Crossbow Limb Failures: Part 1 - User Error - 4 Ways YOU Can Break Your Crossbow

[@Bamamike223]

Great Video! I just bought my first crossbow on Black Friday. I put it together, took 3 shots, saw your videos on limbs breaking and bolt weight, and didn’t take another shot until I built some 510 grain bolts. THANK YOU! New Sub! 👍

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Thanks, Mike! Glad ya liked it!

[@connorfugate4449]

Very nice video. THANK YOU!! Things we don't think about on a daily basis when we shoot.. It helps to have a refresher course every once in a while...

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Thanks, Connor! Glad ya liked it 👍

[@jamesnix4805]

As always this is a great video. Great sound advice!!!

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Thank you, James! Always appreciate your support!

[@theronroberts5573]

Thanks for sharing your ideas. I was wondering what this video was going to be like. Very good advice.

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Glad you liked it, Theron!

[@one-eyedarcher]

Great video Matt! Somehow, I never go notified of the video and just saw this. Late to the party as usual! 😂 I have been guilty of setting my cocked crossbows in the back of my side by side on the trip back to the house. I stopped doing it this year and discharge them first. Even though there is nothing for them to really hit back there you just never know.

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Thanks, Jim!!

[@randyjerrett3385]

Thank you!

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@kennethcleary298]

Thanks for this video.

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

You’re welcome 👍

[@mwallace6540]

Great video. I’ve been in the habit of pre cocking my Xbows (crank systems on Mission Sub1 lite and Excalibur)while still on the ground at my ladder stand til I’m all set up in the stand. Then I pull the Xbow up with my rope and load an arrow. Do you recommend not cocking the xbow til up in the stand (assuming the platform is wide enough and the hunter has her/his HSS on) ? Thanks

[@DevonReid-m1c]

Would i be okay shooting 450 grain arrows out of a Barnett xp 380? Thanks and love your videos im new and you have helped me gain knowledge tremendously!

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Glad this channel has helped you out! 450 grains out of your XP 380 should be just fine 👍

[@artemiocruzdiazjr2782]

Hello do you have an idea how to discharge a Crossbow Killers Instinct Swat X1 without firing

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Gotta shoot the X1 to discharge it.

[@artemiocruzdiazjr2782]

@@draggindeeroutdoors so there is no other way to download the X1 without shooting. If you figure out how to download it without shooting I appreciate you notifying me as soon as you can

[@SteveFromWyoming]

I see you like the Swat X1, have you had any issues with it? I just got one.

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Minor limb delam year 2 (didn't stop me from hunting). Replaced limbs at the end of that season, went ahead and did strings and cables at that time too. No hiccups, just awesome accuracy!

[@andyjones3934]

Folks have to up the minimum arrow weight!! Don’t shoot anything less than 400 grains of total weight!! Maintain your bow. Never neglect your string!! Pay lose attention to your nocks! How you bow functions is dependent on your maintenance program. Take care of your bow and it will function like it should!!

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Thanks, Andy! Next video in this series will tackle bolt weight 👍

[@vmathias2023]

Minimum bolt weight in my opinion is 400 grains total with head.

[@ronpinkerton7012]

How do you feel about the 2 to 3 hundred dollar Fatal Instinct crossbows

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

I prefer Killer Instinct’s x-cam bows (Vital/Diesel/Fatal/Vital 430/SWAT X1). If I had to pick one of their lower-priced models, it’d be the Boss.

[@Chris-ip8pz]

Seen two does yesterday thankfully no bucks behind either one of them cause I went home to shoot my bow after my hunt and it made a loud sound. Looked at my bow and the string you cock back on snapped. Anyone know how much that may cost to fix. It’s only a 300 dollar crossbow. So if it’s more than 150 I ain’t gonna mess with it.

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Hope you get fixed up and back k in the woods soon!

[@donwilson350]

I think you hit the nail right on the head with a lot of people, not loading the crossbow, right by not making sure that the nock is up against the string and they need to make sure that the nock is in line with the right vane so they don't cause a drive fire. And I think one of the most critical deals is well. Is shooting a arrow that does not weigh enough that can cause your limbs to crack as well. But you know this i have shot Crossbow for years nock on wood i have never Dry fired or crack a lim on a crossbow

[@goon1500ify]

People are shooting crossbow bolts that are WAY to light ! I wouldn't consider shooting any bolt that weighs less than 450 grains total . A 500 grain bolt is what I shoot and the performance gain compared to the loss of speed is so much better as you increase your kinetic energy and penetration as your bolt absorbs the energy instead of all that unused power remaining in the bows riser and limbs vibrating violently causing delaminations and micro cracks over time resulting in to a catastrophic failure and possibly a emergency room visit 😱

[@clarkecronin5506]

Forgot #1 reason for limb problems. Arrow-bolt weight. Advertized arrow speed is acquired through lighter weight arrows. Dry fires are caused by no weight or by an arrow that is way too light for the bows draw weight.

