Whether you’re purchasing a crossbow for hobby or hunting purposes, finding the best crossbow for sale is key. There are a few items that you will really want to look at. Check out the guide below, followed by my reviews, to help you figure out which one will work best for you.
Do You Have Any Physical Limitations?
One of the best things about a crossbow is that almost everybody can use. Regardless of age, sex, or physical limitations, crossbows are one of the easiest bows to maneuver. However, they aren’t all created alike. Some are heavier than others. Some require manual cocking while others offer cocking aids.
The key to really knowing whether the crossbow you are looking at purchasing is right for you, is to give it a test spin. If you have physical limitations, try to work all of the mechanisms on the bow before actually purchasing. See if it feels right based on those limitations.
Consider Crossbow Features
Speed is something that you will definitely want to look at. Most crossbows shoot between 300 and 380 feet per second. Those with a faster speed will hit harder, so they will be perfect for someone looking to purchase a crossbow for hunting. There are some issues with a faster speed, however. Many times a fast crossbow will be louder, require more effort in cocking, and have more recoil.
The level of noise that the crossbow produces is something that also needs to be looked at. If you are looking to purchase for hunting, having a noisy crossbow could scare the game away. That isn’t the ideal situation, so definitely check out manufacturer reviews to see if the crossbow puts of a lot of noise.
Depending on your size and strength, you really need to look at the weight of the crossbow. A light crossbow can be incredibly difficult to control if it has more recoil. A heavy crossbow can also be hard to control as it might want to move around while you are trying to aim, if you aren’t strong enough to handle the weight.
Safety Features
Safety is one area that should not be negotiated. Some crossbows have an auto-engaging safety, safety wings, a pass-through-gore-grip, or a dri-fire-inhibitor. If the crossbow that you are looking at doesn’t have safety features listed, avoid that crossbow at all costs. Your safety is more important than a cheap crossbow.
Balance
Crossbows that seem out of balance can throw you off balance in terms of hitting your target. If the crossbow is too heavy up front it will increase the difficulty in shooting. Check reviews on the balance and see what people are saying in regards to how it feels, if it throws them off balance while shooting, if it’s easy to control, and if any of the features make it difficult to actually hit their target.
Review of Crossbows for Sale
Recently, I decided to try out some of the best crossbows for sale to see which ones really lived up to the hype. The following reviews are the crossbows that made the cut. I would deem them the best of the best. Let them help to guide you in choosing the best crossbow for sale.
This 290-pound draw crossbow is a very fast shooter, at 450 feet per second. The perfect choice for taking down large game. It also comes in full camo for remaining hidden from the game that you’re hunting. The accuracy is top notch and I didn’t lose control at all while shooting.
My favorite feature on this crossbow is its incredible accuracy. Even with shooting as fast as it does, I was able to hit my target every single time. The recoil was minimal for how fast this crossbow was, so it allowed me to maintain control without feeling like it wanted to rip my arm off. I used this crossbow in my tree stand and loved how I was able to keep my seat without it wanting to knock me out of the tree. Very nice indeed!
PROS
- Incredible speed and flat shooting
- Not as noisy as most high speed crossbows
- Amazing accuracy
- Camo design helps it stay hidden
- Easy to hold, draw, and maneuver
- Didn’t lose control while shooting
- Perfect for taking down large game
CONS
- Not recommended for target practicing or tournaments
This TenPoint Venom Crossbow Package with ACU50 is an incredibly light and easy to use crossbow for sale. It is also a speedy shooter at 370 feet per second. My favorite feature is how light it is. It’s very easy for smaller framed individuals to use. It’s also fairly quiet for a fast shooting crossbow. The accuracy is fantastic and is a great crossbow for taking down large game.
My favorite feature of this crossbow was how light it was. I prefer my crossbows to be light so that I don’t feel like I’m constantly fighting with it to get it to shoot how I want it to shoot. The one thing that it can’t be though, if it’s lightweight, is a crossbow with heavy recoil. This crossbow lived up to those standards. Minimum recoil and low vibration made this an incredibly easy crossbow to maneuver.
