A $400 crossbow and a $900 crossbow can shoot at nearly the same speed, so what are the extra $500 actually buying? The honest answer is mostly cocking convenience and finish, and this page shows where that is worth paying for and where it is not.
If you are looking for the best budget crossbow, or simply the best crossbow for the money, this is the page to start with. We split seven reviewed crossbows into two budget ceilings. Under $500 you choose between a hunting-oriented compound, a simple recurve and a small-game hybrid. Between $500 and $1,000 the main upgrade is easier cocking with integrated de-cock systems, plus one very fast compound. Ratings, prices and specs come straight from each review.
How to Choose a Budget Crossbow
Budget shopping goes wrong when buyers compare only price and FPS. Four checks catch most bad purchases.
- What is in the box? A scope, quiver, bolts and a cocking aid can be worth $100 or more if you would otherwise buy them separately. All of the compounds here include a scope and a cocking device.
- Felt cocking effort, not draw weight. Compare the effort you actually apply. The Hyper Whitetail 410 is 190 lbs true and about 95 lbs felt with its sled; the Titan X De-Cock is 190 lbs true and about 5 lbs felt.
- Energy for your target. For deer-sized game, kinetic energy matters and local rules set the minimums. Small-game and pistol crossbows are a different category.
- How it unloads. Ask what happens at the end of a day with no shot. De-cock systems and let-down trigger boxes answer that; a rope-sled crossbow generally needs a different procedure, so follow the manual.
For the wider price picture, see how much a crossbow costs.
Best Crossbows Under $500
Best Overall Under $500: Barnett Hyper Whitetail 410
It delivers a hunting-capable 410 FPS on the chronograph and ships with a scope and quiver, so there are no accessories to buy before your first hunt. It is not a flagship build, but the speed is consistent and the setup is ready to hunt straight out of the box.
I measured 404-412 FPS and about 149 ft-lbs with a 400-grain arrow. Our 20 and 40-yard groups were competitive with far more expensive crossbows, but 60-yard groups opened up and the stock flexes more than on premium builds. It is a compact 7.6 lbs and 9.25 inches wide when cocked.
If raw speed matters more than the $500 cap, the Killer Instinct LOGIX 435 is about 25 FPS faster, but it costs more and sits in the next tier.
- Chronograph testing measured 404–412 FPS across five shot strings with a 400-grain bolt, closely matching Barnett's 410 FPS factory claim
- At $425–$485, this is one of the most complete out-of-box packages I have tested — quiver, two HyperFlite arrows, illuminated scope, and rope-cocking sled all included at a budget price
- The included rope-cocking sled reduced felt draw effort to roughly 95 lbs from the crossbow's true 190 lbs draw weight, making it manageable for smaller-framed or new shooters
- 410 FPS on paper is solid, but my accuracy testing showed noticeably wider groups at 60 yards than premium-tier crossbows I have reviewed
- The rope-cocking sled is a manual accessory rather than an integrated system, adding a step and something extra to carry compared to ACUslide or HeliCoil designs
- Build materials feel appropriately budget-tier — the stock and rail have more flex than what I measured on $2,000+ crossbows
Best Budget Recurve: Avalanche Anaconda
If the Hyper Whitetail still feels like too much before you know you'll stick with crossbow hunting, this is where I'd point you. I measured 232-241 FPS against its 245 FPS rating, which is meaningfully slower than the compounds here, but the recurve limb system has fewer moving parts to maintain.
At $219-$239 the kit includes a red dot scope (batteries not included), quiver, four aluminum bolts, stringer, sling and rope. Cocking 175 lbs is real work even with the rope, and expect wider groups at 40 and 60 yards than any compound here.
- Chronograph testing measured 232–241 FPS with the included 16-inch aluminum bolts, landing just under Avalanche's 245 FPS ceiling claim
- At $219–$239, this is a complete kit — scope, quiver, bolts, stringer, sling, and cocking rope all included at a true entry-level price
- The recurve limb system has far fewer moving parts than a comparable compound crossbow, meaning less to maintain and less that can go out of time
- 175 lbs of draw weight with no mechanical multiplication means cocking effort is noticeably higher than any HeliCoil or ACUslide-equipped crossbow I have tested
- My accuracy testing showed meaningfully wider groups at 40 and 60 yards than every compound crossbow in my review library
- The included red dot scope is basic and does not hold zero as reliably as the illuminated multi-reticle scopes bundled with premium packages
Best Hybrid Design: Ballista Bat
This compound-pistol hybrid splits the difference between pure pistol crossbows and full-size compounds, and our review found it versatile across small game, bowfishing and target shooting. It is not a big-game crossbow: at 130 lbs of draw weight its energy is well below big-game minimums.
