Hello all,

I have a few questions about the difference between compound bows and crossbows as they relate to penetration and broadhead choice.

I have been shooting vertical bows for 25 years. I am not an all out authority, but I am very knowledgeable. With that said, I am a novice when it comes to the inner workings for a crossbow. My father recently purchased a new crossbow and had several questions for me. I couldn't give him a definitive answer....because I wasn't sure. Please help me understand.

As far as penetration, would an arrow penetrate more then a bolt, the bolt more then the arrow, or equal?

As far as broadheads....what is the difference between a vertical bow broadhead vs a crossbow broadhead? The main reason I ask is because my father suggested that he wanted to use his rage extreme 100 grain vertical bow broadheads on his new crossbow. From everything I've been told, you always have to use a crossbow broadhead with a crossbow....is this true?

For the sake of this discussion (as far as speed and kenetic energy and what not) compare and contrast these two bows.

Darton DS-2800
65# @ 29.5 inches
28.5 inch arrow, total weight (with 100 grain head) is 385 grains
300 fps

Barnett Recruit Compound crossbow
130# @ 12.5 power stroke
20 inch bolt, total weight (with 100 grain head) is 401 grains
300 fps

Thank you for any help and information.

There is really no such thing as a “crossbow” broadhead. They are just broadheads. If your speed numbers are to be believed, the real bow produces 77 Ft/Lbs. of KE and the xbow produces 80 Ft/Lbs. Any broadhead made will kill with either setup and will penetrate well (in excess of what is required for small animals like deer). The rage will be just fine so long as the blades don’t deploy upon discharging the crossbow. Most importantly is to practice with those broadheads to ensure proper flight and accuracy. Shooting at a deer for the first time is no time to discover how they fly and where they hit.

Both are going to kill as efficiently as the other. The big difference I have noticed with crossbows vs compounds is once properly sighted in, a crossbow takes less practice when you break it out for fall archery. I shoot a crossbow 30 times and I am good to go. With a compound bow I am shooting 30 times a shooting session at least 2 dozen times to get in my best shooting form.

Only question I'd have with mechanicals on a crossbow is would they handle the much shorter, so much faster, acceleration. The power stroke is much shorter, but much more force, would this cause the mechanical to open before leaving the bow?

Other than that, once it leaves the bow, your two sets of numbers are close enough that they'd be very close in Momentum and KE, so penetration would be a toss up

My father uses a crossbow with mechanicals, he has used the crossbow since his shoulder replacement. I believe he chose mechanicals rated for crossbows and has had good luck. He uses a bow with the crank for cocking, this helps to manage a second shot in the stand.