PROS
- Safety
- Vibration free
- Easy to assemble and use
- Lightweight for smaller individuals or people with disabilities or muscle weakness
- Cocking Mechanism
- Minimum recoil
CONS
- Hard to see through scope when using at dusk or prime hunting conditions
This crossbow is incredibly lightweight, weighing in at only 7.3 pounds. It has a 185 pound draw weight, a rope cocking device, comes with 3 arrows, a talon sling, and a 3×32 scope. The accuracy on this crossbow was amazing. It shoots at 410 feet per second and is excellent at taking down large game.
My favorite feature is the rope cocking device. I loved the assistance in cocking the crossbow and felt that it made it much easier to do. With a bow this lightweight I expected the cocking mechanism to be made of cheaper materials, but I was pleasantly surprised with the high-quality feel and assistance it provided. That’s definitely a plus for me!
PROS
- Amazing accuracy
- The rope cocking device makes it incredibly easy to cock
- Smaller, 20″ from axle to axle
- Very nice balance and weight
- Patented Carbonlite riser comes with an impressive 5-to-1 safety factor
- Comes with a really thick shoulder pad to reduce vibration and for added comfort
CONS
- The scope that comes with it almost isn’t powerful enough for the power of the crossbow itself
This Excalibur crossbow is a decent shooter, with a speed of 380 feet per second. It has a 260 pound draw weight and 13.1″ power stroke. It also comes with a camo finish for staying hidden from your prey.
My favorite feature of this crossbow was the camo finish. A lot of these crossbow’s have it, but this Realtree coloring really kept it hidden. With me decked out in my own camo it made it incredibly easy to hide myself from the white tail deer I had been tracking. He never even sensed that I was there. That’s definitely a plus for hunting big game! It’s hard to track them and take them down if they’re aware of the fact that you’re there.
PROS
- Does not put off very much noise at all compared to other high powered crossbows
- Incredible accuracy
- Very powerful
- Loved the camo finish
CONS
- Had the limb tip snap off when trying to shoot a white tail. Excalibur was fantastic at sending a replacement asap so that I could continue enjoying deer season with this crossbow.
The TenPoint Vapor Crossbow Package with ACUdraw is a nice addition to any avid bow hunter’s collection. It shoots at 360 feet per second, is quiet and wonderfully easy to maneuver. It comes with 6 arrows, a cocking device, scope, quiver, and a soft case.
My favorite feature is how quiet it is. This crossbow doesn’t shoot near as far as some of the others, and that’s probably why it’s quieter. But I felt like out of all of them, this one was the quietest. I do have to say that it wasn’t incredibly quiet when I started to mumble because of the weight of it, though. It is a bit heavy for me.
PROS
- Easy to use cocking mechanism
- Fairly quiet
- Low vibration
- Very accurate and easy to handle
CONS
- It’s a pretty heavy bow, so wouldn’t be suitable for somebody without upper body strength
The Excalibur 4050 Matrix Mega Crossbow is a magnificent crossbow. It hits hard at 290 pound draw weight. The finish on it is Mossy Oak tree stand finish, perfect for low visibility to the game that you’re hunting. It shoots at 405 feet per second and weighs only 6.2 pounds! I loved this crossbow and found it to be the best crossbow for sale. A 290 pound draw at 13 inch power stroke sounds impossible, but it’s not. I used a hand crank cocking device with this amazing little crossbow and it made it so incredibly easy to cock.
I don’t really have a favorite feature with this one because I loved everything about it. It’s incredibly fast, amazingly accurate, lightweight enough to keep me from getting frustrated, and to top it all off there isn’t a hard recoil and very little vibration. All in all this is a fantastic crossbow.
I want to talk about the accuracy a little bit more here. On the first day of me using this crossbow I sat up in my deer stand for hours. I actually didn’t think that I was going to bag a deer at all during my little hunting excursion. However, right as I was about to pack it in a beautiful white tail came walking by. With little effort I was able to aim, let loose my arrow, and take him down with one shot. It went straight through his ribcage, exactly where I was aiming.
I couldn’t believe how on target it was! No other crossbow has impressed me this much when it comes to accuracy. Many are accurate but they’re still usually a little off from where my scope is aimed. Not this crossbow! Because of its amazing accuracy I was able to leave my tree stand a victor and bring venison home for supper.