I measured 293-304 FPS, and the built-in cord tensioner reduced felt effort from 130 lbs to roughly 40 lbs. It weighs 2.46 lbs and is nearly all metal. At $299-$399 it costs more than a comparable single-purpose pistol crossbow, and its compact grip takes a different stance than a rifle-stock model.
- Chronograph testing measured 293–304 FPS across five shot strings, closely matching Ballista's 300 FPS factory claim for this configuration
- The built-in self-retracting cord tensioner reduced felt cocking effort from the full 130 lbs down to roughly 40 lbs, manageable for a compact pistol-format crossbow
- At just 2.46 lbs, this is one of the lightest crossbows I have tested in any category, easy to carry for extended sessions
- At $299–$399, this costs more than a comparable single-purpose pistol crossbow, though the multi-application design and metal build justify some of that premium
- 130 lbs of draw weight and resulting kinetic energy are well below big-game hunting minimums — this is built for small game, target, and bowfishing, not deer
- The sliderless cable system, while effective at reducing friction, is a less common design that may complicate sourcing replacement parts long-term
Best Crossbows Under $1,000
Best Overall Under $1,000: TenPoint Titan X De-Cock
I measured 395-404 FPS, and the integrated ACUdraw De-Cock system brings felt cocking effort to roughly 5 pounds, a practical advantage over the manual or rope-aided cocking on every crossbow in the under-$500 tier. It also lets you safely lower a cocked crossbow when a shot never materializes, rather than firing into the ground or carrying a loaded crossbow home.
Energy is 146 ft-lbs with a 400-grain arrow, and our 60-yard groups stayed inside 2.5 inches. The costs are a louder shot than TenPoint's dampened models and no realistic manual backup if the crank were to fail.
- Chronograph testing measured 395–404 FPS across five shot strings with a 400-grain bolt, matching TenPoint's 400 FPS factory claim closely
- At $799.99 list, it packages integrated de-cocking, a lighted scope and a 400 FPS rating at a mid-tier price, and my testing found the value holds up
- The ACUdraw De-Cock system reduced felt cocking effort to roughly 5 lbs despite 190 lbs of true draw weight, and safely de-cocks without firing a bolt into a target
- At $799–$899, this sits above true budget crossbows like the Barnett Hyper Whitetail 410, though it delivers meaningfully more refined cocking technology in exchange
- 400 FPS is respectable but trails TenPoint's faster models like the TX Ultra 26.5 (410 FPS) and TRX Ultra (515 FPS)
- 9.75 inches cocked axle-to-axle is reasonably compact but not as narrow as TenPoint's dedicated compact models
Lowest-Priced De-Cock: Wicked Ridge Invader M1 De-Cock
It shares the Titan X De-Cock's core ACUdraw crank architecture and adds a Pro-View 400 lighted scope and a D1 trigger that broke cleanly throughout my testing. I measured 384-393 FPS, roughly 10 FPS behind the Titan X De-Cock, for $769-$799 against the Titan's $799-$899.
At 175 lbs of draw weight and 7.1 lbs it is slightly lighter than the Titan. Its review gives it 4.4/5 against the Titan's 4.5/5, and its value score is 9/10, a hair above the Titan's 8.9.
- Chronograph testing measured 384–393 FPS across five shot strings with a 400-grain bolt, matching the manufacturer's 390 FPS factory claim closely
- At $769–$799, this undercuts its sibling TenPoint Titan X De-Cock while sharing the same core ACUdraw De-Cock crank system
- The ACUdraw De-Cock crank reduced felt cocking effort dramatically and safely de-cocks without firing a bolt into a target
- At $769–$799, this still sits above true entry-level packages like the Barnett Hyper Whitetail 410
- 390 FPS trails Wicked Ridge's parent-brand TenPoint models like the Titan X De-Cock (400 FPS) and TX Ultra 26.5 (410 FPS)
- The Peak Camo finish and ACUdraw crank housing add bulk versus a bare-bones budget package
Fastest Under $1,000: Killer Instinct LOGIX 435
My chronograph measured 429-436 FPS, the fastest compound in this guide and roughly 25 FPS above the Hyper Whitetail 410. At $550-$700 it belongs in this tier, not the under-$500 one.
