This bow does come in separate parts, but it doesn’t take MacGyver to assemble it. All you need to do is insert a single screw with a crosshead screwdriver and you’re good to go! Or, should we say, good to bow? (Probably not). One extra well worth buying is rail lube. This is applied to the bow to help reduce the friction between the string and the rail. I applied some lube, set the safety to the Fire position, and following the instructions I drew the bow up for the first time. At 95lbs and using my legs, drawing the bow was easy, I slid the bolt into position, and making sure it was snug up against the string I prepared to take my first shot. It really does not matter what you call them; they are the ammunition that is shot from the crossbow. As I said, there are a couple of aluminium bolts supplied in the kit, they are 16 inches long, with screw in field points and are fine to get you started, but very soon you are going to want more than two bolts. I have been an archer for a long time, and have always made my own arrows. I am also a hoarder and always believe that ‘this will come in useful’. Well, on this occasion, I am right, and the many damaged carbon arrows that I have at the side of my workbench have found a new lease of life as crossbow bolts. Up until a year ago, the only xbows that were competition legal were restricted to a 90 lbs draw weight, and open sights. A few people within NFAS (National Field Archery Society) used to shoot them, but they were better suited to other disciplines. However, that all changed a little over a year ago when NFAS changed their rules removing the maximum draw weight clause and instead imposing a maximum velocity of 300fps, in common with all other classes. The new rules also restricted the class to recurve bows only and best of all allowed fixed mag and focus scopes (rather like HFT). Since the changes, the class has begun to grow and the sales of cheaper starter type xbows (as well as the more sophisticated hunting type bows) have grown and grown. So I thought it was about time I gave xbow a go.

BestSaller (BET50) Bestsaller424 BestSaller Stealth Sport BestSaller (BET50) Bestsaller424 BestSaller Stealth Sport

Some toy crossbows fall a little (ahem) short of the mark. But, a toy crossbow that’s made by the same company that builds actual crossbows… well, that’s a bullseye! And, that’s exactly what the Petron Sureshot Crossbow is! The bow includes a simple set of target type sights that fit onto a standard dovetail. I chose not to use these sights and instead fitted a set of scope rings and a Bushnell 10 mag scope with a Mil-Dot reticule. I got the 95 lb model; to see how easy it was to use and how far I could shoot a relatively low powered bow. The bow is also available in 40lb and 150 lbs versions.

Customise your Petron Stealth Pistol Crossbow

I have been advised by a fellow NFAS member to cut my bolts to 19”; this can be done by your archery shop, or (wearing a suitable dust mask) with a very fine modelling saw at home. I have an arrow saw, so having trimmed the broken bits from the old carbons, I glued point inserts in both ends and using a fletching jig, made up a handful of experimental carbon bolts. Of course you can always buy the bolts along with the bow, and either aluminium or the more expensive carbons will do the job very nicely thank you. Incidentally, for those who wish to save some money, 16” bolts will work fine and you can get two of them from one 32” arrow shaft. In the box you get pretty much everything you need to take your first steps. The bow comes in big component parts, with the prod already strung. The assembly instructions are clear and easy to follow, so it only took about ten minutes to put it all together. Pay particular attention to getting the prod perfectly centred and level. The kit also includes a couple of aluminium arrows (known as bolts) as well. As a final note; just as I completed this article the NFAS National Championships took place at Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire. I was there with my compound bow, but up against a field of 14 archers, Peter Hough, shooting a very similar bow to the one I reviewed, won the Crossbow class. This just goes to show what can be done with an inexpensive bow, and of course, a skilled archer.

PETRON STEALTH CROSSBOW KIT PETRON STEALTH CROSSBOW KIT

The Petron does not by any means have a match trigger, but I have pulled a lot worse on some well known spring airguns. I have not tried to adjust the trigger yet but as standard the action is clean and getting a surprise break is not too difficult. If you are more of a snap shooting type, it will work just as easily for you. Crossbow shooting is a good activity, during which you can teach your child a patience and concentration. It is especially relaxing movement activity when which you will clear your head from small worries of life. Take a look at our specially Toy Crossbows for Kids. Buy your son or your daughter simpler and lesser difficult crossbow at the beginning. When he/she grows up and he/she will be interested in shooting a crossbow, you can buy him/her more difficult crossbow, e.g. recurve crossbow. I have fancied the idea of owning a crossbow for a long time, given my interests in archery and field target shooting, I suppose it’s not very surprising; but what would I use it for?

Toy Crossbows for Kids