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
Show all brands

Price breakdown
As can be seen in the chart below, lowest high-ranking crossbows start at $188.38 (Barnett Blackcat) and go up to $3659.68 (TenPoint Vapor RS470 XERO). Median crossbow costs $739.99 (Wicked Ridge RDX 400).
$188.38
$3659.68

At a glance - May 2023 Ranking

Scroll horizontally to browse this ranking table
Rank Change Price Crossbow
Forgotten Hunter
Archery Power
Outdoor Life
10k Reviews
Field & Stream
Deer & Deer Hunting
huntinggiant.com
Crossbow Joe
Bow Hunting
Target Crazy
1
- $3199
Ravin R500
-
-
1
-
1
-
3
8
-
-
2
- $2600
Ravin R29X Sniper
2
-
-
-
-
1
9
10
-
-
3
- $350
Barnett Whitetail Hunter II
-
1
-
9
-
-
-
-
-
5
4
- $1965
TenPoint Havoc RS440
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
1
-
5
- $658
Barnett Hypertac 420
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
5
4
-
6
- $650
TenPoint Invader 400
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
-
1
7
- $2500
TenPoint Vapor RS470
1
-
-
-
5
-
-
-
-
-
8
- $650
Centerpoint Wrath 430
-
-
4
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
9
- $1500
Excalibur TwinStrike TAC2
-
-
3
-
-
-
5
-
-
-
10
- $2659
Ravin R26
5
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
14
+1 $310
CenterPoint Sniper 370
7
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
15
-1 $3400
TenPoint Nitro 505
-
-
2
-
-
-
7
-
-
-
16
- Check price
Excalibur Bulldog 440
4
-
-
-
4
-
-
-
-
-
17
- Check price
Tenpoint Nitro XRT
-
12
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
18
- $2659
Ravin R20
-
13
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
19
- $679
Bear Archery Impact CDXV
-
-
5
-
-
-
-
-
7
-
20
- Check price
TenPoint Carbon Nitro RDX
-
10
-
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
21
- Check price
TenPoint Viper S400
10
-
-
-
-
5
-
-
-
-
22
+1 $470
Bear X Constrictor CDX
13
-
-
-
-
-
8
-
-
-

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.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

Field & Stream

Best Overall

Pros
Fastest crossbow around
Electronic cocking device
Comes fully assembled

Cons
Tough on targets

Go to ranking

huntinggiant.com

Best crossbow of 2022

Go to ranking

Crossbow Joe

Lighting Fast FPS

Pros
Lighting Fast
Very Powerful

Cons
Expensive

Go to ranking

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.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

Deer & Deer Hunting

Go to ranking

huntinggiant.com

The Most Powerful Crossbow

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

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.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

We ranked TenPoint Havoc RS440 #4 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked TenPoint Havoc RS440 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
huntinggiant.com

Best crossbow of 2021

Go to ranking

Bow Hunting

Wreaking Havoc

Go to ranking

We ranked Barnett Hypertac 420 #5 in May 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Deer & Deer Hunting

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

Bow Hunting

Sharp as Tacks

Go to ranking

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.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

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!

Go to ranking

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.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

Field & Stream

Best Crossbow for Deer Hunting

Pros
Very fast
Accurate at long distances
Silent cocking system

Cons
Heavier than other crossbows

Go to ranking

We ranked Centerpoint Wrath 430 #8 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Outdoor Life

Best Value

Pros
Compact
Balances well for offhand shooting
Fast

Cons
Cocking mechanism gets stuck on stock

Go to ranking

Field & Stream

Best on a Budget

Pros
More affordable
Very compact
Easy to cock

Cons
Scope isn’t the most accurate

Go to ranking

We ranked Excalibur TwinStrike TAC2 #9 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Outdoor Life

Best Recurve Crossbow

Pros
Fast follow-up shots
User serviceable

Cons
Front trigger can be difficult to reach
Complex cocking process

Go to ranking

huntinggiant.com

Best Recurve crossbow

Go to ranking

We ranked Ravin R26 #10 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

Field & Stream

Best for Beginners

Pros
A lot of safety features
Lightweight and compact
Durable

Cons
Expensive

Go to ranking

We ranked CenterPoint Sniper 370 #11 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

We ranked TenPoint Nitro 505 #12 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Outdoor Life

Fastest Crossbow

Pros
Fast
Easy to crank
Built-in the U.S.A.

Cons
Inconsistent broadhead accuracy
Crank failure during testing

Go to ranking

huntinggiant.com

Fastest Crossbow in the world

Go to ranking

We ranked Excalibur Bulldog 440 #13 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

Field & Stream

Best Recurve Crossbow

Pros
Fastest Excalibur bow
Accurate trigger system
Easy to cock

Cons
Weaker limbs

Go to ranking

We ranked Tenpoint Nitro XRT #14 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

We ranked Ravin R20 #15 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

We ranked Bear Archery Impact CDXV #16 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Outdoor Life

Pros
Good speed and accuracy
Comes with four bolts

Cons
Needs more premium features for the price

Go to ranking

Bow Hunting

Deadly Impact

Go to ranking

We ranked TenPoint Carbon Nitro RDX #17 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

We ranked TenPoint Viper S400 #18 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

Deer & Deer Hunting

Go to ranking

We ranked Bear X Constrictor CDX #19 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Crossbows” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

huntinggiant.com

Best Compact crossbow

Go to ranking