The kit includes a Lumix 4x32 scope, five-arrow quiver, three bolts and a rope-sled cocker, and the Let-Down Triggerbox lets you de-cock without firing. The costs: cocking 210 lbs by hand took sustained effort, it weighs 8.4 lbs, and 60-yard groups were wider than on premium crossbows.
- My chronograph testing measured 429–436 FPS across five shot strings with a 400-grain bolt, matching the 435 FPS factory rating closely
- The kit includes a scope, quiver, bolts, and a rope-sled cocker, so I was shooting within an afternoon of opening the box
- The Let-Down Triggerbox let me safely de-cock the crossbow at the end of a session without firing a bolt into the dirt, a feature I don't see on every budget-tier crossbow
- Cocking by hand with the included rope sled took real, sustained effort in my testing; this is not a crossbow to hand-cock on a whim
- My accuracy testing showed wider groups at 60 yards than I've measured on premium-tier crossbows
- At 8.4 lbs, it carried noticeably heavier than lighter compact compounds during my field handling
Best Premium Recurve: Excalibur Mag Air
I measured 299-308 FPS against its 305 FPS rating, with build quality our review found well above the entry-level recurve tier. It costs about the same as the Titan X De-Cock ($785-$815), and it can't match a compound's speed or de-cock convenience.
At 4.9 lbs bare it is one of the lightest crossbows in our library, and its Guardian anti-dry-fire trigger system engaged reliably in testing. Its 3.4/5 rating is the lowest in this guide, so choose it only if you specifically want a recurve.
- Chronograph testing measured 299–308 FPS across five shot strings, closely matching Excalibur's 305 FPS factory claim on a recurve platform
- The Guardian anti-dry-fire trigger system engaged reliably across every test scenario I could safely simulate, preventing firing without a bolt properly seated
- At 4.9 lbs bare (6.7 lbs fully accessorized), the Gen2 Synthetic mainframe makes this one of the lightest crossbows in my review library, recurve or compound
- At $785–$815, this sits well above budget recurve options despite sharing the same fundamental fewer-moving-parts design
- 305 FPS trails every compound crossbow in my review library, some by well over 100 FPS
- My accuracy testing showed a real gap at 60 yards compared to compound crossbows with integrated cocking systems
Compare All Seven Picks
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| Product | Type | Speed | Draw | Weight | Price | Rating | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnett Hyper Whitetail 410 | Compound | 410 FPS | 190 lbs | 7.6 lbs | $425–$485 | 4.3 / 5 | Check price on Amazon |
| Avalanche Anaconda Crossbow | Recurve | 245 FPS | 175 lbs | 5 lbs | $219–$239 | 4.0 / 5 | Check price on Amazon |
| Ballista Bat Crossbow | Pistol | 300 FPS | 130 lbs | 2.46 lbs | $299–$399 | 4.2 / 5 | Check price on Amazon |
| TenPoint Titan X De-Cock | Compound | 400 FPS | 190 lbs | 7.3 lbs | $799–$899 | 4.5 / 5 | Check price on Amazon |
| Wicked Ridge Invader M1 | Compound | 390 FPS | 175 lbs | 7.1 lbs | $769–$799 | 4.4 / 5 | Check price on Amazon |
| Killer Instinct Logix 435 | Compound | 435 FPS | 210 lbs | 8.4 lbs | $550–$700 | 4.2 / 5 | Check price on Amazon |
| Excalibur Mag Air | Recurve | 305 FPS | 136 lbs | 4.9 lbs | $785–$815 | 3.4 / 5 | Check price on Amazon |
| Crossbow | Tier | Price | Measured speed | True / felt effort | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnett Hyper Whitetail 410 | Under $500 | $425-$485 | 404-412 FPS | 190 / ~95 lbs | 4.3 |
| Avalanche Anaconda | Under $500 | $219-$239 | 232-241 FPS | 175 lbs, rope | 4.0 |
| Ballista Bat | Under $500 | $299-$399 | 293-304 FPS | 130 / ~40 lbs | 4.2 |
| Wicked Ridge Invader M1 De-Cock | Under $1,000 | $769-$799 | 384-393 FPS | 175 lbs, crank | 4.4 |
