A novel embodiment of a crossbow (10) includes an elongated draw length and a rifle-type stock (134) with a tubular barrel (106) designed to shoot standard three-fletch arrows (120) with a three-blade hunting tip. When the main string (105) of the crossbow (10) is fully drawn and cocked, the string compression levers (110) that are pivoted so that the pulleys (113) on levers (110) engage the string (105) and deflect the string (105) toward the barrel (106) until the string compression levers 110 rest against the side of the barrel (106). The crossbow (10) has a draw length significantly longer than the draw length of a conventional crossbow of the same overall size, thereby providing a larger power stroke with less draw weight. In the other embodiments, the crossbow (20, 30) may include a barrel (106) with rectangular cross section for shooting shot filled sabots for bird hunting, small game hunting or trap shooting or a barrel (106) with a circular cross section for shooting paint-ball filled sabots for paint ball games.