[@myronchamberlain7734]

It seems that alot of the cheap crossbows have quality issues there are many issues with killer instinct its hard to expect much a 200 dollar crossbow that shoots 400 feet per second

[@jeffhays1968]

About nocks, and air space between string and nock. LOGICALLY using a capture nock would stop any of that, BUT ALL makers say NO on capture nocks, Why is that ? Do you know why? I am not planning on any 'out of the norm' stuff but I can't see the reasoning why not.

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

My guess would be they don't work with the trigger mechanism.

[@outdoors-fun]

Imagine spending $1000+ on a crossbow that blows up the moment it grazes a tree. Things are more sensitive than landmines lol.

[@jasonsfishingagain312]

Try shooting a rifle after you bump a bit of snow or mud with the muzzle then come report back.

[@paultrimble9390]

Nice

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Thanks!

[@michaelJ415]

User error, I know someone who works in a Proshop They said 90% of the time, the Owner messed up

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

I’ve heard the same from others. Thanks for sharing!

[@michaelJ415]

@@draggindeeroutdoors writes them up as user error, x-1 I have going on season 3 this year, so far so good, he told me stay with min 480 grn arrow, zero issues just had mine checked last weekend👍🏻

[@outdoors-fun]

I never could understand why guys target shoot to check grouping, and dont pull the bolt after each shot. Take a shot, walk down, pull it out, mark the hole with a silver sharpie, go back and shoot your next bolt, repeat. Does it suck walking down every time? Sure does! But not as much as destroying 2/3bolts you just spent 30-45min building and tuning or blowing up your bow because the bolt you shot was damaged and didnt notice.

[@Shanonmcnab576]

I dunno miraculously limbs start breaking? Now there’s variables? I think manufacturers need to stick with good old tried and true instead of tweaking lol.

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Just like anything, as technology and what customer’s want changes…so do components like limbs

[@normellow]

Has anyone tried to make limbs out of leaf springs ?

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

I’m not sure…but I like where your head is at 👍

[@normellow]

@@draggindeeroutdoors kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZnSh6CZZpepe9U

[@disband_thebbc5933]

No it's never ever been tried ever in the entire history of the cross bow. You should put a patent application in immediately. But on a serious note steel is both heavier and has less tensile strength than unidirectional fibreglass. It can work and did work for hundreds of years but generally required extremely heavy draw weights of 300lbs - 1000lbs and a short 6 to 8.5" draw length. The last commercial offering I know of was Hortons Steelforce 150 recurve which improved things slightly in regards of draw length about 10.5" I think. There are some home-brewed recurve and even reverse draw compound crossbows out there with leaf spring limbs but technical specifications reliability reports are generally not available. But in general you would be looking at vast reductions in FPS which is what everyone seems to want these days.

[@johnbll31]

I don’t under stand how these cross bow limbs breaking mines never broken it’s a savage 7mm

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

@@johnbll31 🤣🤣

[@JonPolanich-pk1ju]

Torsion Crossbows don’t have these problems. The Lancehead F1 has nearly unbreakable limbs made of super compact carbon steel… also coated in Teflon so they never rust!

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

It’s a cool design for sure!

[@Imboring1995]

I just had my quick cock break on me on a new patriot 425... it almost broke my limbs by sticking it back getting it unstuck. Taking it to the bow shop today to get it checked. I bought it a week ago, I bought a barnett as well I am taking in but that was user error on my part as I slipped and it dented my frame a little.

[@jaysunkreuze1466]

Even if you do everything you say to prevent catastrophic limb failure, shooting minimum IBO weight bolts is hell on limbs. Killer instinct is guilty by promoting 260 or 270 grain bolts then advertising "up to" X speeds. Everyone wants the fastest speeds but fail to recognize that momentum is what counts, not KE. How fast is fast enough? Personally my 600 grain arrow out of an xbow with 200lb limbs and 15 inch power stroke with 200 grain single bevel broadhead is a dart out to 70 yards. Yes, you have to practice, but speed alone is inferior to the science of killing big game.

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Thanks, Jaysun. We’ll get to more bolt weight related stuff in the next one! Stay tuned!

[@michaelJ415]

The bolts that came with my swat ,3 yrs ago when I bought # was 390 with a100# field point, shoot those out of a 220# or higher weight see what happens I threw them out, I’ve seen a skid full of busted limbs at the shop before, all makes, models, there are those that fix things And those that sell them, Choose Wisely, Happy 🦌&🦃 to all

[@lacowart]

If its that fraglie that bump can make it explode then its not user error. Its bad manufacturing or poor design.

[@cosmiccharlie8294]

Cross bows, like metallic cartridge reloading, is not for cretins. And there are plenty of them out there.

[@Sonjaorleans]

Mice like to chew on my crossbow strings

[@draggindeeroutdoors]

Good to know!