Bolt vs. Arrow — What's the Difference?

Typically lacks fletchings and has a blunt or pointed tip.

Designed for distance and precision.

Used historically in warfare and hunting.

Has stabilizing fletchings to maintain trajectory.

A heavy, short projectile used with crossbows.

Commonly used in modern sport archery and traditional hunting.

Designed for powerful, close-range shooting.

Typically made of wood, fiberglass, or carbon fiber.

Often made of metal or dense materials for impact.

A long, slender projectile with fletchings for use with a bow.

A bar made of wood or metal that slides into a socket and is used to fasten doors and gates.

An arrow is a fin-stabilized projectile launched by a bow. A typical arrow usually consists of a long, stiff, straight shaft with a weighty (and usually sharp and pointed) arrowhead attached to the front end, multiple fin-like stabilizers called fletchings mounted near the rear, and a slot at the rear end called nock for engaging the bowstring.

A metal bar or rod in the mechanism of a lock that is thrown or withdrawn by turning the key.

A weapon consisting of a thin, straight stick with a sharp point, designed to be shot from a bow

A fastener consisting of a threaded pin or rod with a head at one end, designed to be inserted through holes in assembled parts and secured by a mated nut that is tightened by applying torque.

Move or appear to move swiftly and directly

A sliding metal bar that positions the cartridge in breechloading rifles, closes the breech, and ejects the spent cartridge.

A missile having a straight thin shaft and typically having a pointed head at one end and flight-stabilizing vanes at the tail end, meant to be shot from a bow.

A similar device in any breech mechanism.

Something, such as a directional symbol, that is similar to an arrow in form or function.

A short, heavy arrow with a thick head, used especially with a crossbow.

To move like an arrow.

A flash of lightning; a thunderbolt.

To shoot with an arrow

A sudden or unexpected event

A projectile consisting of a shaft, a point and a tail with stabilizing fins that is shot from a bow.

A sudden movement toward or away.

A sign or symbol used to indicate a direction (e.g. →).

A large roll of cloth of a definite length, especially as it comes from the loom.

(graph theory) A directed edge.

To secure or lock with or as if with a bolt.

A dart.

To arrange or roll (lengths of cloth, for example) on or in a bolt.

(computing) The -> symbol, which has specific meanings in various programming languages.

To eat (food) hurriedly and with little chewing; gulp.

(botany) The inflorescence or tassel of a mature sugar cane plant.

To desert or withdraw support from (a political party).

(intransitive) To move swiftly and directly (like an arrow).

To utter impulsively; blurt.

(transitive) To let fly swiftly and directly.

(Archaic) To shoot or discharge (a missile, such as an arrow).

To develop an inflorescence.

To move or spring suddenly.

To navigate using the arrow keys.

To start suddenly and run away

A missile weapon of offense, slender, pointed, and usually feathered and barbed, to be shot from a bow.

To break away from an affiliation, as from a political party.

A mark to indicate a direction or relation

(Botany) To flower or produce seeds prematurely or develop a flowering stem from a rosette.

A projectile with a straight thin shaft and an arrowhead on one end and stabilizing vanes on the other; intended to be shot from a bow

To pass (flour, for example) through a sieve.

A (usually) metal fastener consisting of a cylindrical body that is threaded, with a larger head on one end. It can be inserted into an unthreaded hole up to the head, with a nut then threaded on the other end; a heavy machine screw.

A sliding pin or bar in a lock or latch mechanism.

A bar of wood or metal dropped in horizontal hooks on a door and adjoining wall or between the two sides of a double door, to prevent the door(s) from being forced open.

A sliding mechanism to chamber and unchamber a cartridge in a firearm.

A small personal-armour-piercing missile for short-range use, or (in common usage though deprecated by experts) a short arrow, intended to be shot from a crossbow or a catapult.

A lightning spark, i.e., a lightning bolt.

A sudden event, action or emotion.

A large roll of fabric or similar material, as a bolt of cloth.

(nautical) The standard linear measurement of canvas for use at sea: 39 yards.

A sudden spring or start; a sudden leap aside.

A sudden flight, as to escape creditors.

A refusal to support a nomination made by the party with which one has been connected; a breaking away from one's party.

An iron to fasten the legs of a prisoner; a shackle; a fetter.

A burst of speed or efficiency.

A stalk or scape (of garlic, onion, etc).

A sieve, especially a long fine sieve used in milling for bolting flour and meal; a bolter.

To connect or assemble pieces using a bolt.

To secure a door by locking or barring it.

(intransitive) To flee, to depart, to accelerate suddenly.