| TenPoint Titan X De-Cock | Under $1,000 | $799-$899 | 395-404 FPS | 190 / ~5 lbs | 4.5 |
| Killer Instinct LOGIX 435 | Under $1,000 | $550-$700 | 429-436 FPS | 210 lbs, rope sled | 4.2 |
| Excalibur Mag Air | Under $1,000 | $785-$815 | 299-308 FPS | 136 lbs, rope aid | 3.4 |
Pick by Situation
| Your situation | Pick | Why | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firm $500 ceiling, plans to hunt | Barnett Hyper Whitetail 410 | 404-412 FPS, scope and sled included | Wider 60-yard groups; flexing stock |
| Under $250 total | Avalanche Anaconda | $219-$239 complete kit | 175 lbs to cock; red dot holds zero less reliably |
| Small game, bowfishing and target | Ballista Bat | About 40 lbs felt, 2.46 lbs | Not a big-game tool |
| Cocking is the worry | TenPoint Titan X De-Cock | About 5 lbs felt | No manual cocking backup |
| Same crank, lower price | Wicked Ridge Invader M1 De-Cock | $769-$799 | About 10 FPS slower |
| Speed per dollar | Killer Instinct LOGIX 435 | 429-436 FPS at $550-$700 | 210 lbs by rope sled; 8.4 lbs |
Who Should Skip Each Pick
- Hyper Whitetail 410: skip it if you shoot often past 40 yards or want an integrated cocking system.
- Anaconda: skip it if cocking effort worries you; its groups at 40 and 60 yards were wider than every compound reviewed.
- Ballista Bat: skip it if you are hunting big game or only need a single-purpose budget pistol crossbow.
- Titan X De-Cock: skip it if you want a dampened, quieter shot or a manual backup for the crank.
- Invader M1 De-Cock: skip it if you want the highest rated speed, a quieter dampened shot or the narrowest footprint.
- LOGIX 435: skip it if you want the lowest cocking effort or the tightest long-range groups.
- Mag Air: skip it if you want maximum speed or accuracy, or a tighter budget.
What Actually Changes as You Spend More
Speed. Price and speed are only loosely related here: the Hyper Whitetail 410 at $425-$485 chronographs 410 FPS, while the Titan X De-Cock at $799-$899 chronographs 400 FPS. More money often buys features and refinement rather than velocity, so check the chronographed number if speed is your priority. Our guide to how fast a crossbow bolt travels explains what speed does and does not tell you.
Cocking convenience. This is the clearest advantage of the higher tier. Every crossbow under $500 here needs manual effort (at best a rope or cord aid), while the de-cock models bring felt effort down sharply. If strength, age or comfort matter, this is the main reason to stretch your budget. For the methods themselves, see how to cock a crossbow.
Build and accessories. Higher-priced picks showed more refined fit and finish in our reviews. Budget packages still mostly include a scope and quiver, but the components are more basic.
Warranty. Coverage and support don't always scale with price, so compare warranty terms model by model. The Titan X De-Cock and Invader M1 list 5 years on limbs and cams and lifetime on the trigger mechanism, and the LOGIX 435 lists a limited lifetime warranty on non-wearable parts for the original owner.
Which One Should You Buy?
- First-time buyer who plans to hunt, firm $500 ceiling: the Barnett Hyper Whitetail 410.
- Not sure you'll stick with it: the Avalanche Anaconda, or the Ballista Bat if you want small game, bowfishing and target use.
- Cocking effort matters, or you want a step up in build: the TenPoint Titan X De-Cock.
- Same de-cock convenience for less: the Wicked Ridge Invader M1 De-Cock.
- Speed first: the Killer Instinct LOGIX 435.
- Prefer a recurve's simplicity with premium parts: the Excalibur Mag Air.
- Beginner who wants the full walk-through: our best crossbows for beginners page weights ease of use above all else.
If you're unsure how committed you are, starting under $500 and upgrading later is a reasonable path, though resale values vary, so don't count on recouping the cost.
