Mini Crossbow Manual
Setup, loading, shooting and care for every model, from the Bowman to the Ghost Hunter.
In the Box
Most models arrive with the crossbow, a spare steel string and a flat display stand. Ammo is not included, because a box of toothpicks is already in your kitchen. Each product page lists exactly what ships with that model.
To set up the stand, pull the two sides of the flattened stand apart until it stands upright, then rest the crossbow on it between sessions.
Before You Shoot
- Never point a mini crossbow at a person or an animal. A toothpick at 20 meters can still take an eye out.
- Keep it away from young kids. It is a real crossbow at a small scale, not a toy.
- Wear glasses when shooting steel balls at hard surfaces. They bounce.
- Do not dry fire. Releasing the string with nothing in the channel is the hardest thing you can do to the limbs.
- Keep fingers clear of the string path. It snaps forward fast enough to sting.
Loading and Shooting
- Cock the string. Hold the body in one hand. With the other, pull the steel string straight back along the channel until it clicks behind the trigger latch. A new crossbow takes a firm pull and loosens a little after the first few dozen shots.
- Load. For a toothpick, lay it in the channel with the point forward and the flat end square against the string. For a steel ball, set it in the small cup in the channel in front of the string.
- Aim. Line up the notch and post on top of the body. Toothpicks drop over distance, so aim at the top edge of the target once you are more than a couple of meters away.
- Press the trigger. Squeeze slowly. The trigger is light, and flinching at the snap is the main reason new owners miss.
- Reload and repeat. When you are done, release the string by firing a last toothpick into something soft, and store the crossbow uncocked on its stand.
Missing more than you expect? How Far Does a Mini Crossbow Shoot? covers the four reasons and how to fix each one.
Model Notes
Bowman Series
The original. Bowman, Thorn, Freedom Eagle, Transformer and the other toothpick models load one projectile at a time. Round toothpicks shoot straightest, and cotton swabs or matches work in a pinch.
Sniper Series
The BB Sniper, Ambush Sniper and Silent Sweeper take toothpicks and 2 mm steel balls. Steel balls fly flatter, hit harder and do not snap. Use the Mini Balls sold here, since larger balls will not seat in the channel.
The Ace Sniper is different. It holds a stack of toothpicks in the body and drops the next one into the channel each time you cock the string. Fill the chamber, then it is cock and press, cock and press. Only toothpicks go in the chamber.
Ghost Hunter Series
The Ghost Hunter adds a laser sight on the rail. Switch it on with the button at the back end. To zero it, shoot at a dot on a sheet of paper from your usual distance and nudge the laser mount until the dot and the hit line up. Never point the laser at anyone's eyes.
Care
Wipe the string with a dry cloth now and then. Store the crossbow uncocked so the limbs rest. If the string frays or slips off, stop using it and email us with the model name. If anything arrives bent, same thing, we sort it out.
Targets
Bottle caps, playing cards in a slit cork, a paper cup pyramid, a dartboard. Five Fun Targets turns a living room into a range in a few minutes.
Product Liability
UNCOMMONCARRY makes no claims or warranties about the safety, reliability, durability or performance of these products and accepts no liability for their use. Mini crossbows are sold to adults for recreational target use. You are responsible for using them safely and for following the laws where you live.