The AR-15 platform has long demonstrated its potential, including as the basis for various small arms. On its basis, systems of all major classes were created, from pistols to machine guns. However, the potential of the platform was not exhausted on this. So, in the recent past, the American company PSE Archery was able to create on the basis of an existing rifle at once a line of several "tactical assault crossbows".
The American company Precision Shooting Equipment Archery has long been known for its bows and crossbows designed for sportsmen and hunters, as well as arrows and accessories for such weapons. Until a certain time, she developed products of the "traditional" look, and also worked on new technologies and solutions. At the end of the last decade, an original version of a promising multipurpose weapon was proposed, based on a combat model.
"Tactical crossbow" TAC 15 in the Elite package
Rifle crossbow
In 2008, PSE presented its new development - a line of crossbows under the general name TAC. The name of the line stands for Tactical Assault Crossbow - "Tactical assault crossbow". Despite the formidable name, new types of crossbows were still intended for athletes and hunters. However, in their design there were many "tactical" elements, including those borrowed from firearms.
As part of the TAC project, an interesting crossbow architecture was proposed. Some of the components, including the shoulders with blocks, cocking devices, etc., were created from scratch. Others, including the trigger control system, butt, etc., were proposed to be borrowed from the finished sample. The source of the components was the AR-15 platform - perhaps the most popular model of its kind in the US civilian market.
As you know, the AR-15 rifle consists of two main components, assembled on the basis of an upper and lower receiver. A new type of weapon for one or another ammunition can be created, including by replacing one of the receivers. In the TAC project, it was proposed to remove the upper receiver with the barrel from the base platform and install crossbow units in its place. The latter should have been made in the form of an upper receiver that meets the requirements of the platform.
TAC 15 Ordnance - crossbow without complete lower receiver
Using this approach, as well as applying the existing experience, PSE was able to develop and offer potential customers several types of multipurpose weapons at once, distinguished by the highest degree of unification. In the future, the line was expanded by introducing new components and changing the configuration of existing samples.
Unified design
Structurally, "tactical crossbows" were divided into two main units: the actual crossbow with an almost complete set of necessary devices and the rifle lower receiver, which contained the trigger and provided acceptable ergonomics. It should be noted that the development company soon offered an alternative to the rifle receiver with the necessary parts, but with a simplified design.
As part of the TAC crossbow, any units from the AR-15 could be used, which have standard mounts for the upper receiver. In a new role, such a device retained the front receiving shaft of the store (now unused), and also accommodated the trigger-type firing mechanism. The trigger remained in place and was used to control the mechanisms of the crossbow. The alternate unit created by PSE was a simplified frame design, reminiscent of the original receiver. She had a trigger and mounts for the butt, and the shaft was removed, replacing a flat frame of a suitable shape.
It was proposed to install a new type of upper receiver directly on the rifle unit. It was based on an aluminum stock of great length and variable cross-section. In the front part, an H-shaped section was provided, broken only by fasteners for some parts. For most of the length of the bed, it had a U-shaped guide for moving parts. A casing was provided at the back, inside which some details were placed. Standard Picatinny rails were installed on top and bottom of the stock.
Preparing the crossbow to fire. You can consider the design features of new devices
In front of the weapon, the shoulders of a block structure were placed. Directly on the stock was a rigid curved last with elastic elements. It was made of metal and lightened with large holes. On the front protrusions of the pads there were rubber tips that protected the weapon during transportation. A cutout was provided at the back for installing the boom guide. On the sides of it were located rods-dampers of bowstring vibrations. To reduce the energy consumption of the boom for friction, an original guide in the form of an open ring with internal brushes was used. She supported the shaft of the arrow in the right position, but eliminated unnecessary friction.
The TAC project involved the use of shoulders in the form of a pair of elastic plates of relatively short length. One end of each plate was fixed to the block, and the axis of the block was installed on the other. The special layout and design of the weapon made it possible to reduce its transverse dimensions in comparison with other systems with similar energy indicators.
"Tactical crossbows" were proposed to be equipped with eccentric blocks. The bowstring tension method was standard for such systems. One bifurcated end of the bowstring was rigidly fixed on the axis of the block, after which it went to the opposite block, bent and formed a working section, after which it went around another block and passed to the axis of the first. The successful combination of the components of the system made it possible to obtain high performance. So, the working stroke of the bowstring, depending on the model of the crossbow, reached 17.75 inches (451 mm). In a relaxed position, the width of the shoulders (along the axes of the eccentrics) was 17 inches, with the bowstring stretched - 12 inches (430 and 304 mm, respectively).