Common Budget Mistakes
- Buying on the headline speed. The Hyper Whitetail 410 and Titan X De-Cock are within about 10 FPS of each other, and the LOGIX 435 is about 25 FPS faster. Speed is the weakest reason to move up a tier.
- Ignoring felt effort. The LOGIX 435 is 210 lbs by rope sled, and the Anaconda is 175 lbs with a rope. If that sounds hard, the extra $300 to $400 for a crank is not a luxury.
- Assuming a bundle is complete. The Anaconda's red dot ships without batteries, and the bundled scopes on the Anaconda and LOGIX 435 are entry-level.
- Choosing a pistol or hybrid for deer. The Ballista Bat and pistol crossbows are well below big-game minimums.
- Overlooking dry-fire risk. Never dry-fire any crossbow. The Mag Air's Guardian system and the LOGIX 435's anti-dry-fire protection help, but they do not replace the habit.
- Comparing warranties by length only. Check what is covered. The Titan and Invader list 5 years on limbs and cams and lifetime on the trigger mechanism; the LOGIX 435 lists limited lifetime on non-wearable parts for the original owner.
- Skipping the zero check with the bolts you will actually shoot. See how to sight in a crossbow scope.
Total Cost Worked Example
Take the per-pack bolt prices from our best crossbow bolts guide: a 12-pack of REEGOX practice bolts at $29-$39, and a six-pack of Wicked Ridge Match 400 hunting bolts at $59-$79. Together that is $88 to $118.
| Setup | Crossbow | Plus bolts | All-in range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyper Whitetail 410 | $425-$485 | $88-$118 | $513-$603 |
| LOGIX 435 | $550-$700 | $88-$118 | $638-$818 |
| Titan X De-Cock | $799-$899 | $88-$118 | $887-$1,017 |
Check that bolt length and nock suit your model first. Broadheads, a target and string wax come on top, and their prices are not in these reviews.
The Titan costs $374 to $414 more than the Hyper Whitetail at matching ends of the range ($799 - $425, $899 - $485) and removes about 90 lbs of felt effort (about 95 lbs down to about 5 lbs). Put differently, the Titan's premium buys back roughly 90 lbs of effort each time you cock.
Hidden Costs Under Either Budget
A budget crossbow is rarely done after checkout. Plan for these before you decide the cap is $500 or $1,000.
- Broadheads and field points sized for your crossbow's speed.
- Extra bolts, because bolts get lost and damaged. See how to choose crossbow bolts.
- A suitable target rated for fast crossbow bolts.
- String wax and basic care, covered in how to maintain a crossbow.
- A scope upgrade, if the bundled optic is basic. The Anaconda's red dot and the LOGIX 435's Lumix are entry-level, and our reviews suggest upgrading before chasing long-range accuracy.
Should You Stay Under $500 or Spend Up to $1,000?
Stay under $500 if you are new, unsure, or mainly shoot inside 40 yards. The Hyper Whitetail 410 gives you hunting-capable speed and a complete kit, and our 20 and 40-yard groups held up against much pricier crossbows. Spend toward $1,000 if cocking effort or de-cocking is the thing you worry about, if you hunt from stands where you may end a sit without a shot, or if you plan to keep the crossbow for many seasons.
A useful rule from our reviews: do not pay extra for speed at this price. The Hyper Whitetail 410 and the Titan X De-Cock are within about 10 FPS, so the difference is felt effort, trigger and finish. Pay for the thing you will notice every time you use it.
Read nextCompound or recurve?If you are leaning toward the Anaconda or Mag Air, read what you give up and gain first.How We Choose Our Best Picks
- A full review. Each follows the same core protocol: chronograph speed, fixed-distance accuracy groups and cocking time, and says what was and wasn't measured.
- Honest cons, every time. Every linked review includes real trade-offs.
- Budget-specific evaluation. We weighed value and usability at each price ceiling rather than against flagship performance.
Read our full testing methodology for the complete breakdown.
What the Tests Covered
Each review recorded chronograph speed against the maker's rating, groups at fixed distances (20, 40 and 60 yards on the budget compounds) and cocking effort. The Titan X De-Cock and Invader M1 De-Cock both completed more than 40 logged cocking and de-cocking cycles. The Anaconda review included a full 20-shot zeroing. Warranty terms are quoted as the reviews list them, so confirm current terms before you buy.
