Best Crossbows For Hunting, Survival & The Apocalypse

Looking for the best crossbow? Well, you’ve come to the right place.

Here you’ll find honest and unbiased crossbow reviews.

We cover only the best-selling and top-rated crossbows available on the market today.

Our reviews and guides will help you make an informed decision.

So you can feel confident about which is best for your needs.

Whether you want one for leisure, hunting, or sports, this guide will help you find the right one.

Because these weapons come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and pulling mechanisms.

And most importantly, they all have different calibers and shooting speeds.

So today, I’m going to cover the following topics:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Crossbows For Sale Today

Why You Get A Crossbow

The Best Crossbow Features

Different Types You Can Choose

How Much Draw Weight Is Enough?

Crossbow Legality Q&A

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Best Crossbows For Sale Today

Like choosing any other survival gear, you can spend as much or as little as you want on these bad boys.

And, like most things in life, you get what you pay for.

If you have a large bankroll, go for a top-of-the-line model. You can expect high performance and unmatched quality.

On the other hand, if you’re trying to stretch every dollar, you need to look out for deals and be ready to do your homework.

We’ve searched and found some of the best options at every price point.

Starting with some lower-budget models that can get you into this sport:

↓ Barnett Jackal Review With Muzzy Broadheads ↓

↓ CenterPoint Tormentor Whisper 380 Crossbow Review ↓

↓ Southern Crossbow Risen XT AR-15 Style Deluxe Crossbow ↓

Now let’s move up a bit in the price range.

Next are some quality crossbows at a medium price:

↓ Wicked Ridge Invader g3 Crossbow Review ↓

↓ Barnett Whitetail Hunter II Review ↓

↓ Barnett Whitetail Pro STR Crossbow ↓

If you’re willing to pay up for higher-end technology, these best of the best take you up a level in quality:

↓ TenPoint Titan SS Crossbow Review ↓

↓ Fisix FFL Review ↓

↓ Excalibur Matrix Bulldog 400 ↓

Finally, if you absolutely have to have the best, here are some top-of-the-line options with ALL the features:

↓ Shooting The New Ten Point NitroX Crossbow ↓

↓ New Scorpyd Aculeus Review ↓

Reasons Why You Should Get A Crossbow

The crossbow excels as both a self-defense weapon and a hunting weapon.

But as survival sites, we tend to look at things with an eye toward “worst-case” SHTF-type scenarios.

That’s why I like this video from Canadian Prepper. He does a nice job laying out all the survival justifications for owning one:

↓ SHTF Arsenal: The Crossbow ↓

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our

Ultimate Survival Gear Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

The Best Crossbow Features

When it comes time to choose, many competing models and claims exist.

It can be daunting to navigate all the options and decide which fits your needs best.

To help narrow the field, you should consider the following features:

Arrow Speed

Speed is king. Faster arrow speeds translate to more powerful shots and penetrating power.

A compound crossbow can deliver these high speeds much easier than a recurve model. But don’t forget to consider the size and strength of the bolts.

The heavier the bolt, the more momentum it will have to carry through a target.

A high-powered compound crossbow can snap a light, poorly constructed bolt. So make sure you buy ones rated to the task.

“Overall Weight”

As with anything you’re carrying around the woods, weight matters.

A lightweight unit may be easier to carry, but it won’t dampen out the vibrations caused when you fire a bolt.

On the other hand, a heavy unit may feel like a boat anchor but shoot smooth as silk.

So, it’s best to think about the hunting or shooting you plan to do.

Whether you stalk prey on foot or wait in a blind or both, it’s best to think about the intended use before you “pull the trigger” on a purchase.

“Draw Weight”

“Draw weight” is NOT the same as “overall weight.” “Overall weight” refers to how much weight you’ll be carrying.

While “Draw weight” measures the force needed to pull the string back into position.

A higher draw weight means it’s harder to prep the crossbow for shooting. But the higher draw weight results in higher arrow speeds.

That’s why many offer cocking mechanisms to help offset the difficulty of intense draw weights.

Draw-assist mechanisms are popular, especially for those who are older or disabled.

Noise

Compared to rifles and shotguns, just about any crossbow is relatively quiet. But you may be looking for something extremely quiet and stealthy.

Perhaps you want a model to avoid spooking wild game or to help conceal your presence.

A recurve crossbow with parallel limbs is the quietest.

This type has fewer moving parts, and the forces are more balanced. This translates into fewer parts in motion to create noise in the first place.

Also, you can add stabilizers and string silencers to help reduce the “twang” of any bowstring.

Build Quality

Crossbows, especially compound models, are mechanical works of art.

The materials, precision, and assembly all contribute to the device’s reliability, accuracy, and power.

If the manufacturer skimps on any of these, your experience as a user suffers.

