Crossbow Reviews 2026
Every crossbow, scope, bolt and accessory we have reviewed, judged on the same published criteria, with manufacturer ratings and measured results kept apart. Search, filter by category or sort by score and price.
- 6
- Categories
- 4.3/5
- Average score
- 27
- Speed-tested
Not sure what you need? Start with a buying guide
- Best Crossbows of 2026: Tested PicksOur highest-rated crossbows across every price tier, from the TenPoint TRX Ultra flagship to the Barnett Hyper Whitetail 410, each chosen for a specific buyer.
- Best Crossbows for Beginners 2026Beginner crossbows chosen for easy cocking, safety features and complete kits, from a $219 recurve to an integrated-crank compound.
- Best Crossbows Under $1,000 (2026)Budget crossbows under $500 and under $1,000 compared on measured speed, included gear and trigger quality, with what extra money actually buys.
All 46 reviews
Compound Crossbows18
Compare compound
CenterPoint Wrath 430 Review
Fast bullpup compound crossbow rated at 430 FPS with a quiet crank cocker included. Short overall, but heavier and slightly wider cocked than premium compacts.
Ravin LR Crossbow Review
Long-range 450 FPS crossbow with a fully adjustable stock and turret scope, built for precision shooting. Longer, heavier and pricier than Ravin's compacts.
Barnett Recruit XP Crossbow Review
Short, light 350 FPS compound crossbow with anti-dry-fire trigger and a complete kit. Suits newer shooters and smaller-framed adults.
Excalibur Hybrid X Review
435 FPS compound crossbow with CeaseFire anti-dry-fire protection and a complete hunting kit. Scores high on speed and accuracy but weighs 8.3 lbs bare.
TenPoint Phantom De-Cock Review
Compact 7.4 lb reverse-draw crossbow rated at 400 FPS, with ACUdraw De-Cock cocking and a lighted scope included. Short enough for blinds and brush.
Killer Instinct Logix 435 Review
Mid-priced compound crossbow measured at 429–436 FPS, with a Let-Down Triggerbox for de-cocking and a limited lifetime warranty. Heavier to cock.
Ravin R470 Stealth Gray Review
Flagship-speed crossbow measured at 463–472 FPS in a compact frame, with a Cerakote finish that showed no wear and a quiet integrated cocking system.
Wicked Ridge Invader M1 Review
Compound crossbow measured at 384–393 FPS, with integrated crank cocking and ACUdraw De-Cock safe unloading at a lower price than TenPoint's own models.
Barnett Hyper Raptor T-Rex Review
High-speed compound crossbow measured at 435–443 FPS, with a crisp premium trigger and reliable de-cocking for well under flagship prices.
TenPoint TX Ultra 29.5 Review
Reverse-draw crossbow measured at 456–463 FPS with tight 100-yard groups and a 6.5-inch cocked width. Speed and range in a narrow frame.
TenPoint Titan X De-Cock Review
Mid-priced compound crossbow measured at 395–404 FPS, with integrated cocking and a controlled de-cocking system. A good first TenPoint.
Barnett Hyper Whitetail 410 Review
Hunting-ready compound crossbow package that matched its 410 FPS rating. Scope, bolts and cocking aid included; groups hold up best inside 40 yards.
Ravin R10 Pro XK7 Review
Pre-assembled 6.8 lb compound crossbow with the XK7 illuminated scope. Matched its 420 FPS rating and held zero, though louder than rivals.
Ravin R26X Review
Compact compound crossbow measured at 395–403 FPS, with a HeliCoil cam and noticeably quieter cocking than crank rivals. Built for treestands and blinds.
Ravin R29X Review
Compact, stealth-black crossbow producing 444–454 FPS and around 180 ft-lbs of kinetic energy, with an integrated quieter-cocking system.
TenPoint Venom X Review
Light 6.9 lb crossbow measured at 385–394 FPS, with a trigger that outperforms its price and the most affordable entry to TenPoint's ACUslide cocking.
TenPoint TRX Ultra Review
Fastest crossbow in my tests at 511–517 FPS, with the tightest long-range groups near 100 yards. A flagship price that suits a narrow group of buyers.
TenPoint TX Ultra 26.5 Review
Very short reverse-draw crossbow measured at 406–413 FPS, quiet to shoot and easy to move in saddles, tight blinds and confined stands.
Recurve Crossbows4
Compare recurve
Barnett Wildcat CRX Review
Low-cost recurve crossbow kit that lands close to its 280 FPS rating, with strong value but a heavy 195 lb draw that makes a cocking aid essential.
Excalibur Micro 380 Review
Fastest recurve crossbow on this site at 380 FPS, with the fullest accessory kit. Premium pricing, heavy cocking and patchy retail availability.
