May 2023
Crossbows: MetaRanking
This page highlights the aggregate summary of Crossbow rankings posted by key online experts, as of May 2023.
Summary
Between 9 May 2023 and 9 May 2023, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 94 Crossbow endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.
69 Crossbows were endorsed in total, only 19 made it into this month's ranking (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included).
As of 9 May 2023, Ravin R500 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed crossbow with 4 expert endorsements. 2 experts out of 4 recommended it as the '#1 crossbow' this month. It is followed by Ravin R29X Sniper and Barnett Whitetail Hunter II , with 4 and 3 expert endorsements respectively.
Brand breakdown
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TenPoint Crossbow Technologies:
14 Crossbows
(#1 is Tenpoint Titan M1 )
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Barnett:
12 Crossbows
(#1 is Barnett Wildcat )
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CenterPoint:
8 Crossbows
(#1 is CenterPoint CP400 )
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Wicked Ridge by TenPoint:
6 Crossbows
(#1 is Wicked Ridge Rampage 360 )
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Excalibur:
6 Crossbows
(#1 is Excalibur Assassin 420 TD )
Price breakdown
At a glance - May 2023 Ranking
Rank | Change | Price | Crossbow |
Forgotten Hunter
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Archery Power
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Outdoor Life
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10k Reviews
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Field & Stream
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Deer & Deer Hunting
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huntinggiant.com
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Crossbow Joe
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Bow Hunting
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Target Crazy
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1
|
- | $3199 |
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-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
3
|
8
|
-
|
-
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2
|
- | $2600 |
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2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
9
|
10
|
-
|
-
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3
|
- | $350 |
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-
|
1
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
4
|
- | $1965 |
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-
|
-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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2
|
-
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1
|
-
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5
|
- | $658 |
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-
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-
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-
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-
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2
|
-
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5
|
4
|
-
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6
|
- | $650 |
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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4
|
-
|
1
|
7
|
- | $2500 |
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1
|
-
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-
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-
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5
|
-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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8
|
- | $650 |
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-
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-
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4
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-
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2
|
-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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9
|
- | $1500 |
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-
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3
|
-
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-
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-
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5
|
-
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-
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-
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10
|
- | $2659 |
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5
|
-
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-
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-
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3
|
-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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14
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+1 | $310 |
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7
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2
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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15
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-1 | $3400 |
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2
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-
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-
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7
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-
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-
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-
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16
|
- | Check price |
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4
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-
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-
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-
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4
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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17
|
- | Check price |
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12
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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3
|
18
|
- | $2659 |
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13
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-
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3
|
-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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19
|
- | $679 |
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5
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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7
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-
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20
|
- | Check price |
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10
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-
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5
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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21
|
- | Check price |
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10
|
-
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-
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-
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-
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5
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-
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-
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-
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-
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22
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+1 | $470 |
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13
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8
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Sorted by price:
Position in ranking | Price | Crossbow |
---|---|---|
#14 | $309.99 | CenterPoint Sniper 370 [buy] [more info] |
#3 | $350 | Barnett Whitetail Hunter II [buy] [more info] |
#22 | $469.96 | Bear X Constrictor CDX [buy] [more info] |
#6 | $649.99 | TenPoint Invader 400 [buy] [more info] |
#8 | $649.99 | Centerpoint Wrath 430 [buy] [more info] |
#5 | $657.72 | Barnett Hypertac 420 [buy] [more info] |
#19 | $679 | Bear Archery Impact CDXV [buy] [more info] |
#21 | $1299 | TenPoint Viper S400 [buy] [more info] |
#9 | $1499.99 | Excalibur TwinStrike TAC2 [buy] [more info] |
#4 | $1964.94 | TenPoint Havoc RS440 [buy] [more info] |
#7 | $2499.99 | TenPoint Vapor RS470 [buy] [more info] |
#2 | $2600 | Ravin R29X Sniper [buy] [more info] |
#10 | $2659 | Ravin R26 [buy] [more info] |
#18 | $2659 | Ravin R20 [buy] [more info] |
#1 | $3199 | Ravin R500 [buy] [more info] |
#15 | $3399.99 | TenPoint Nitro 505 [buy] [more info] |
We ranked Ravin R500 #1 in May 2023 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Ravin R500 as #1.

