Leaving Crossbow Cocked... for how long?

outrider58 · Sep 18, 2020

akalma said:
I don't think it is easy with Barnett's safety where trigger works only with bolt in the firing mechanism.

Yes. You do not want to uncock a xbow with a bolt in it.

I guess that is an improvement in xbows I hadn't considered.

willtill · Sep 18, 2020

outrider58 said:
Anyone who uses a cocking string to cock their xbows should and can just as easily uncock them using that same string. For the year I had to hunt with a xbow, I never had to uncock by shooting a bolt.

That's how I uncock my Excalibur Vortex. Two pulleys on the cocking string, can easily uncock with one hand. You have to anyway since you have to pull the trigger to release the bow string

hobiecat590 · Sep 18, 2020

willtill said:
That's how I uncock my Excalibur Vortex. Two pulleys on the cocking string, can easily uncock with one hand. You have to anyway since you have to pull the trigger to release the bow string

Works for Horton's also after disengaging the ratchet if your crank has one.

llkoolkeg · Sep 18, 2020

willtill said:
That's how I uncock my Excalibur Vortex. Two pulleys on the cocking string, can easily uncock with one hand. You have to anyway since you have to pull the trigger to release the bow string

Yep, that's exactly what I do also with my Excalibur. It allows you to decock and leave your hunting area silently.

bigjohn · Sep 18, 2020

I believe it’s illegal to transport a cocked crossbow also

akalma · Sep 18, 2020

bigjohn said:
I believe it’s illegal to transport a cocked crossbow also

No, if bolt is out it is not considered as cocked.

possumman · Sep 18, 2020

JamesDong said:
Is there a homebrew type of rail lubricant I can use?

Cheap chapstick---rail lube $8 chapstick $1 at the dollar store---and it smells nice too

teratos · Sep 18, 2020

llkoolkeg said:
Yep, that's exactly what I do also with my Excalibur. It allows you to decock and leave your hunting area silently.

Just did it in my living room....

JamesDong · Sep 18, 2020

Done via ebay............
Crossbow String & Rail Wax JoJoBa

outrider58 · Sep 18, 2020

teratos said:
Just did it in my living room....

Ya just gotta remember to take the bolt out first. :lol2:

teratos · Sep 18, 2020

outrider58 said:
Ya just gotta remember to take the bolt out first.

The dog is playing dead....

JamesDong · Sep 18, 2020

teratos said:
The dog is playing dead....

JamesDong · Oct 2, 2020

Watching the bastards chomping down on my delectable corn treats, mostly small yearlings but one nice size doe that's...... nearly all black!

Anyway.... is 12 hours on 12 hours off OK for cocked/uncocked?

willtill · Oct 3, 2020

JamesDong said:
Watching the bastards chomping down on my delectable corn treats, mostly small yearlings but one nice size doe that's...... nearly all black!

Anyway.... is 12 hours on 12 hours off OK for cocked/uncocked?

I would think that's OK. But why not just uncock it when not actively hunting? From a safety standpoint it's wise to do.

A chronograph will help tell you if your limbs are losing tensile strength over a long period. As long as your string is not moving perceptibly forward on the rail when the bow is uncocked (from string stretch).

outrider58 · Oct 3, 2020

teratos said:
The dog is playing dead....

I was thinking more about my foot!

CraZ4GunZ · Oct 3, 2020

I bought a Ten Point Crossbow for my son before he went into the military. We both forgot about it and its been sitting NIB for the last 8 years. Are the strings still good?

willtill · Oct 3, 2020

CraZ4GunZ said:
I bought a Ten Point Crossbow for my son before he went into the military. We both forgot about it and its been sitting NIB for the last 8 years. Are the strings still good?

NIB I assume is Not In Battery (cocked)? If the strings are not frayed, and the crossbow has been in a climate controlled space, sure. I don't see why not.

This is my Excalibur Vortex. Sits in the case in this configuration in my office. String is as fine as the years ago I bought it.

JamesDong · Oct 3, 2020

willtill said:
I would think that's OK. But why not just uncock it when not actively hunting? From a safety standpoint it's wise to do.

A chronograph will help tell you if your limbs are losing tensile strength over a long period. As long as your string is not moving perceptibly forward on the rail when the bow is uncocked (from string stretch).

Actually it takes me a couple minutes to cock the sob and nock a bolt even with a crank. I'm not nearly as strong as I once was.
I like your idea of chrony it, I'll do that.

CraZ4GunZ · Oct 4, 2020

willtill said:
NIB I assume is Not In Battery (cocked)? If the strings are not frayed, and the crossbow has been in a climate controlled space, sure. I don't see why not.

This is my Excalibur Vortex. Sits in the case in this configuration in my office. String is as fine as the years ago I bought it.

Thx for your reply. Yeah its still in the original box, climate controlled.

OldTimeyGoodness · Oct 4, 2020

If I could add on to the question, I inherited a crossbow 3 years ago. It’s maybe 15 years old. Used to shoot it when I was in highschool. It wasn’t left cocked, but it’s been in storage and carted all around the last 15 years. Is it safe to shoot?

Leaving Crossbow Cocked... for how long?

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