Avalanche Anaconda Crossbow Review
Budget 175 lb recurve crossbow kit with red dot, quiver and cocking rope. Chronographed at 232–241 FPS, about 5 lbs, simple limbs that suit first-time buyers.
Excalibur Mag Air Review
Light 4.9 lb recurve crossbow with a dependable anti-dry-fire trigger and quiet shot, measured at 299–308 FPS. Recurve simplicity at a premium price.
Pistol Crossbows5
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EK Archery Adder Review
Five-shot repeating crossbow at about 270 FPS, with a full accessory kit and basic optic. Built for target shooting and small game, not big game.
SAS Prophecy 80 Crossbow Review
80 lb repeating pistol crossbow at about 165 FPS. Very easy to cock with a magazine for quick follow-up shots, made for plinking only, not hunting.
Ballista Bat Crossbow Review
All-metal compound pistol crossbow that measured 293–304 FPS at 2.46 lbs. One compact tool for small game, bowfishing and target practice.
Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Review
Six-shot repeating pistol crossbow at 176–184 FPS, accurate inside 70 feet and very easy to cock. Optional Pro limbs add speed.
Barnett Demun Accu Strike Review
Lightweight pistol crossbow with a fast self-cocking reload, measured at 184–193 FPS. Holds zero for plinking and pest control inside 15–20 yards.
Crossbow Bolts & Arrows6
Compare bolts
Carbon Express PileDriver Review
Heavy 449-grain, 22-inch carbon crossbow bolts with a universal nock. Trades a little speed for momentum and fits more than one nock style.
Ravin R133 Lighted Arrows Review
Ravin 400-grain lighted crossbow bolts with Match-Grade weight compensation, grouping with Ravin's non-lighted bolts at the same aim point.
Reegox Crossbow Bolts Review
Low-cost 12-pack of carbon practice bolts in 16, 18 or 20 inches, with removable tips. Looser consistency than branded bolts and no published tolerances.
TenPoint CenterPunch HPX Review
Premium 445-grain, 20-inch carbon bolts with tight weight matching. Their consistency showed most past 40 yards, where groups stayed noticeably tighter.
TenPoint Pro Elite 400 Review
410-grain lighted crossbow bolts for dawn, dusk and dense cover. Easier shot tracking and bolt recovery with little loss of consistency.
Wicked Ridge Match 400 Review
400-grain carbon bolts with TenPoint-family components at a mid-range price. Consistent enough for regular practice, a small step behind premium bolts.
Crossbow Scopes & Optics9
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Ravin Illuminated Scope Review
Red/green illuminated scope made for Ravin crossbows, with 100-yard aim points and speed adjustment. Model-specific fit and few published optical specs.
CVLIFE 3-9x40 Scope Review
Budget 3-9x40 crossbow scope for 20mm rails. Stayed fog-free in cold and humidity and held zero under recoil, with a plain crosshair reticle.
EVO-X Marksman Elite Review
Glass-reticle crossbow scope that covers a wide speed band and held its zero. Premium optics without batteries at about half the price of digital rivals.
TenPoint RangeMaster 100 Review
Illuminated crossbow scope with nine aiming points to 100 yards that tracked point of impact from 380 to 505 FPS. Rings and caps included.
TruGlo 4x32 Crossbow Scope Review
Fixed 4x32 crossbow scope with BDC aim points that held true from 20 to 50 yards, no zero shift under recoil, and Weaver-style rings included.
Burris Oracle X Scope Review
Laser rangefinding crossbow scope that measures range and shot angle, with angle compensation that checked out from a simulated treestand.
Garmin Xero X1i Scope Review
Auto-ranging crossbow scope with continuous laser ranging, aim points that tracked bolt drop to 80 yards and GPS shot tracking. Fixed magnification only.
TenPoint Vision HD Review
Digital crossbow scope that combines laser ranging out to 1,100 yards, ballistic aim points and HD hunt recording, with a 3-year warranty.
Vortex Crossfire II Scope Review
2-7x32 crossbow scope with precise 1/2 MOA turrets, hold marks that matched bolt drop once calibrated, and generous eye relief. A common bundled-scope upgrade.
Crossbow Accessories4
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Barnett Rope Cocking Device Review
Padded rope cocking aid that roughly halves draw effort on compatible standard-draw Barnett crossbows. Not for Reverse Draw Cam or Hyper RAPTOR models.
Ravin R102 Broadhead Review
100-grain mechanical crossbow broadhead rated to 450 FPS. Flew with field points in testing, and its spring clip kept the blades closed in flight.
TenPoint ACUdraw Review
TenPoint's integrated cocking system that sharply cuts draw effort and centers the string every time. Fits select TenPoint, Wicked Ridge and Horton models.
TenPoint Nemesis Broadhead Review
Staged mechanical crossbow broadhead with a large cutting diameter that flew like field points in testing. 100 grains, sold in packs of three.