As one of the leading EK Archery stockists, we feel its necessary to educate our audiences on the different types of crossbows we have available, the genius behind EK Archery, and of course, help you to find the right crossbow for you.
Two of the more popular crossbow designs include recurve crossbows and compound crossbows. Below we’re going to look closer into their design and features.
Recurve crossbow
A recurve crossbow is a more basic kind of crossbow that features two limbs mounted horizontally on a stock and barrel. The name recurve comes from the unique shape of the limbs which curve away from the front of the bow and recurve back toward it in a S-type shape.
The curves make the limbs function as an extremely powerful spring to launch the bowstring and the bolt at high speeds. Recurve crossbows are usually larger and very powerful with speeds of over 400 FPS (feet per second). The recurve crossbow can achieve great results with minimal mechanical complexity and there are no extra cables or cams.
Strengths of the recurve
Light weight: A recurve crossbow is typically lighter despite its larger size. Recurve crossbows are lighter because there is very little to them aside from the limbs and bowstring. This makes them a fan favourite amongst survivalists and hunters, as they won’t weigh as much when carrying them all day.
Reliable: Due to its simplistic design, the recurve crossbow is much more reliable and will be your companion for years to come if looked after. Frequent bowhunters and archers will take thousands of shots over the life of their crossbow, and with no complex mechanisms, this leaves the recurve crossbow less likely to suddenly break.
However, if it does incur a bit of damage, they’re relatively simple to fix and easy to restring.
Style: The recurve crossbow has an interesting style that is favoured by target shooters and other regular users due to its classic styling.
Steady: A lot of archers find a recurve crossbow easier to aim due to its lighter weight. Because of this, they’re easier to hold steady and quicker to bear, making them a favourite for field use.
Disadvantages of a recurve
Heavy draw weight: More technically advanced crossbows provide a ‘let off’ which essentially is a percentage of the draw weight and the weight that you hold at full draw. This can make them harder to draw and result in a heavier weight to hold when at full draw than other crossbows.
Large: Their large sizes mean the recurve crossbow isn’t all that agile or manoeuvrable. For hunters, this can mean more noise when moving around.
Less power: Recurve crossbows are really powerful and can be used to take down large targets, however compared to more technologically advanced bows, they can’t reach the same speed or kinetic energy. In order to get the most out of your recurve crossbow, you’ll need to practice a little more.
Price: Because they’re a little simpler than other advanced crossbows, you can usually pick up a recurve crossbow for a little cheaper than other crossbows.
Compound crossbow
A compound crossbow, as the name indicates, uses a compound pulley system to get more power from the crossbow with less nimb length. There are a large number of designs, but they all use the same mechanical principle.
The compound pulley system, called cam, consists of a large pulley connected to the bowstring. When pulled, it rotates the pulley and a smaller pulley attached to the larger one. Put simply, this all equates to more force which is stored in the cable system. Some compound crossbows can reach incredible speeds of up to 470 FPS.
Strengths of the compound
Easy to draw: The above-mentioned ‘let off’ is significantly different one a compound and means that when you pull the bowstring back it will become less difficult toward the end, making it easier to hold and load faster.
Speed and power: The fastest crossbows are compound crossbows and their cam system can pack a lot of power into a small frame. This makes them an incredibly powerful and speedy crossbow, which in turn can improve accuracy.
Low limb length: Compound crossbows are more compact and have much shorter limbs. As a result, they can be moved around with more agility, make less noise, and can be stored more easily. 
Disadvantages of a compound
Weight: The added mechanisms make compound crossbows a heavier option, which can in turn make them less accurate because they’re slightly harder to hold steady. This also makes them a slightly more annoying option if you’re carrying it around all day.
Maintenance: Compound crossbows are more complex and feature more mechanics than other models, which naturally means they require a bit more maintenance to keep them running as they should.
Reliability: Due to the complex mechanics, a compound crossbow can face some damages and issues, especially with the bowstring. For this reason, the compound crossbow can fail while in use and become a bit of a problem when you need something extremely reliable.
Noise: The mechanics on a compound crossbow can make a lot of noise and require accessories to dampen the noise and could alert an animal of your presence if hunting.
Preppers Shop range
At Preppers Shop, we stock a huge variety of crossbows, including compound, recurve and pistol crossbows. As well as a huge variety of crossbow accessories.
Whether you’re an avid archer, a prepper looking to expand their collection of supplies, or a novice keen to learn how to use a crossbow, you’ll find something to suit you in our range. As EK Archery stockists and prepper supplies store, we’re bound to have everything you need at a great price point.
Browse our products online or come visit us in store in Cornwall. Alternatively, get in touch to speak to a member of the team.