Outdoor Life
Editor’s Choice
Pros
Fast and accurate
Narrow profile
Easy to use
Good trigger
|
Cons
Difficult to clip bolts onto the string
Quiver and crank are poor quality for the price
Expensive
|
Field & Stream
Best Overall
Pros
Fastest crossbow around
Electronic cocking device
Comes fully assembled
|
Cons
Tough on targets
|
We ranked Ravin R29X Sniper #2 in May 2023 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Ravin R29X Sniper as #1.

Forgotten Hunter
Most Accurate Crossbow
Pros
450 FPS – Lightning Fast
Effortless and Silent Cocking Mechanism
HeliCoil Technology
Compact and Lightweight
|
Cons
Price, although you do get what you pay for!
Not able to safely let go mid-draw
|
Crossbow Joe
For the high rollers
Pros
Helicoil Technology
Durable Vortex strike eagle scope
Improved stock design
Long lasting and durable
|
Cons
Above average price tag
|
Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend Crossbows.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of Crossbows, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for May 2023 ranking










We ranked Barnett Whitetail Hunter II #3 in May 2023 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Barnett Whitetail Hunter II as #1.

Archery Power
Overall Best Under 500$
Pros
Comes with a Nock sensor and adf that eliminates dry fires
Great for hunting because of its camo shade
Comes with lube wax that you can use to lube the string
Comes with a 4×32 scope
|
Cons
The drawstring starts getting loose after several shots
|
10k Reviews
Pros
One of best rated crossbows
Powerful and faster
Perfect downrange accuracy
Best for professionals and beginners
Lightweight
Beautifully designed compound crossbow
|
Cons
ADF system break down
|
Target Crazy
Best Entry Level Crossbow
Pros
Low price range
Powerful but easy to handle
Light weight
Anti-dry-fire protection
Picatinny rail
Beginner accessories
|
Cons
Draw weight
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We ranked Barnett Hypertac 420 #5 in May 2023 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.

Crossbow Joe
Ultimate Hunting Experience
Pros
Lightweight Construction
Above average FPS
Good amount of extra accessories
|
Cons
Mixed reviews on the quality of the crank system
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We ranked TenPoint Invader 400 #6 in May 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked TenPoint Invader 400 as #1.

Crossbow Joe
Best bang for the buck
Pros
Lightweight design
Advanced cocking mechanism attachment option
|
Cons
Noisey when shot due to lack of damping system
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Target Crazy
Best Overall
Pros
Fast 400 fps
Powerful 140 fpke
ACUdraw 50 rope cocking system
Pro-View scope
Added accessories
Light weight
Versatile hunting bow
Durable semi-skeletal frame
|
Cons
Nothing!
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We ranked TenPoint Vapor RS470 #7 in May 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked TenPoint Vapor RS470 as #1.

Forgotten Hunter
Fastest Crossbow
Pros
ACUslide: Safe and Silent Cocking and Decocking
470 FPS: Fastest crossbow currently on the market!
Compact
Dead Silent Shooting
|
Cons
The price is rather high, definitely worth it though!
Assemble it yourself or work with a local deale
|
Field & Stream
Best Crossbow for Deer Hunting
Pros
Very fast
Accurate at long distances
Silent cocking system
|
Cons
Heavier than other crossbows
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We ranked Centerpoint Wrath 430 #8 in May 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.

Outdoor Life
Best Value
Pros
Compact
Balances well for offhand shooting
Fast
|
Cons
Cocking mechanism gets stuck on stock
|
Field & Stream
Best on a Budget
Pros
More affordable
Very compact
Easy to cock
|
Cons
Scope isn’t the most accurate
|
We ranked Ravin R26 #10 in May 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.

