Bullet - shooting crossbow A bullet - shooting crossbow , sometimes referred to as “ stone bow , ” is a modified version of the classic crossbow . The bow was usually constructed with wood or steel , depending on the preference . It typically utilizes bullets and stones as projectiles instead of the traditional quarrel . History . The crossbow has been around since the 5th century BC . China was the first to create the hand - held crossbow . The ammunition of choice was the bolt and was often made of bronze . It was used effectively as a weapon both in battle and for hunting . As powerful a weapon as the crossbow was , it didn ’ t have the capability of hunting smaller animals like birds , squirrels , and rabbits . As a weapon , the bolt crossbow was much more popular and therefore more widely developed than the bullet - shooting crossbow . Consequently , the standard crossbow was more frequently updated with new ammunition , attachments , and other improvements , leaving the bullet - shooting crossbow in the past . The earliest known bullet - shooting crossbow was invented in the 16th century . It was a simple , two - string crossbow that shot small projectiles . The earliest forms of ammunition included clay balls , which were rolled and baked to form round , hard bullets . The bow ’ s primary purpose was to shoot birds , as conventional weapons lacked the ability to effectively hunt flying prey . One of the most important changes to the bullet - shooting crossbow was the strong , upwardly curved bow . This allowed the strings and pouch , which hold and launch the bullet , to be placed away from the rest of the gun . This allowed for a straighter stock or body of the crossbow , which utilizes stronger springs to launch bullets faster and more accurately . Though it was used extensively for hunting , the bullet - shooting crossbow wasn ' t significantly improved until the late 18th century . The English changed the design to allow for a more powerful spring and larger ammunition . The bow was adapted to shoot half ounce lead bullets , which are more accurate and do much more damage than stones and clay pellets . The bullet - shooting crossbow featured many similarities to the slingshot , a similar but much simpler weapon . Both feature a pouch that holds a small projectile . In comparison tests , the bullet - shooting crossbow only shoots slightly faster , but much more accurately than the slingshot . With the invention of safe , more powerful , and more accurate rifles , the bullet - shooting crossbow became obsolete shortly after . By the time the 19th century came around , the bow appeared to be on its way out . Gunpowder is much more powerful and destructive than a crossbow , and guns quickly became the new weapon of choice both for hunting and war . Uses . Because most bullet - shooting crossbows use small bullets , the bullet - shooting crossbow was used primarily for hunting . The small caliber rounds are perfect for killing animals like birds and rats . Being a crossbow , it doesn ' t give off much sound . Even though more powerful weapons were invented , like the air gun , the bullet - shooting crossbow was used extensively throughout history because it wasn ' t loud enough to scare prey off . Naturally , this bow took the poaching profession by storm and was the weapon of choice for decades . For a weapon , the bullet - shooting crossbow is relatively safe and very easy to use . Due to these strengths , it was a weapon of choice for training soldiers and hunters . While it was not the most ideal weapon for war or hunting , the lack of risk and ease of use made it a good starting place for new shooters . It was also popular in games and competitions because almost anyone could learn to use the weapon . Portability is a critical feature of the bullet - shooting crossbow . Its light weight allowed it to be taken about anywhere . Combined with ease of use and being safe , the bullet - shooting crossbow was the most effective tool in a hunter ' s set for many years . Flaws . Many intended to use the bullet - shooting crossbow as a weapon , but it had its limitations . While the bow worked well on small animals like squirrels and birds , it was not powerful enough to be a reliable weapon in war . The velocity was just too low for the bullets or stone to pierce skin , and therefore it didn ’ t cause much damage to humans . The bullet - shooting crossbow had the potential to fracture skulls , but as this was only one way to effectively take down the enemy , the bullet - shooting crossbow didn ' t match up with the standard crossbow in wartime . In addition to the low velocity shots of the bullet - shooting crossbow , the projectiles were not as effective as the bolt on the standard crossbow . The sharp bolts of the crossbow did more damage than the slow moving , blunt bullets of the bullet - shooting crossbow . Because the standard bolt does more damage , the bullet - shooting crossbow was reserved for hunting smaller animals . There was no reason to use a bolt shooting crossbow to hunt squirrels when a smaller , less powerful weapon could get the job done just as effectively . Another flaw lies in the material of choice ; steel . Steel bows require more energy to return the bow to its original position and therefore delivering less energy to the shot itself . Bows made of wood typically shot much faster than those made of steel .