Crossbows are said to have more personality than regular compound bows and other archery tools. The reason might be that they have unique features, parts, and sizes. All of which significantly impact the success of hunting.

Similarly, they also vary in draw weights, depending on the size and the type of hunting activities involved. 

In this article, we’ll explain a crossbow draw weight, the available ranges, and how to choose the right weight for your game.

What is a Crossbow Draw Weight

A crossbow draw weight is how much effort you must put into drawing a crossbow. As you already know, all crossbows come with a string. 

You must draw this string backward and release it through the trigger to shoot. So the force required to do this is referred to as a draw weight. Typically the more weight a crossbow has, the harder it’ll be to pull. Draw weights are measured in pounds. 

The advantage of higher draw weights is that they send the arrows with more force. However, they aren’t suitable for all types of hunting.

A sample medieval crossbow with medium crossbow draw weight

The Difference Between Draw Weight on a Compound and Recurve Crossbow

If you’re thinking about it, yes – there is a difference. The different types of crossbows also differ in draw weights. The difference varies based on their design, style, and function.

For starters, with a compound crossbow, the effort you’d need to draw it stays consistent from the instant you pull to the point where it’s locked in. However, it’s different for a recurve crossbow because the energy slowly increases until you lock it in.

Compound crossbows fire arrows more intensely because more force has been put into the bowstring. Recurve crossbows, on the other hand, don’t shoot fast. But they are ideal if you’re looking for something easier to draw. 

Ranges of a Crossbow Draw Weight 

As we’ve established, crossbows vary in draw weight. The most popular versions available are 80 pounds and more. Most states (in the USA) even recommend using crossbows with at least 75 pounds. 

However, draw weights are categorized from low to high draw weights. Your size also determines what size you’d get. Here’s the full range you can get in the market today;

  1. Low draw weights – Although most draw weights start from 80 pounds, you can still get lighter weights of about 50 pounds. While these might seem very low, these lightweight models are for children or for hunting more miniature games. So if you’re looking for something with low draw weights, you should look within 50-100 pounds. 
  2. Medium draw weights – These are usually the most common types available. Medium draw weights typically range from 120 to 150 pounds. The medium-draw-weight crossbow is ideal for an adult female.
  3. High draw weights – High draw weights range between 160-200 pounds. They are ideal for an adult male. 

However, occasionally, you might encounter draw weights between 200-290 pounds or even more (especially for medieval crossbows). While they’d be tough to draw, they are designed for particular special needs.

Unfortunately, once you purchase a crossbow, you cannot adjust the draw weight – whether to increase or reduce it. Trying to do this yourself can cause damage to the entire crossbow. 

We recommend testing your options before committing to them. Ensure it’s a weight that doesn’t require too much effort to pull. 

The Best Draw Weight for Target Practice

If you plan to use your crossbow during target practice, you can choose to go for a low or high draw weight. It’s entirely up to you, as there are no restrictions or limitations. 

However, you need to be able to pull whatever weight you’re opting for properly. Especially since you’d be shooting more often, choose a size that wouldn’t tire you out quickly. 

The Best Draw Weight for Hunting 

Unlike target practice, drawing weights affect the quality of your hunting and whether or not you hit your target. But most importantly, you have to meet your state’s requirements. 

The hunting department in your state already has a minimum draw weight to ensure that whatever game you’re targeting goes down with one clean kill. So, ensure that you conduct adequate research to determine the minimum weight. Also, remember that the draw weight changes periodically, mostly yearly, so you always want to check occasionally to be confident. You can get this information on your state’s hunting website.

Also, remember that more is always better because higher draw weights mean faster speed and force. 

How to Choose the Right Draw Weight for Each Game? 

Your game also determines what type of crossbow draw weights you should choose. Since animals vary in size, the power required to take them down would vary. However, here are a few estimates that should help you bring your next hunting game home.

Deers

For deers and similar-sized animals, they are quick. And so, once they hear the sound of your shot, they’d immediately start running. In hunting a deer, you need something fast to hit them before they get far. However, since they are smaller animals, you don’t need a crossbow draw weight with too much power.

Typically, you want to opt for a draw weight between 80-120 pounds. Not only does this offer a clear shot, but it can put them down without tearing a muscle or bone.

Bighorn sheep

Since bighorn sheep are giant animals, especially compared to rabbits and deer, so they require a higher draw weight. Something within the medium range. So anywhere between 140-160 pounds.

Elk

Elk are harder to take down when compared to the big horn sheep. Elks have thicker skin and are bigger and stronger. So you’d want to go with a higher draw-weight than you would for a big horn sheep. Something with more power, like a draw weight of 160-180 pounds.

Bear

Since Bears vary in size, you’d want to go up in power. For example, with a small bear, you’d like to use the same draw weight you use for an elk. However, you might have to go up to 200 pounds for bigger-sized bears like a Grizzly. It might be heavy to draw, but you’d be sure that the power will be enough to penetrate them in one shot. 

Final thoughts

And that’s about crossbow draw weights. Remember, more weights mean more energy and power shoots. However, you should always check in with your state’s hunting criteria before choosing a crossbow draw weight range. Once you have a range in mind, test to see how many pounds you can comfortably draw and make your decision. 

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