Budget models post lower rated speeds, so use the kinetic energy calculator to see what each one delivers with a 400-grain bolt, and the cocking effort estimator to see what its draw weight feels like without a crank. The Wicked Ridge vs TenPoint comparison explains what the extra money buys inside the same company, and best compact crossbows covers the narrower models at both price points.
Two more models in these price bands are reviewed separately: the CenterPoint Wrath 430, a 430 FPS compound under $800, and the Barnett Recruit XP, Barnett's entry compound under $450.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best crossbow overall under $500?
The Barnett Hyper Whitetail 410, which delivers a hunting-capable 410 FPS along with a complete included accessory package (scope, quiver, two arrows and a rope sled) at $425-$485. It is the one we point most budget buyers to first.
Is a crossbow under $500 good enough for actual hunting?
It depends on the pick. The Barnett Hyper Whitetail 410 is the hunting-oriented option in this tier, with a published ~149 ft-lbs of energy. The Anaconda is much slower (232-241 FPS), and the Ballista Bat is built for small game, target and bowfishing, not big game. Verify your local legal requirements for hunting equipment either way. All of them require manual cocking and use simpler components than pricier options.
What's the biggest difference between under-$500 and under-$1,000 crossbows?
Across our reviews, cocking convenience is the clearest dividing line. Crossbows around the $800-$900 mark include integrated cocking systems, while budget-tier options require full manual effort. Build refinement and included accessory quality also generally improve, though less dramatically than the cocking experience.
Is it worth spending $800 instead of $400 on a crossbow?
It depends on what you value. If reduced cocking effort and slightly more refined build quality matter to you, yes. If you're on a firm budget or still deciding how committed you are to the hobby, a well-chosen $400 crossbow is a reasonable choice, and you can upgrade later.
Do budget crossbows include scopes and other accessories?
Most package crossbows in both tiers on this list include a basic scope and quiver, though the specific components are generally more basic on lower-priced models than on the higher end of the under-$1,000 range.
Is the Killer Instinct LOGIX 435 or the Titan X De-Cock the better buy?
Choose the LOGIX 435 if speed and price matter most: it measured 429-436 FPS at $550-$700. Choose the Titan X De-Cock if easy cocking matters: about 5 lbs of felt effort against hand-cocking 210 lbs with a rope sled.
Can I find a decent crossbow for under $300?
The Avalanche Anaconda ($219-$239) and Ballista Bat ($299-$399) are the full-size and hybrid options I reviewed near that price. The Anaconda is a complete kit, but it is slower and takes more effort to cock than any compound here.
How much does it cost to be ready to shoot with a crossbow under $500?
The Hyper Whitetail 410 is $425-$485 and includes a scope, quiver, two arrows and a rope sled. Adding a 12-pack of practice bolts ($29-$39) brings a ready-to-shoot setup to roughly $454-$524, before a target, broadheads and string wax.
Is the Wicked Ridge Invader M1 De-Cock the same crossbow as the Titan X De-Cock?
They share the core ACUdraw De-Cock crank design but are different models. The Invader M1 is 175 lbs and 7.1 lbs, $769-$799, rated 4.4/5. The Titan is 190 lbs and 7.3 lbs, $799-$899, rated 4.5/5. Speed differs by roughly 10 FPS.
Do I need to upgrade the scope on a budget crossbow?
Not at first. The Hyper Whitetail's 4x32 scope held zero in testing and the Titan's Pro-View 400 did too. The Anaconda's red dot and the LOGIX 435's Lumix are entry-level, so upgrade those before chasing longer shots.
Final Recommendation
For most readers the decision is simple. If $500 is a hard ceiling, buy the Barnett Hyper Whitetail 410. If you can reach about $800 and cocking effort or safe de-cocking matters to you, buy the TenPoint Titan X De-Cock, or save a little with the Wicked Ridge Invader M1 De-Cock. Pick the LOGIX 435 only if you want the most speed for the money and are comfortable with a rope sled.
Next step: open the full review of your pick, then compare category options in our compound crossbows and recurve crossbows hubs.
Tested for this topic
Barnett Hyper Whitetail 410The complete package under $500, with specs and testing notes.
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