The winch crossbow fires a rope and pulley attached to a special crossbow bolt. The bolt is split down the head and center of the shaft, with the split head bending away from the shaft like a two-headed snake. A thin rope secured to each tip slows the bolt in flight (hence the reduced range increment). On a successful hit, the bolt snaps apart like a wishbone, taking the attached ropes past the target to wrap around and entangle it.