5 Steps for a Hunt Ready Crossbow – By Patrick Meitin: One of the appealing aspects of modern crossbows is they do not require acquired knowledge and skills to set up and tune for deadly arrow/bolt flight. Setting up and properly tuning compound bows to produce clean arrow flight is one of the things that keep archery bow shops busy. Crossbows usually require some initial assembly following purchase, but they are essentially ready to shoot out of the box after basic sight-in.
This isn’t to say crossbows don’t come with certain responsibilities and maintenance needs. If your high-performance crossbow is to provide its all, certain pre-season maintenance is essential. Here are 5 steps for a hunt-ready crossbow.
5) Manufacturer-Approved Bolts
Every level of crossbow performance, even particular crossbow models, generally come with certain bolt requirements. In the big picture it is usually best to stick with the bolts that came with your crossbow or purchase or identical replacements. This doesn’t mean other brands or models are incompatible, but you should read instruction manuals carefully, or call the company’s customer service line for guidance.
Important factors include spine, diameter, nock style and point weight. A 450 fps crossbow, for instance, will require a stiffer spine bolt than one shooting only 360 fps. Some crossbow brands include proprietary bolt diameters, some brands shooting special low-diameter bolts, others “fatter” shafts. Choosing the wrong bolt diameter can be dangerous or cause damage to your crossbow. Crossbolt nock styles are also critical. Some older style crossbows get along fine with flat-back nocks, others (usually those with ultra-narrow axle-to-axle spans) requiring a full-capture nock. Finally, point (and insert, aluminum verses brass, for instance) weight directly ties into bolt spine. These are questions to solve by carefully studying an owner’s manual, or by calling a company’s customer service line.
Of course, the best accuracy, especially while shooting broadheads, results from fletchings that are the proper length—2-, 3- or 4-inch vanes according to factory originals—and in good working order. If your vanes are ripped or tattered from hard use, re-fletch them or have them re-fletched at your local archery pro shop.
4) A Once-Over
Before every season go over your crossbow carefully from tip to butt, donning your granny glasses if necessary. First look for any feathering in the limbs that might signal a developing problem, or any hairline cracks in critical working areas of the crossbow. Today’s high quality crossbows make such potential failure unlikely, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Next, take an Allen-wrench set, screw drivers or box wrenches and check every single screw and bolt on your crossbow to ensure they are tight. Don’t over-tighten anything, just make sure they are good and snug. This eliminates any potential game-spooking vibrations or potential in-season failures. Just as an example, a rubber string-stop assembly once rattled loose on one of my crossbows. It wasn’t anything life threatening, but it did effect shot stealth. Again, better safe than sorry, even if it only amounts to missing a morning of hunting after a critical part works loose.
3) Wax & Lube
All bowstrings require maintenance. And this is especially true of high-performance crossbows working at higher draw weights and generating faster bolt speeds. If an end-loop or center serving is showing conspicuous wear or unraveling, and especially if string fibers are frayed or severed, they should be repaired or replaced immediately. Having the string or buss cable of a powerful crossbow break while shooting could prove dangerous.
Even crossbow strings and cables in good shape require periodic maintenance, which translates into waxing and lubing. .30-06 Outdoors’ Bowstring Wash & Wax 3-Piece Combo Pack is a great way to revive hard-used strings and cables that are otherwise perfectly sound. Bowstring Detox Purification washes away grime and old wax to create a clean base. Bowstring Revive Color Restore & UV Protectant makes strings look new and protects from harmful sun rays. And Bow String SNOT String Wax finishes the job to promote longer string/cable life.
Other welcome touches include .30-06’s Bow SNOT Oiler Pen, applied to cams and other moving parts such trigger hinge points, and obvious rail lube. Some newer crossbow models include rail-less systems that reduce string wear, but most still require the bowstring to slide down a flat flight rail during launch. This can become a severe source of friction and wear without a regular application of rail lube, like .30-06’s Rail SNOT Crossbow Rail Lube (best in wet conditions), or X-Fuel Crossbow Rail Fluid (best in dusty environments, as it won’t pick up debris). Make sure to apply ample string lube to buss cable where they pass through cable slides to prevent wear in this obvious spot.
2) Confirm Sight-In
5 Steps for a Hunt Ready Crossbow – Before season every hunter should confirm that their crossbow scope is dialed in at any conceivable range you feel comfortable shooting at. Yet while modern crossbows are capable of enough accuracy to reliably hit targets to 70 yards or more, not all of us have space enough to quickly confirm impact at such ranges. One easy solution is .30-06 Outdoors’ Crossbow Sighting Target. This simple and affordable system allows precisely dialing in long-range yardages while working within the confines of a standard 20-yard range.
The Crossbow Sighting Target is compatible with crossbows firing bolts from 280 to 500 fps. The target provides vertical yardage spots mathematically spaced to correlate to a crossbow/bolt’s specific speed and trajectory while shooting from just 20 yards.