PROS
- Very fast speed shooting
- Incredibly accurate
- I loved how lightweight it is and that it didn’t decrease maneuverability
- Very little vibration
CONS
- Doesn’t come with many accessories, just a scope, quiver, and loading string
The Best Crossbow for Sale
Like I stated before, I absolutely love all of these crossbows. Not all of them are created alike though. There is, of course, a crossbow that beat out all of the rest. This crossbow is hard hitting, fast, reliable, and made out of extremely high-quality materials.
When it came to choosing the best of the best crossbow I took a lot into consideration. One thing that I truly focused on was the feel of it in my arms. If it were too heavy, that was an instant turn off. I have a hard time with super heavy crossbows as they’re too hard to maneuver, their accuracy is usually off, and I feel like the crossbow is controlling my movements, not the other way around. In order for me to really appreciate a crossbow I have to be in complete control. That allows me to quickly maneuver if a deer is running by.
I also look at how fast the speed is and how hard it hits. If it can take down a deer with one single hard hit then I’m usually falling in love with that crossbow. But a fast speed does not trump accuracy, ever. So the crossbow that I chose as my favorite had to be fast and accurate.
Another thing that I looked at was weight versus recoil. I knew that I wanted a lighter crossbow but I also knew that if it were lighter and had a massive recoil it would be easy for me to lose control of my crossbow, something that I don’t like at all. Like I’ve mentioned, I have to have complete control over it in order for me to truly enjoy shooting it.
Noise was definitely another factor that was at the forefront of my decision making. If you’re up in a deer stand, take aim, and possibly miss, the last thing that you want is something that made so much noise it scared away all of the deer that are nearby.
So the crossbow had to be lightweight, little recoil, fast in speed, hard hitter, incredibly accurate and make as little noise as possible. Throw in some good safety features and you’ve got me hooked. So, what is the best crossbow for sale, in my expert opinion?
The Excalibur 4050 Matrix Mega Crossbow (Treestand,36.2- Inch) is the one that is my all time favorite. I couldn’t believe how it handled. The balance was fantastic! As I held the crossbow I could feel the accuracy of the shot before I even took it. It allowed me to have complete control over my aim, and as soon as I shot my arrow the crossbow stayed steady in my arms.
Much like I would expect out of a high-powered shotgun, I expected there to be massive recoil and vibration out of this crossbow because of how fast and hard hitting it was claimed to be. I was pleasantly surprised that there was little recoil and vibration. I didn’t feel like my shoulder was being attacked by the very device that I was using to hunt deer with.
I also enjoyed that there was less noise than most high-powered, high-speed, and hard hitting crossbows. It was fairly quiet and I didn’t feel like it was chasing the deer away as I sat perched in my tree stand. Since there was little recoil and vibration I also didn’t feel like it was trying to knock me out of said deer stand, a true win-win.
The Best Cheapest Crossbow
When it comes to choosing the best and cheapest crossbow, to me it’s about more than a dollar amount. To me it’s all about value. It’s about how much bang you are getting for your buck.
When I was deciphering between these crossbows to find the cheapest, yet best value, I did take features as well as price into consideration. The best cheapest crossbow had to still be made out of high-quality materials and could not have a bad reputation for lack of safety features and/or malfunction of the crossbow itself. It had to come with as many accessories as possible and be high-quality to make it on this list. So, what is the best cheapest crossbow?
The Barnett Ghost 410 CRT Crossbow Package is the cheapest. It’s a hard hitting crossbow for a decent price. It comes with quite a few accessories: 3 arrows, talon sling, rope cocking mechanism, quiver, and 3×32 scope. The accuracy was spot on and it shoots at a high speed of 410 feet per second. The 20″ axel to axel measurement increases ability to draw on the 185 pound draw weight. It is light at 7.3 pounds, fast, and accurate. The total package!
I have to say though, that even being the cheapest crossbow this one is not made of cheap and flimsy materials. I loved how strong and sturdy it was from the get-go. It comes with a lot of accessories, is lightweight, and easy to maneuver! You can’t beat the price for everything that you get with it.
Conclusion
The brand, style and color of the crossbow shouldn’t make a difference in regards to how well you use it. Each one of these crossbows provides their own punch and can assist you in your hunting pleasures. I loved using each and every one of these bows, and I know that you will too.
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