Ranged Strength was significantly altered after an update.
This article is retained to provide information on past elements of RuneScape.
Ranged Strength is one of the Equipment Stats, a bonus to specific stats based on what is equipped. It shows the ranged strength bonus of ranged items, similar to strength bonus of weapons. It was added by Jagex on 25 March 2009 to remove confusion on which arrows, bolts, etc., are more powerful. One example is iron bolts vs bone bolts. The ranged strength stat shows that bone bolts are better, even though their level requirement for use is lower. Currently the highest ranged strength is +150, using hand cannon shots, which can only be used with a hand cannon. Ranged strength can only be affected by the type of ranged ammunition you are using and a few select pieces of weaponry (crystal bow, sling, kayle's sling, boogie bow, and zaryte bow), as they do not require ammunition. Chinchompas and red chinchompas do not require a weapon, such as a crossbow, as they are the weapon and ammunition themselves.
^The god arrows increase in ranged strength as the user increases in Ranged level. The maximum is 60 ranged strength at level 70 Ranged. They also have a chance to do extra elemental damage.
^Only available during the 200 million players celebration.