There is always a particular weapon of choice for each and every individual hunter. Some people swear by a heavy-duty rifle to take care of all of their hunting needs; some enjoy the sport of hunting with a black powder rifle; and some believe that the best weapon of all is a crossbow.
Crossbows do take some time to learn how to use, but they are easy to carry, incredibly quiet on the hunt especially when reloading, and they really pack a punch. There are even some hunters who hunt solely with a crossbow and never venture out into the world of firearms.
Contents
- 1 Who Makes the Best Crossbow?
- 2 Best Crossbow Reviews
- 3 PSE Fang 350 Crossbow Review
- 4 Barnett Jackal Crossbow Pistol Package Review
- 5 SA Sports Fever Crossbow Package Review
- 6 CenterPoint Sniper 370 Camo Crossbow Review
- 7 Cobra System K-8025 Self Cocking 80 Pound Tactical Crossbow Pistol Review
- 8 My Vote for Best Crossbow for Deer Hunting
Who Makes the Best Crossbow?
While crossbows can certainly hold their own in the hunting world, one of the biggest drawbacks is the need to retrieve arrows, especially if you have missed your target. This can make it hard to hunt from a tree stand for long periods of time, but with increased marksmanship and aim, it is just as good and dependable as any gun, in the right hands. Once you learn to properly use a crossbow, you might just be hooked.
Best Crossbow Reviews
It is with all of that in mind that we have chosen five of the best crossbows on the market today for review.
We will look at the different features of each one, laying them out with the hopes that one of them may be your next purchase in your quest for the perfect hunting gear.
PSE Fang 350 Crossbow Review
Finally, we come to the PSE Fang 350 Crossbow, which is proudly made in the United States of America. This year’s model is upgraded, featuring redesigned cams that deliver arrows at the breakneck speed of 350 feet per second.
This high-end crossbow features and performance that you get from the PSA comes an a very affordable price, as it is equipped with a anti-dry fire trigger and a mass weight of only 6.8 pounds which means that it is not only precise and fast, it is also light and easy to carry. Other features that make this crossbow a real treat are its removable 4×32 scope, dual string stops that deliver a nice quiet shot, and a four-pound pull.
With all the performance you could hope for, this crossbow is lightweight, versatile and certainly affordable. The overall length of the PSA measures 35 inches with the stirrup, 19 ¼ inch from axle to axle with a draw weight of 155 pounds and 106 feet pounds of kinetic energy.
The overall package includes string stops, a 4×32 reticle scope, a five bolt quiver, three 20-inch carbon bolts with half moon nocks and 100-grain bullet tips, a cocking rope, rail lubrications and a foot stirrup.
Barnett Jackal Crossbow Pistol Package Review
The Barnett Jackal Crossbow Pistol Package comes complete with the crossbow pistol itself, a quiver, three 20-inch arrows and a premium red dot sight. With a 3.5 pound trigger pull, this sleek military style crossbow pistols deliver arrows at a rate of 315 feet per second.
It has high-energy wheels and features a synthetic string and cable system that offers maximum impact in a little package. While this crossbow pistol is lightweight and compact for carrying, it has a devastating potential as a hunting weapon. The picatinny/weaver rail system and divided foregrip offers a comfortable hand placement.
Made in the United States, it is ready to shoot, right out of the box, and is backed by a five year limited warranty by the Barnett Company, which has been designing products for hunters for over fifty years.
SA Sports Fever Crossbow Package Review
Next in the lineup is the SA Sports Fever Crossbow Package. This recurve crossbow package comes complete with a 175 pound recurve crossbow, a high quality 4X32 multi reticle scope, a quick detach quiver complete with four arrows, a padded shoulder sling and an adjustable weaver scope mount. It features a fully covered dipped camo pattern.
The Sports Fever Crossbow weighs in at just under five pounds, has a string length of 26 ½ inches and is 27 inches from limb tip to limb tip. Without the stirrup, this light weight crossbow is 31 inches long. Sixteen-inch aluminum arrows come with this package, but you can also use 20-inch carbons in their place.
This good crossbow definitely has the power to take down a deer with ease at the right distance. Anything over 20 yards however, makes the job much tougher. The size of the deer matters as well in this scenario.
CenterPoint Sniper 370 Camo Crossbow Review
Next, we have the CenterPoint Sniper 370 Camo Crossbow Package. This lightweight, yet durable, crossbow features a fully adjustable tactical stock and forearm and delivers arrows at a firing velocity of 370 feet per second with a 185-pound draw weight.
The integrated string suppressors and CNC machined aluminum rail with shoot through riser offers an incredibly quiet shot, free from vibrations. It also boasts quad limbs with a precision CNC machined cam system. In this CenterPoint Sniper package, you will find a 4X32mm scope, three 20-inch carbon bolts, a quiver, a rope cocker and a shoulder sling.
For added safety, this crossbow features anti-dry fire with an auto-safety trigger mechanism to prevent against unintended shots, making this crossbow a complete package worth the money.
Cobra System K-8025 Self Cocking 80 Pound Tactical Crossbow Pistol Review
The first hunting crossbow we will take a look at is the Cobra System K-8025 Self Cocking 80 Pound Tactical Crossbow Pistol. This self-cocking pistol style crossbow features a strong plastic body with a fiberglass bow that carries an 80-pound draw for firing crossbow arrows at speeds of up to 165 feet per second.
This is the ideal crossbow pistol, especially for hunting small game and works especially well for target practice. The speedy cocking mechanism makes quick work of reloading so that you can focus more on the target that you have acquired. It also makes this crossbow pistol safer and much less harder to use. All you need to do is simply pull down on the pivoting arm level and the crossbow cable is cocked.
This crossbow pistol comes with three aluminum arrows that have metal tips as well as adjustable tactical sights. It is a good idea to lubricate the rail slide of the crossbow pistol often and wax the string for less friction and therefore, less wear and tear. Checking the screws often is also a good idea, as they do tend to loosen over time with the vibration of the crossbow itself.
My Vote for Best Crossbow for Deer Hunting
Of these five crossbow packages, my top pick as “best crossbow for the money” is definitely the PSE Fang 350 Crossbow. For the money, this package includes everything you could possibly want or need in a crossbow package.
First, the crossbow itself is lightweight, easy to carry, yet packing the same punch of some of the larger, pricier crossbows you can find on the market. The anti-fry fire trigger cannot be beaten for superior action while remaining quiet enough to easily hunt deer with. The length and weight are great for a crossbow, while still having a four pound pull, a 155 pound draw weight and a delivery speed over 350 feet per second.
Another plus for this package is that it comes equipped with 20-inch carbon bolts as opposed to the aluminum ones you get in a lot of other kits. They are stronger, hold up better under pressure and repeated use, and can really get the job done, so they are dependable as well. While the reticle scope is a great addition to the package, it might be just a bit of overkill, as long-range shots are never as accurate or as deadly as close range shots.
Still, with a bit of practice, this scope will make the closer range shots appear as though the deer is right in front of you, thereby improving your skill and shot alike.