A shock-absorbing bolt for a crossbow comprises a shaft, a forward flange, and a shock-absorbing mechanism coupled to the shaft or the forward flange. The forward flange is coupled to a forward end of the shaft and has a forward surface with a transverse area that is greater than about three times larger than a transverse area of the shaft. A tapered tip can be attached to and protrude from the forward surface of the forward flange. The shock-absorbing mechanism is arranged so that, upon acceleration or deceleration of the bolt, kinetic energy of the bolt is dissipated by viscoelastic, viscous, or frictional forces within the bolt.