Bowstring and Arrow Interaction
Instead of a separate boom pusher, the so-called walnut, the bowstring itself was used in the TAC project. The boom shank was put on it and did not need any other means of acceleration. A small loop was provided in the center of the bowstring, necessary for cocking the weapon and subsequent descent.
The crossbow was equipped with a block-type cocking system, which included several main devices. At the rear of the box, under the protection of a casing, there was a simple manual tensioning mechanism. It was driven by a separate side handle and, using a small drum, pulled its own cable connected to the movable block. The latter moved along the guides of the box and was responsible for interacting with the bowstring and arrow.
The movable block was made on the basis of a rectangular metal base. In its front part there was a swinging lever to hold the bowstring loop. Its axis extended beyond the base and was used as a stop. On the back of the block, a fastening for the control cable was provided. An additional lever was also located there, which was responsible for interacting with the trigger of the trigger. The design of the block excluded the release of the bowstring before it takes the extreme rear position and gets under the blow of the trigger.
On a lightweight perforated bed, there were mounts for installing a removable cocking handle. Before firing, this L-shaped device was removed from the box and put on the drive shaft of the cocking mechanism. On top of the stock, on the body of the cocking mechanism, a long Picatinny rail was placed for mounting the sights. The same bar was placed under the stock and was intended for the forearm or "tactical" grip.
In the process of cocking mechanisms
Crossbows of the TAC series had to be distinguished by high energy indicators, which made special demands on the arrows for them. A special bolt was proposed based on a reinforced carbon fiber shaft. A separate arrowhead was not used. In the tail section, the plumage of small soft planes was provided. The standard boom length for the TAC is 26.25 inches (667 mm). Weight - 425 grains (27, 53 g). The speed of such an arrow reached 110-120 m / s. Energy - up to 200 J. This made it possible to confidently shoot at a distance of up to 50-70 m.
Work principles
To fire a shot, the TAC owner crossbowman had to remove the cocking handle from the box and fix it on the corresponding axis. The shank of the arrow was placed on the center of the bowstring and clamped it, and the loop of the bowstring was put on the lever of the movable block. Rotating the side handle and winding the cable, the shooter had to move the movable block to the extreme rear position. Upon reaching the working position, the block was held in place by the front axle entering the corresponding cutouts of its guide. In addition, the unit cocked the trigger of the trigger of the lower receiver. After that, the bowstring was pulled and assumed the required configuration; the arms of the crossbow flexed, accumulating enough energy, and the trigger was ready to fire.
Then the shooter could aim the weapon at the target, turn off the safety on the rifle receiver and pull the trigger. The standard trigger of the rifle was supposed to hit the lever of the movable block of the crossbow, after which it released the bowstring with an arrow. Straightening, the shoulders of the crossbow forced the bowstring to transfer its energy to the bolt, providing the required acceleration. Having reached the neutral position, the bowstring braked against the rubber tips of the vibration dampers. The latter reduced the noise of the shot, and also reduced the wear of the bowstring.
Moving block while moving along the rail
To prepare for a new shot, it was necessary to unlock the tensioning mechanism and return the movable block to the forward position. Then all the procedures were repeated. PSE Archery claimed that an experienced shooter could prepare for a new shot in just 12-15 seconds. If necessary, the cocking mechanism allowed the weapon to be discharged. To do this, it was necessary to rotate the cocking handle in the opposite direction.
Weapon family
In 2008, the development company presented two samples of new weapons at once. Soon, two more crossbows were presented in a different configuration. In the first case, the difference in products was due to some design features. The second part of the family differed from the first only in the configuration. In the future, the lineup was expanded once again using similar approaches.
The highest performance was originally a crossbow called TAC 15. This product was supplied to customers in the form of a separate upper receiver intended for connection with the lower one. The latter was not included in the kit. The own length of such a unit was 33.125 inches (842 mm), the width in blocks was 20.75 inches (527 mm). Weight - 6.5 lbs (less than 3 kg). After complete assembly, the length and mass of the finished weapon increased in accordance with the parameters of the lower receiver.