Sight in at 20 yards and then determine actual bolt velocity using a chronograph. Secure the vertical velocity-corelating Crossbow Sighting Target to a safe target face. While using shooting sticks or even a bench, hold various red dot, ballistic marks or turret adjustments representing longer ranges on the lower 20-yard spot and note impact on the higher spots. The 40-yard aiming point held on the bottom 20-yard spot at 20 yards, for instance, should impact on the upper 40-yard mark. Each ballistic hash mark, red dot or turret correction can be fine-tuned accordingly while standing at just 20 yards.
This system allows precisely sighting to 50-55 yards with crossbows sending bolts at 280 fps, or up to 120-125 yards with 500 fps crossbow models—all within the confines of a standard 20-yard range. Of course, shooters can later confirm impact at actual ranges for peace of mind, though the system proves remarkably accurate.
1) Protect Your Work
5 Steps for a Hunt Ready Crossbow – Once you have gotten your crossbow fine tuned and precisely sighted, don’t leave anything to chance. Keep your crossbow safe from harm during storage, while driving to your hunting area, and even while hiking into your stand or blind. A well-padded crossbow case keeps your crossbow dry, dust free and safe from hard knocks.
For example, .30-06 Outdoors offers three quality crossbow cases to keep your investment safe. These include the Classic Crossbow Case for many older-style crossbows, the Alpha-Mini Crossbow Case for today’s compact crossbow designs, and the deluxe Alpha Crossbow case that proves compatible with just about any model.
As I have pointed out, better safe than sorry…
MORE FROM .30-06 Outdoors
Fueling you’re “A” Game with X-Fuel Crossbow Lubricant
“It’s Like Rocket Fuel for your X-bow”
Accessory centered company, .30-06 Outdoors LLC, introduces X-Fuel 325+ High Performance Crossbow Rail Fluid. Creating a product geared towards the faster, speed demon crossbows on today’s market.
“We always strive to do things a bit different than others, and that definitely applies to our formulas”, says Matt Minshall, Managing Member of 30-06. In this case, the X-Fuel’s formula consists of a unique synthetic blend to create a thin consistency to prevent additional weight on the string. Without lacking the formula’s intended functionality.
Completely invisible when applied, X-Fuel is 100% odorless, 100% waterproof, and 100% Non-Toxic. The temperature tolerance allows for climate changes with no worry about freezing or overheating. Application is straightforward with the dauber top applicator. Simply run the applicator down each side of the crossbow rail to apply the perfect amount. Protecting and preventing dust and debris particles from attaching to the crossbow barrel.
Heat Displacement Technology (HDT) plays a vital role in the effectiveness of the product as well. HDT reduces, and in most cases eliminates heat caused by friction. Crossbow string friction causes the string’s center serving to heat up and in turn, causes premature wearing eventually limiting the crossbow’s performance.
X-Fuel is part of the long line of lubricants offered by 30-06, including Arrow Snot and String Snot. All products designed to help prolong the life of equipment and increase their efficiency. Each featuring state-of-the-art technology and similar benefits as X-Fuel at an affordable price.
If you would like more information on this or the rest of their lubricant products, please visit your local sporting goods retailer or www.30-06outdoors.com
.30-06 Outdoors LLC was founded in 2007 to provide archers and shooting sports enthusiasts a fresh and economical source for their gear needs.
BLACK ICE DRY GLIDE – SHATTERING THE SNOW SHOVEL EFFECT
.30-06 Outdoors introduces dry crossbow lubricant.
January 2019 Louisville, KY ATA Trade Show Attendees focused on Black Ice Dry Glide Crossbow Lubricant, a new dry application process for crossbow lubrication and maintenance by .30-06 Outdoors LLC.
The “Dry Glide” feature is more commonly associated with firearm maintenance products but is now being applied to archery crossbows with aluminum rails. Matt Minshall, Managing Member of .30-06 Outdoors, says, “Today’s faster bows need an option that’s better formulated with their aluminum rails in mind.”
With traditional rail lubricants, the crossbow string acts like a snow shovel. Scraping lube along the rail and dumping it into the trigger assembly; every time you draw back your bowstring. Black Ice is formulated to apply wet and air dry in less than 10 seconds, leaving nothing behind that can jam your trigger assembly. It’s formula also prevents the collection of dust and debris along the crossbow rail. Leaving behind only the look of “Black Ice” as evidence, hence the name.
Black Ice is 100% odorless when dry and made in America. Simply run the applicator along each side of the crossbow rail, wiping any excess off with a cloth. Squeezing the bottle isn’t necessary with the easy to use dauber applicator. The bottle itself holds .25oz of fluid that will last the customer 1000+ shots.
If you would like more information on this or the rest of the .30-06 product line, please visit your local sporting goods retailer or www.30-06outdoors.com.
.30-06 Outdoors LLC was founded in 2007 to provide archers and shooting sports enthusiasts a fresh and economical source for their gear needs.
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Contact: Matt Minshall
614-409-9300
