A crossbow consists of a bow-like construction mounted on a stock and oriented horizontally. Crossbows can have a compound or recurve construction. Compound crossbows, much like compound bows, rely on a series of cams, or pulleys, to reduce the draw weight of the bow. On recurve crossbows, the tips of the bow curve away from the archer, which increases the speed of the bolt. Arrows, or bolts, are loaded on top of the stock.