Forgotten Hunter
Most Compact Crossbow
Pros
400 FPS
Most compact crossbow
Lightweight
Feels really well balanced
Versa-Draw cocking system
Ergonomic Grip
Ready-To-Hunt
|
Cons
Price
At this price, you’d expect a case included
Need to buy scope-level separate
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Field & Stream
Best for Beginners
Pros
A lot of safety features
Lightweight and compact
Durable
|
Cons
Expensive
|
We ranked CenterPoint Sniper 370 #11 in May 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.

Forgotten Hunter
Best Crossbow for Beginners
Pros
Accurate
Lightweight
Quiet
Adjustable stock and grip
Beginner friendly
|
Cons
Vague assembly instructions
The trigger could be a little smoother
|
Archery Power
One of the Best Entry-Level Crossbows
Pros
Quite easy to set up
Incredible accuracy
Comes with an optic
|
Cons
The adjustable stock is noise
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We ranked Excalibur Bulldog 440 #13 in May 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.

Forgotten Hunter
Best Recurve Crossbow
Pros
Fast and Powerful Recurve Crossbow
Silent Cocking
Silent Shooting
Lightweight
Pro-Shot ACP Trigger
Recurve Maintenance
Pro Package Contains Everything You Need
|
Cons
Pretty big compared to a compound crossbow
|
Field & Stream
Best Recurve Crossbow
Pros
Fastest Excalibur bow
Accurate trigger system
Easy to cock
|
Cons
Weaker limbs
|
We ranked Tenpoint Nitro XRT #14 in May 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.

Archery Power
Pros
Insane shooting speeds
Easy to shoot because of the Evo-X Marksman scope
Comes with an ambidextrous trigger
Comes with arrows with the Alpha Nock feature
|
Cons
Nothing to complain about
|
Target Crazy
Best for Hunters
Pros
Super fast 470 fps
Brutally powerful 182 ftke
ACUdraw Pro with only 9 lbs of draw weight
7-in ATA
Advanced accessories
Strings run through the riser
T5 trigger
|
Cons
It’s expensive
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We ranked Ravin R20 #15 in May 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.

Archery Power
Pros
Comes with plenty of safety features
Delivers repeatable pinpoint accuracy
Can take out large animals
Has a unique Helicoil design which suppresses noise
|
Cons
Other than its price tag, the Ravin R20 does not have any major drawbacks
|
10k Reviews
Best Crossbow for the money
Pros
Compact yet powerful crossbow
Lightweight
The lowest draw weight in the crossbows fray
Top quality scope
Takes on a target from 100 yards
|
Cons
More expensive under 3000 bucks
|
We ranked TenPoint Carbon Nitro RDX #17 in May 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.

Archery Power
Pros
Delivers 385 fps at 125FP of kinetic energy
Made from carbon, which is extremely light
Easy to use and maintain
Has noise dampeners to avoid scaring away game
|
Cons
Not ideal for beginners
|
10k Reviews
Pros
Narrow design
Faster enough
Best for target shooting and hunting
One of the most accurate crossbows
Perfectly adjusted stock
|
Cons
High end price tag
A bit heavy for small hands
|
We ranked TenPoint Viper S400 #18 in May 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.

Forgotten Hunter
Best Crossbow with Built-In Cocking Device
Pros
400 FPS
Compact
Lightweight
Very safe
Effortless Cocking
|
Cons
TenPoint speed-rates their crossbows with different arrow weights
|
We ranked Bear X Constrictor CDX #19 in May 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.

Forgotten Hunter
Best Value Crossbow under $500
Pros
410 FPS!
Compact crossbow
Adjustable Stock and Cheek-piece
Ambidextrous top mount 5-arrow quiver
Really Quiet Because of the Pre-Installed String Dampeners
Great Value for your Money!
Ready to Hunt Package
|
Cons
Range of scope could be Better
8 pounds can be a bit heavy for a crossbow
Rope Cocking 190 pounds can be quite difficult
|