can I effectively shoot a crossbow at a distance of 100 yards?

You might have heard claims of crossbows being accurate past 100 yards, and while that is not entirely unfounded, it’s important to understand the various factors at play. The performance of a crossbow at this range heavily depends on the shooter’s experience, the crossbow’s specifications, and external factors such as wind, elevation, and the bolt’s weight. For the average hunter, a 100-yard shot would be highly challenging and reduce the chances of a clean, ethical kill. Hence, even though some crossbows can reach these distances, it doesn’t mean that every shooter should attempt it.

Is a 40-yard shot too far for shooting a crossbow accurately?

Nailing accurate shots at 40 yards with a crossbow is far from impossible—but it isn’t something to take lightly either. Typically, 40-50 yards marks the maximum range that many hunters would consider an ethical distance for shooting game like a whitetail deer. To ensure a clean, humane kill, you’ll want to be extremely confident in your marksmanship ability before attempting a shot at this range. Sure, you might be wondering about longer distances, especially if you can deliver small, precise groupings in a controlled practice environment. But remember, hunting requires not only accuracy but also appropriate velocity and energy for a lethal shot—something that diminishes with longer distances.