All weapons have certain types of ammo. Arrows or “bolts” are used to describe crossbow projectiles, but you won’t use the term bolt when referring to a traditional bow. The main difference is that a bolt has no vanes near the end, but arrows for a typical bow will always have a stabilizing vane at the back.
A broadhead is an attachment that looks like an arrowhead that goes on the end of your bolt. These are used for hunting, and they are screwed into the top of the bolt shaft. There are three types of broadheads including fixed-blade, removable-blade, and expandable-blade.
Parts of the Crossbow Bolt
Once you start to study different bolts, you will find that they typically fall between 16 to 22 inches in length. Every crossbow has a recommendation for the length and weight of the arrows that you use. While you can get away with a slightly longer arrow in some models, you should never use a shorter arrow because it could cause injuries due to the rail length.
The Shaft
All arrows have a shaft or body, which refers to the main part of the arrow and makes up most of the length. These are typically made from carbon or aluminum. The spine of the bolt always refers to how “stiff” the bolt and how resistant it will be to breaking.
The weight of a bolt is measured in grains. When you buy a new crossbow, your manufacturer will also recommend a total weight or a GPI (grains-per-inch). You can calculate the weight by multiplying the length of the shaft by the total length by the GPI rating provided. For example, the manufacturer of the bolt stipulates a 20 GPI, and it has a shaft of 20 inches, then it’s a 400-grain bolt.
Nock
The nock is at the back end of the arrow, and it is made from aluminum or plastic. The purpose is to keep the arrow in place as you setup your shot.
There are two types of nocks typically found with most crossbows, the half-moon or flat nock. The difference here is mainly convenience. Moon nocks have to be lined up with the string before you can fire.
Fletchlings
The little flaps or wings on the end of the arrow near the nock helps to stabilize the bolt during flight, allowing to to go in the right direction. In general, with a longer arrow shaft, you’ll need a longer fletchling.
The Bolt Head
The head of the arrow can use two different types of points: field points or broadheads. Field points are used for target practice and they have little sharpness. You typically want to use the same weight of field points and broadheads so that you get used to shooting them with your crossbow.
Which Broadheads Should You Buy?
The type of broadhead that you choose depends on your preference and game. You don’t need a large fixed-blade all the time if you are hunting smaller game. However, expandable blades offer a bit more versatility since there are no blades that can reduce velocity and it flies just as fast as if you are using field points.