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Are you interested in crossbows but have no idea how to cock a crossbow?
I would highly recommend trying a cocking rope the next time you want to load your crossbow.
It will make it so much easier to get the job done:
Cock the crossbow simply means that you make the crossbow ready for firing.
Please be aware of the fact that this is very different from nocking an arrow and drawing when you are shooting with a bow.
Most important is, that you don’t put an arrow (or bolt) in your crossbow before you have cocked the crossbow!
If you load a bolt first and the string slips from your fingers while cocking the crossbow, you will shoot yourself in the foot.
Always make sure that the string is pulled back completely and safely before you load your crossbow with a bolt!
The minimum aid you should have on your crossbow is a foot claw.
In the foot claw, you can place your foot to keep the crossbow down while you pull the string back.
Step 1: Point the crossbow to the floor so that the foot claw touches the ground.
Step 2: Put your foot in the foot claw.
Step 3: Make sure the safety switch of your crossbow is in the firing position or you won’t be able to pull the string back completely
Step 4: Grab the string with both hands. Make sure that you have a good grip and that your hands are placed in a way that you won’t pull on one side harder than on the other side.
Step 5: Pull the string back with a smooth and constant movement. Don’t suddenly yank the string back. Yanking the string back could cause damage to the crossbow and injure yourself.
Step 6: Make sure the safety switch of your crossbow is enabled. Some crossbows do this automatically, with others you have to do that manually.
Step 7: Load an arrow and you are ready to shoot.
These are the steps that you follow with almost every crossbow.
If you own a very strong crossbow, it can get difficult to pull the string back only using your body strength.
To make it easier for you you can use certain tools; some crossbows even can do it completely by themselves and don’t need your help at all.
Today I want to talk about the cocking rope.
There are other little helpers like the accudraw or self-winding crossbows, but the one that can be used with any crossbow that does not have an automatic mechanism is this rope.
This simple tool is super effective and makes it 50% easier to cock the crossbow.
So when you were struggling with cocking your crossbow in the past, you should really give the cocking rope a shot!
Using this cocking device is very simple:
Step 1: Point your empty bow towards the ground and place your foot in the foot claw
Step 2: Hook the clamps in the string and make sure that you have even tension on both sides.
Step 3: Pull back using the handles until the crossbow is engaged (you will hear a click and feel it, too).
Step 4: Put the safety switch to “safe” and you can load the crossbow with a bolt.
To show you how easy it is, please watch the following video:
I found that the ELONG OUTDOOR crossbow cocking rope does an excellent job if you want to cock your crossbow.
Its length is adjustable, so you don’t need to cut anything and you can use it for differently-sized crossbows.
Like all other cocking ropes, it reduces the cocking tension by 50%, so that you can pull the string back of crossbows you would never be able to pull with your arm strength.
The handles of this rope are perfectly formed to give you a strong hold.
There is no danger of losing your hold of the rope, so you can cock your crossbow safely every time.
Crossbows can have draw weights of over 200 LBS.
You need to be really strong to pull this weight back with only your body strength.
Besides that, you have to make sure that the string is pulled back evenly.
If it is pulled over to one side or the other, the bolt will not fly straight but to the side, too!
The cocking rope will spare you from pain or injuries and will do your crossbow good, too.
So, if anybody asks you how to cock a crossbow, I would answer that it’s the best way to do it with a cocking rope.
How do you cock your crossbow?
Do you use a cocking rope or does your crossbow have another mechanism to cock it?
I am looking forward to discussing this topic with you, so feel free to leave a comment below.
I use the ELONG OUTDOOR Cocking Rope.
It is easy to use and has never let me down.
Get yours today!
If you are looking for great crossbows check out my top 3 of TenPoint crossbows or this great hunting crossbow.
Interested in bowfishing?
Why not try this crossbow especially designed for bowfishing?
Happy hunting everybody.