When the bow is fired, the string of a conventional compound bow pushes the arrow more than twice as far as when shooting a crossbow. With a vertical arc, second and even third shots are common, but not with a crossbow. Longer distance, flatter arc and less kinetic energy are the reasons why the crossbow is less efficient than the modern compound bow. For crossbows, some crossbows can shoot up to several hundred meters, but less accurately, of course.
If you're hunting or shooting at target, a skilled archer could consistently hit targets up to 80 yards away. For the middle archer, again an effect range would be 30 to 60 yards. The results of our study showed that a conventional bow can fire up to 328 feet (100 meters), while a crossbow can only shoot 248 feet (75 meters). This means that a crossbow is less powerful when it comes to shooting distances.
You can have a crossbow removed with the purchase of some additional accessories, such as a leaf spring silencer, for example. Crossbows, on the other hand, are good for hunting from a tree or tower, just as medieval crossbows were great for shooting from castle towers, modern crossbows may be better for hunting ambushes from above, and you can leave them already cocked next to you on the tree stand and wait for your quarry for you. Let's compare the crossbow with the compound bow in the following 10 categories: speed, range, rate of fire, accuracy, safety, portability, maintenance, noise, cost and the best for hunting. Consequently, the best way to maximize the range of the crossbow is to increase the amount of time the bolt is in flight.
So how far can you shoot a crossbow? Well, a modern crossbow that shoots at 400 FPS can fire a beam of almost 5,000 feet if fired at a 45-degree angle. Over the years, the crossbow has been refined and new materials have been obtained to increase the effectiveness of the crossbow. The final documented scores delivered at the shooting range at the IBO and NFAA tournaments (both allow the use of crossbows in their national competitions) by professionals definitely prove that vertical bow is more accurate than crossbows when shooting freehand. The main difference between crossbows and traditional bows is the way they are actuated: crossbows use mechanical energy to shoot arrows, while traditional bows use the natural energy of the cord.
In fact, the precise record for crossbow shooting is 200 yards, less than a fifth of the theoretical maximum range of the crossbow. Some crossbow manufacturers have added safety features to their crossbows to reduce injury to hunters and shooters and reduce the chances of dry-fire situations. The disadvantages are that the total weight and volume of a crossbow make it difficult to aim unless it is in a prone position or has the crossbow resting on a flat surface. For a detailed explanation of crossbow safety and how to safely unbuckle the crossbow, check out this TenPoint Crossbows video.
The physics of the crossbow hinders stability when shooting, making the crossbow less accurate than the vertical arc.
