The effects of crossbow impacts onto a common automotive vehicle side window—a preliminary study

Abstract

In recent times, the number of criminal incidents involving crossbows in the UK has increased with many incidents resulting in either injuries or fatalities. Whilst the effects of crossbow bolts on the body are well understood, there is a limited understanding on how these projectiles interact with the wider environment. One area of particular interest is the interaction between common vehicle side windows and bolts. In this study, the penetrability of two distinct bolts using an off-the-shelve crossbow against a common automotive side window was explored, where velocity loss up to 25 m/s post impact was recorded. All windows failed through radial glass fracture at a rate up to 1600 m/s, whilst bolt damage varied from tip holder decoupling, shaft damage, and traumatic fletching removal. No distinct relationship between bolt type, velocity, and window damage was identified.

Interpol review of forensic firearm examination 2019–2022

“…The effect of two types of crossbow arrows fired from a 175 lb (nominal draw weight) crossbow against the tempered glass of six Ford Fiesta front doors was explored [ 123 ]. With all six shots, the windows shattered and the arrows perforated the windows.…”