US12638262 - Crossbow bolt retention plunger
A crossbow can include a bolt retention plunger configured to retain a bolt against a rail of a crossbow. The bolt retention plunger can be movable between a retention mode and a neutral mode and can be operable in the retention mode to engage a bolt to consistently and evenly hold it adjacent the rail. The bolt retention plunger can define a planar surface facing the rail. The planar surface can contact the bolt along a linear line of tangency, rather than a point, extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bolt. The crossbow can include a safety extending in the receiver and an anti-dry fire element movably disposed in the receiver. The bolt retention plunger can be separately operable from and distal from the anti-dry fire element and the safety.