Narrow crossbow with large power stroke

1. A method of manufacturing a crossbow, comprising the steps of:

mounting an open fronted riser on a main beam of said crossbow, wherein said open fronted riser comprises a riser opening disposed at a front of said riser, said riser opening defined by a first end of a first bow limb attached at a first side of said riser and a first end of a second bow limb attached at a second side of said riser, and wherein said riser opening is dimensioned to receive a portion of a user's foot; and

operably engaging a foot stirrup to said main beam of said crossbow at a stirrup engagement location disposed rearward of said riser opening, wherein said foot stirrup extends forward of said riser opening.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

mounting said foot stirrup on a first plane and mounting said riser on a second plane parallel to said first plane, wherein:

said first plane is offset from said second plane; or

said first plane is generally co-planar with said second plane.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

providing a bow assembly comprising: said first limb having said first end and a second end; said second limb having said first and a second end; a first wheel engaged to said second end of said first limb; a second wheel engaged to said second end of said second limb; and, a bowstring;

mounting said bow assembly to said main beam of said crossbow by:

attaching said first end of said first limb to said first side of said riser;

attaching said first end of said second limb to said second side of said riser; and,

operably coupling said bowstring with said first limb and said second limb-respectively at said first wheel and said second wheel.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

providing said bowstring to be movable between a cocked position and an uncocked position; a linear distance between said cocked position and said uncocked position along an axis of elongation of said main beam being the powerstroke distance (PD);

providing said first wheel to be pivotal with respect to said first bow limb about a first pivot axis;

providing said second wheel to be pivotal with respect to said second bow limb about a second pivot axis, wherein said first pivot axis and said second pivot axis are separated by a wheel distance (WD) when said crossbow is in said uncocked position; and,

providing a ratio of WD to PD (WD/PD) to be less than 2.0.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

mounting a trigger mechanism to said main beam; and,

using said trigger mechanism to hold said bowstring in said cocked position.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

providing said first limb to have a concave surface that faces said main beam when said bowstring is in said uncocked position; and,

providing said second limb to have a concave surface that faces said main beam when said bowstring is in said uncocked position.

7. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of:

providing said WD to be 24 inches or less.

8. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of:

providing said crossbow to be able to store at least 1200 inch-pounds of energy when said bowstring is in the cocked position.

9. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of:

providing said PD to be at least 10 inches.

10. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

providing said main beam to comprise a barrel member; and,

attaching said riser to said barrel member.

11. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

providing a first shaft to rotatably receive said first wheel and to define said first pivot axis;

providing said first shaft to be received in an opening formed in said first bow limb;

providing a second shaft to rotatably receive said second wheel and to define said second pivot axis; and,

providing said second shaft to be received in an opening formed in said second bow limb.

12. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of:

providing said crossbow to have a draw weight in excess of 87 pounds.

13. The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

providing said first limb to have a length that is less than 14 inches; and, providing said second limb to have a length that is less than 14 inches.

14. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of:

providing said first bow limb to be a split bow limb comprising top and bottom portions;

positioning a portion of said first wheel between said top and bottom portions of said first bow limb;

providing said second bow limb to be a split bow limb comprising top and bottom portions; and,

positioning a portion of said second wheel between said top and bottom portions of said second bow limb.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

providing said main beam to comprise a stock; and,

mounting a trigger mechanism to said stock of said crossbow, wherein said trigger mechanism is configured to hold a bowstring in a cocked position.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of:

operably engaging a dry-fire inhibitor with said trigger mechanism, wherein said dry-fire inhibitor is configured to mitigate firing of said cocked bowstring without an arrow engaged with said trigger mechanism.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

providing said stirrup to be integral with said riser.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing said riser with:

a connection portion that connects said riser to said main beam;

a first pocket that receives said first end of said first limb; and,

a second pocket that receives said first end of said second limb.