A smaller version of the crossbow called the TAC 10 was also proposed. Its design, in general, repeated the larger sample, but there were some differences. In particular, the shape of the last and the shoulders was changed, accumulating less energy. Also, the size and location of the seats for additional equipment have been changed. As a result of this refinement, the overall length of the weapon has decreased by about 3 inches. The power was also reduced, and the main characteristics of firing were slightly reduced.
Movable block at the moment after the shot
It was assumed that the buyer would be able to purchase the TAC 15 or TAC 10 as a separate unit and connect to his existing rifle receiver. Then the resulting crossbow could be equipped with a suitable sight, one or another "body kit", etc. In fact, the user was able to assemble a weapon of the desired type using any components.
PSE Archery soon expanded its product line with two new "tactical assault crossbows". The TAC 15i and TAC 10i products differed exclusively in terms of equipment. They included special lower receivers of a simplified design, which had a trigger-type trigger and a telescopic butt. In other words, the buyer was offered a complete crossbow assembly, although not equipped with a sight or other devices.
Another innovation in the Tactical Assault Crossbow line is products marked Elite - "Elite". Two crossbows of the PSE TAC Elite models differed from their predecessors in the scope of delivery. They were weapons originally equipped with a lightweight lower receiver, telescopic sight and several other devices that were not included in the basic configuration.
Crossbows TAC 10 and TAC 15 in modification "i" with original lower receiver
The TAC Ordnance kit was a shortened version of the "elite" one. It was distinguished by the absence of a proprietary lower receiver. At the same time, all other accessories were present, from the scope to the bipod.
Thus, PSE was able to create two basic crossbows and four configuration options for each. In total, eight models of weapons have entered the market, as they say, for every taste. For obvious reasons, the cost of products from the same line varied markedly. So, for the TAC 15 crossbow in the form of only one upper receiver, they asked for 1299 US dollars. The Model āiā kit would have had to shell out $ 200 more. The price for the "elite" set, depending on its composition, approached or exceeded 2 thousand dollars. Reinforced carbon arrows were not cheap either. The 6-bolt package had a MSRP of $ 89.
Successes and failures
The first examples of crossbows of the PSE Archery TAC family entered the American market in 2008. This weapon was intended for sportsmen and hunters. The latter could use new crossbows for the extraction of small and medium-sized game with shooting from a distance of tens of meters. Under certain conditions, such weapons made it possible to hunt large animals. Sufficiently high characteristics of the weapon made it possible to count on commercial success.
In general, the expectations of the developer company were justified. The newest crossbows caught the attention of the shooting community as a whole, and soon appeared in various stores in the United States. The US market for bows and crossbows lags behind the firearms market in terms of volume, but despite this, the TAC line has taken a place in the market and brought its manufacturers the desired income. The use of new ideas, technologies and design solutions has paid off, providing noticeable advantages over competitors.
Standard booms for TAC
However, it was not without criticism. First of all, the large dimensions and not the most successful balancing of the weapon were noted. The TAC 15 crossbow with an extended buttstock had a length of more than a meter, which, to a certain extent, made it difficult to transport and operate. Also, not everyone was pleased with the cost. However, many athletes and hunters were ready to put up with such shortcomings for the sake of high combat characteristics.
This situation persisted over the next several years. Until the middle of this decade, PSE successfully traded TAC crossbows of all existing models, and they managed to take a special place in its product catalog. Nevertheless, over time, the market for "tactical crossbows" was saturated, and in addition, new developments of competitors appeared. As a result, sales fell, and this led to understandable results.
In 2016, "tactical assault crossbows" were discontinued in favor of other, more relevant products. It should be noted that all the main developments in the TAC family have not disappeared. They were again implemented in other crossbow projects, not only when developing new designs, but also as part of the development of existing models. Gradually, the warehouse remains of the TAC crossbows went to shops and from there went to the "arsenals" of their customers. A number of such weapons are still on the market, but they are constantly decreasing.
A great variety of firearms have been created on the basis of the AR-15 rifle, but PSE Archery was the first to use this platform in the field of projectile weapons. This fact alone leaves the company and its project a special place in history. However, the production of crossbows of the Tactical Assault Crossbow family lasted only a few years and was discontinued due to a decrease in customer interest and a drop in sales. Like many other original projects, TAC was of limited public interest.