Manufacturer / Brand Name

As with anything else, there is something to be said for long-lasting brand names.

A name is not the last word in quality. But a brand with a loyal following is most likely built on a quality product.

The same goes for outstanding customer support.

Local Knowledge

Stop by your local archery ranges and shops. Ask around for the best recommendations from other shooters and professionals.

Take the time to shoot any models you’re considering buying. Get help fitting and setting up your crossbow after purchase.

You’ll learn much more about how to fine-tune things and get some great shooting tips.

Different Types Of Crossbows You Can Choose

These have come a long way since Leonardo da Vinci drew prototypes in his notebooks.

There are designs for various uses and at all levels of technology.

Pistol-Grip Crossbows

One-handed, pistol-grip crossbows are a niche market.

These are mostly for target shooting. Though perhaps you could hunt small game like rabbits with one with some practice.

But few will be able to take down larger game like deer.

Recurve Crossbows

This is the most uncomplicated design.

Whether made of wood or modern materials, they have few moving parts. This makes them inherently lighter and more durable.

Many recurve designs can be serviced in the field if a string breaks or is knocked out of alignment.

They are also usually cheaper than more technologically advanced compound models. They are also quieter when fired since they don’t have as many moving parts.

The most significant disadvantages are the massive draw weights and slower arrow speeds.

Compound Crossbows

The main difference between a compound and recurve crossbows is noticeable at first sight.

There are multiple pulleys and cams on the ends of each limb of a compound bow. In addition to several wraps of cable around them as well.

This sophisticated design allows the bow to “let off” the draw weight once you reach a certain point. This makes it far easier to cock the firing mechanism and still get fast arrow speeds.

Plus, the limbs of a compound bow are often much shorter than a recurve model. This allows for a more compact design with better maneuverability.

They often have much higher arrow speeds; thus, the resulting Kinetic Energy of the bolts is much higher. However, they do have some significant drawbacks.

First off, they’re louder, heavier, and more of a challenge to maintain.

In fact, a broken string can be dangerous as it unwinds through the cams and can not be serviced in the field.

Reverse Draw Crossbows

These are primarily compound designs with the bowing mechanism reversed.

This results in a better-balanced weapon. This means it’s more comfortable and maneuverable than its design predecessor.

Plus, they fire faster arrow speeds than most compound models and at reduced noise levels.

Here’s a nice introduction video on the different technologies.

This video only scratches the surface, but if you’re new to this world, it’s a must-watch:

↓ CSE-Crossbow Bow Technologies ↓

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How Much Draw Weight?

The first question most people ask is, “How much draw weight is enough?”

Honestly, it depends on what you want to do. Modern crossbows are built for one of two purposes: target shooting and hunting.

1. Target Shooting

Lower draw weight and lighter arrows are perfectly acceptable. Lower draw weights and reduced recoil will often be more accurate for shooting.

Ever notice that all the Olympic sharpshooters are using .22cal rifles? Same reason.

2. Hunting

Accurate shooting is always essential, but so is knock-down power if you’re hunting.

As you hunt larger and larger game, the energy required to take down the animal increases. An arrow must penetrate the skin, muscle, and bone to hit vital organs.

This is measured as the kinetic energy (KE) of the weapon. This is calculated using arrow speed and mass.

Higher speeds and higher mass result in a greater KE. This means you can shoot a heavy arrow slower or a lighter arrow faster to achieve the same KE.

The trend has been towards lighter, faster arrows in the past several decades. That’s because they fire further and reach the target faster. Often before the animal hears or realizes it got shot.

Most manufacturers design their hunting models around medium to large-sized game.

In North America, most hunting is shy of the biggest game, such as moose and bear.

With that said, an arrow speed of over 300 fps can efficiently dispatch a whitetail deer. If you’re hunting larger game, faster speeds (and heavier broadheads) would be necessary.

Here’s a helpful video that provides even more details on setup, and kinetic energy:

↓ How Much Kinetic Energy Do You Need To Hunt Dear, Bears…and Moose? ↓

Crossbow Legality Questions & Answers

One of the most common questions is whether they’re legal to own and use.

Unfortunately, I can’t give you legal advice. That’s why you should look up local regulations for where you live before finalizing your purchase.

Depending on where you live, it may be treated more like a firearm than a bow, while some states only allow them for hunting with disability permits.

This website provides helpful information by state for crossbow hunting.

Final Thoughts

A crossbow can be a great hunting tool. It combines the quiet approach of archery with easier aiming and firing.

You don’t run out of ammo (as long as you recover your arrows), and they can last for years with proper care and maintenance.

There are so many models on the market that there’s certainly one that fits your budget and needs.

It’s worth considering a crossbow for your next hunting season!

Jason K.

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