Abstract: A crossbow can include a bolt retention plunger configured to retain a bolt against a rail of a crossbow. The bolt retention plunger can be movable between a retention mode and a neutral mode and can be operable in the retention mode to engage a bolt to consistently and evenly hold it adjacent the rail. The bolt retention plunger can define a planar surface facing the rail. The planar surface can contact the bolt along a linear line of tangency, rather than a point, extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bolt. The crossbow can include a safety extending in the receiver and an anti-dry fire element movably disposed in the receiver. The bolt retention plunger can be separately operable from and distal from the anti-dry fire element and the safety.

Abstract: A crossbow can include a de-cocking system to allow a bowstring to be transitioned from a drawn mode to an undrawn mode. The de-cocking system can include a sled that engages the bowstring to draw it to a drawn mode and/or lets down the bowstring to the undrawn mode during a de-cocking operation. The sled can include a stop that prevents the sled or bowstring from engaging a safety and/or interfering with transition of the safety from a safety on mode to a safety off mode. The safety can be manually actuated from the safety on mode to the safety off mode. With the safety in the off mode, upon actuation of a trigger assembly, the sled assists transition of the bowstring to the undrawn mode. The stop can be reconfigured to a neutral mode so the sled can be used to draw the bowstring. A related method is provided.

Abstract: A crossbow crank can comprise a drive shaft selectively coupled to a one-way bearing that allows rotation of the drive shaft and an associated spool in a first direction, and impairs rotation of the drive shaft and the spool in a second direction. The drive shaft can be automatically locked and unlocked relative to the one-way bearing, allowing the bearing to control operation of the drive shaft, via a brake. The brake can be axially compressible along the drive shaft to automatically lock the drive shaft and a sleeve so they are fixed relative to one another and rotate in unison when the drive shaft is rotated in the first direction. The brake can be deactivated by operation of a crank so that the drive shaft can rotate freely relative to the sleeve and thus the bearing in a second direction. A related method of use is provided.