(transitive) To cause to start or spring forth; to dislodge (an animal being hunted).

To strike or fall suddenly like a bolt.

(intransitive) To escape.

To produce flower stalks and flowers or seeds quickly or prematurely; to form a bolt (stalk or scape); to go to seed.

To swallow food without chewing it.

To drink one's drink very quickly; to down a drink.

To refuse to support a nomination made by a party or caucus with which one has been connected; to break away from a party.

To utter precipitately; to blurt or throw out.

To sift, especially through a cloth.

To sift the bran and germ from wheat flour.

To separate, assort, refine, or purify by other means.

(legal) To discuss or argue privately, and for practice, as cases at law.

Suddenly; straight; unbendingly.

A shaft or missile intended to be shot from a crossbow or catapult, esp. a short, stout, blunt-headed arrow; a quarrel; an arrow, or that which resembles an arrow; a dart.

Lightning; a thunderbolt.

A strong pin, of iron or other material, used to fasten or hold something in place, often having a head at one end and screw thread cut upon the other end.

A sliding catch, or fastening, as for a door or gate; the portion of a lock which is shot or withdrawn by the action of the key.

An iron to fasten the legs of a prisoner; a shackle; a fetter.

A compact package or roll of cloth, as of canvas or silk, often containing about forty yards.

A bundle, as of oziers.

A sudden spring or start; a sudden spring aside; as, the horse made a bolt.

A sudden flight, as to escape creditors.

A refusal to support a nomination made by the party with which one has been connected; a breaking away from one's party.

A sieve, esp. a long fine sieve used in milling for bolting flour and meal; a bolter.

To shoot; to discharge or drive forth.

To utter precipitately; to blurt or throw out.

To swallow without chewing; as, to bolt food; often used with down.

To refuse to support, as a nomination made by a party to which one has belonged or by a caucus in which one has taken part.

To cause to start or spring forth; to dislodge, as conies, rabbits, etc.

To fasten or secure with, or as with, a bolt or bolts, as a door, a timber, fetters; to shackle; to restrain.

To start forth like a bolt or arrow; to spring abruptly; to come or go suddenly; to dart; as, to bolt out of the room.

To strike or fall suddenly like a bolt.

To spring suddenly aside, or out of the regular path; as, the horse bolted.

To refuse to support a nomination made by a party or a caucus with which one has been connected; to break away from a party.

To sift or separate the coarser from the finer particles of, as bran from flour, by means of a bolter; to separate, assort, refine, or purify by other means.

To separate, as if by sifting or bolting; - with out.

To discuss or argue privately, and for practice, as cases at law.

In the manner of a bolt; suddenly; straight; unbendingly.

A discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder

A sliding bar in a breech-loading firearm that ejects an empty cartridge and replaces it and closes the breech

The part of a lock that is engaged or withdrawn with a key

The act of moving with great haste;

A roll of cloth or wallpaper of a definite length

A screw that screws into a nut to form a fastener

A sudden abandonment (as from a political party)

Move or jump suddenly;

Secure or lock with a bolt;

Swallow hastily

Run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along

Leave suddenly and as if in a hurry;

Eat hastily without proper chewing;

Make or roll into bolts;

In a rigid manner;

Directly;

Bolts rely on the mechanical accuracy of crossbows and their shorter range, which reduces the need for fletchings.

Bolts are often made from heavier materials for impact, while arrows are made from lighter materials for flight performance.

Arrows offer greater range and accuracy, especially useful in sport archery and hunting.

A bolt is shorter, heavier, and typically used with crossbows, lacking fletchings; an arrow is longer, lighter, and has fletchings for stability.

While arrows can be used for many of the same purposes, they are typically less effective at penetrating armor.

Arrows can be used with a variety of bows, including recurve, compound, and longbows.

Bolts are placed on the crossbow's track and held in place by the string until fired.

Bolts are usually under 20 inches long, while arrows range from 24 to 36 inches.

No, bolts are specifically designed for crossbows and do not perform well with regular bows.

Bolts are more effective for penetrating armor at close range, while arrows provide tactical advantages at longer distances.

Arrows are more affected by wind due to their lighter weight and length, whereas bolts are more stable but have shorter ranges.

Bolts were widely used in medieval warfare for their ability to pierce armor and provide support to infantry.

Modern designs include enhancements like better materials and aerodynamic shapes to improve performance.

Many archery ranges and hunting clubs offer training and practice sessions for both bolts and arrows.

Both require careful handling to avoid accidental injuries; proper training and safety gear are essential.