A crossbow includes a frame that has a front end and a stock at a rear end. A projectile moves along a projectile axis that extends between the rear end and the front end during firing. The crossbow includes a power source that is configured to fire the projectile. The crossbow includes a latch that is movable between the rear end and the front end of the frame. The latch has a main body that defines a nock aperture aligned with the projectile axis and configured to receive a portion of the projectile therein. The crossbow includes a projectile guide connected to the main body of the latch and positioned adjacent the projectile axis. The projectile guide is configured to interface with the projectile when the projectile is in a misaligned rotational position, and be positioned between portions of the projectile when the projectile is in an aligned rotational position.

Crossbow bowstring positioning systems are provided. In one aspect of the invention a crossbow bowstring positioning system has a crank housing supporting an axle and positioning a first connector at a front facing surface of the crank housing, a length of rope connected between two separated points on the axle; a bowstring connector joined to the length of rope and connectable to a bowstring of the crossbow, a mounting having a buffer tube mount mountable to a buffer tube of a crossbow; and a crank operable to rotate the axle to control an extent to which the rope is wound onto the axle and a position of the bowstring connector relative to the axle. The crank housing and mounting can be readily assembled in a small space and an efficient manner while providing paths through which a force experienced by the axle during use can be resisted.

An archery bow and method are disclosed herein. The archery bow, in an embodiment, includes a first limb, a second limb, and a draw cord coupled to the first and second limbs. The archery bow also includes a first cord coupled to the first limb, a second cord coupled to the second limb, and a driver operatively coupled to an energy source. The driver is configured to manipulate the first and second cords to change a tension in the draw cord.

A crossbow may have a winch assembly. The winch assembly may include a spool, a spool gear, a drive gear, a plate gear, a one way bearing and a brake gear. The winch assembly may be used to move the bowstring from an un-cocked position to a cocked position. The winch assembly may also be used to move the bowstring from the cocked position to the un-cocked position.

A crossbow may have a de-cocking mechanism that includes a trigger mechanism, a trigger latch mechanism and a winch assembly. The winch assembly may be used to move the trigger mechanism to simultaneously move the bowstring from a cocked position to an un-cocked position.

Stocks for aimable devices are provided. In one aspect, stock has a body mechanically associated with the aimable device and movable to determine an aiming axis of the aimable device, a shoulder mount positioned proximate to one end of the body, a firing grip positioned apart from the shoulder mount along a length of the body; a support leg having a mounting end pivotably mounted to the body between the firing grip and an end of the body opposite from the shoulder mount and having a foot end movable between a first range of positions and a second range of positions and a receiver located between the mounting of the support leg to the body and the firing grip and adapted to releasably hold the support leg in the first range of positions wherein the at least one support leg provides a grippable forestock.

A crossbow may include a main beam, a riser with a U-shaped opening, a pair of bow limbs and a bowstring. The riser may have limb attachment surfaces that are separated such that a minimum distance between them is at least as wide as a user's foot but not greater than about 5 inches. The riser may have a U-shaped opening that is designed to receive a user's foot.

A crossbow may include a main beam and a bow mechanism having a pair of outwardly extending bow limbs, a pair of bowstring wheels, a bowstring and at least one power cord that extends between the bow limbs. The crossbow may also include a traveling trigger mechanism and a drawing mechanism. The traveling trigger mechanism may hold the bowstring in the un-cocked condition. The drawing mechanism may then be operated to move the traveling trigger mechanism and thus the bow string from the un-cocked condition to a cocked condition.

A crossbow is provided with a silent crank-cocking device including a shaft extending through a positioning sleeve, reels, a housing, a bushing, covers, a shaft sleeve, limiting pieces and a clutch wrench. A crank is connected to an end of the shaft. The reels are connected to two ends of the shaft. The housing receives the bushing, which includes a hole and clutch slots. The covers are connected to both ends of the housing. Rollers are located in the clutch slots. The limiting pieces are arranged on two ends of the shaft sleeve. The clutch wrench includes a portion connected to the rollers in the housing and another portion extending from the housing.

A crossbow including a center rail including a rail body and a riser, a first flexible limb coupled to the riser, a second flexible limb coupled to the riser, and a first cam mounted to the first flexible limb and rotatable around a first cam axis. The first cam including a first draw string journal defining a first draw string plane of rotation perpendicular to the first cam axis, and a first power cable take-up journal extending in a direction perpendicular to the first draw string plane of rotation. The crossbow further including a second cam mounted to the second flexible limb and rotatable around a second cam axis. The second cam including a second draw string journal defining a second plane of rotation perpendicular to the second cam axis, and a second power cable take-up journal extending in a direction perpendicular to the second draw string plane of rotation.