It sights in almost instantly and you’ll be getting bullseyes at 30 yards in your first go - hell, you can even go for the 60 and it’ll still shoot good on the first try. It weighs 6.2 lbs and measures 31.25″ long and 19″ wide. of kinetic energy (compared to 103 on the Whitetail) and its draw weight is 200 lbs (compared to 150). Just like its predecessor on this list, the Barnett Expedition 400 II is a US-made crossbow capable of shooting at 400 fps with a 380 grain bolt (compared to 350 fps with the Whitetail). The latest addition to this list (replacing Barnett Whitetail Hunter II as an all-round better option). They check all the basic boxes for both survival and hunting and will enable you to take out even the biggest of game with relative ease and accuracy, but usually in the 30-40 yard range. Contents:Ĭrossbows in this category are considered the best cheap crossbows on the market, good for entry-level and experienced users alike. They are also more sturdy and generally come fully loaded with advanced scopes, arrows and cranking systems.

High-end crossbows are quieter, faster, more powerful and have a much better fit and finish.

KNOW THIS: All crossbows on this list are well-built, accurate, easily maneuverable, powerful, and easy to use but don’t forget that you usually get what you pay for. I made a list of what I consider to be top-of-the-line crossbows in 3 different price ranges. In fact, you will find a total of 15 crossbow reviews in this article alone. HOW I DID IT: I have spent months testing and trying these bows, from basic to the high end ones.

MY MISSION: To help you pick out the best crossbow for hunting and survival. Over the years, I’ve had 9 different crossbows: From small-scale, cheap replicas of medieval ballistic contraptions to bows that had so much plastic in them they could be easily featured on the cover of Playboy.įinding the best crossbow in 2020 is difficult as people are actually turned off by too many choices. Updated Dec 5, 2021: Replaced Barnett Whitetail Hunter II with Barnett Explorer XP 400 (50 FPS faster, a bit cheaper and available to purchase as the best option under $500) Early in my life, crossbows were used primarily for scaring away my daughter’s overly-optimistic boyfriends.īut ever since my shoulders and arms got F-ed up from shooting bow and arrow, crossbows found a special place in my heart.

Best crossbow for beginners 2020