Before finding out who makes the best crossbows nowadays, let’s have a short run of history. It is also good to learn a thing or two where it came from aside from learning just how to shoot it.

Crossbows appeared long before Jesus Christ, but in Europe they started playing a significant role in the end of middle Ages. In fact, they stated the dawn of the chivalry: crossbows were able to pierce armor of knights easily from a distance of 150 meters. Wounds they made were so horrible that Catholic Church proclaimed crossbows as unfair weapons and forbade to use it. Still, crossbow plays its role in the modern warfare. Due to latest developments, it became quiet and light, sometimes it can be also folded. In World War II, Germans used crossbows as rocket launchers. We have also compiled a list of the top crossbow picks. It will show you the best crossbows to choose from right now.

Crossbow is a deadly weapon. You can use it for hunting, for sport or just as a sort of hobby. It’s much easier to find a place to practice, compared to firearms. It’s also quite special and does not require a lot of time to learn, compared to a bow. However, it can be hard to choose a right crossbow to start so here is a brief overview on several crossbow brands that I came across so far:

 

Barnett Crossbows:

Barnett Crossbows is a US company and this is by far, the most popular crossbow maker in the world. Reason? Well, they provide weapons with the best value for money. If these are not the best crossbows ever made, then the best among the most affordable. You can get a reliable weapon for $700-800. Their Barnett Ghost 410 CRT Crossbow is frequently considered to be the best crossbow in the world: light, 400-feet-per-second (FPS) firing velocity (usually it’s around 350), quiet and for a fair price of around $900. Barnett Crossbows is one those companies which offer a 5-year warranty, a rare case actually as most companies only over a year.

The main disadvantage of Barnett’s production is considered to be the materials they use – some claim that they are of worse quality than the crossbows of TenPoint or Excalibur and tend to break more frequently, for example, in times of blank shot. However Barnett, in any case, is a solid and clever choice.

 

TenPoint:

TenPoint is another company from USA, but with another perspective on crossbow production. Here, quality takes the first place as this is the most reliable crossbow maker on the market; the classic one. Construction of their weapons is so good that in most cases, the company gives a lifetime warranty for any detail that avoids any mechanical influence and 5-year warranty for any other. One of the their most-known products is TenPoint Stealth SS – really compact and light (33,5 inches and 6,8 pounds) weapon with strong characteristics, which costs around $1200.

Yes – that’s the main con of TenPoint’s production – they offer probably the most expensive crossbows in the world. It’s also been said that quality of their production decreased since 2004, but it’s still a very respectable company.

 

Excalibur:

Excalibur is Canadian crossbow maker and they are doing their best for more than 30 years now. Their production can be characterized as a blend of high quality and high price and they are best known for their recurve crossbows. Their crossbows are known for accuracy and for many years, they’ve been taking first prizes at international competitions. They are simple to learn and are popular among hunters and villagers. A reasonable crossbow can cost around $850. One of the most popular is a recurve Excalibur Matrix 380, small, quiet and very deadly (380 FPS) for a fair price of $850.

Some say that the draw weight is usually too high (200-260 pounds) but it depends on the model. Anyway, Excalibur provides solid, reliable weapons, not some funny toys for masquerade.

 

Carbon Express:

Carbon Express is famous, first of all, for producing arrows and bolts. The main point of Carbon Express production is that it’s really customizable and adjustable; as the company offers a huge variety of accessories to make usage of crossbows easier for everyone. Costs are not that high and the middle price can be around $700. These weapons are good for hunting and have 5-year warranty. Taking a look at one of the finest examples, Carbon Express Intercept Supercoil, one can notice that it’s fast, powerful and accurate and costs $650.

Speaking of disadvantages, it takes a long time to assemble and has a lower quality, comparing to brands already considered.

 

Arrow Precision:

Not the most popular, but a good brand for beginners is Arrow Precision. Their production is quite cheap and can be a good investment if you want to know how it feels to shoot a crossbow. Prices are no higher than $500. Their most popular model is Arrow Precision Inferno Fury that costs around $170. This will be enough for a small hunting game. Materials are good: crossbow is quite durable and light and this is the best you can get for this price.
However, velocity is quite low – only 235 FPS, and arrows are not top-quality, so no big-game-hunting with this. We’ve taken a small look at different brands: the most popular, most reliable, most affordable. I hope that this will help you in choosing the right crossbow and following your “call of the wild”. Always remember, a crossbow is a serious weapon and one should follow all the safety instructions and recommendations. Have fun shooting!

 

 

After years of hunting, I have come to think that it is a relaxing and frustrating activity at the same time. Why? Well, after thorough thinking, it all came down to three main elements: the instrument that you are using, the period of the day in which you are using it and the will that you put into the process. The will, there is no question about that; I have it. The instrument, I had that down with my crossbow and its accessories.

However, considering all these background details, we all know that one of the best methods in achieving your goal in hunting is using a good weapon – in this case, a crossbow. And the most challenging part of using it is figuring how to sight it in. Of course, if you are a beginner, it might take some time. Even the professionals still ask themselves from time to time: how to sight in a crossbow?

One of the most important aspects when using a crossbow for the first time is shooting 50-100 arrows before you’ll begin to sight your scope. This will teach you how to shoot tight groups of arrows from a 20-yard distance, even if they will land in the desired point or not. The good news is that the procedure will be the same, no matter what scope you’ll get. However, you should make sure that the one that you’ll choose will have some good optics.

1. Set your trajectory

The trajectory refers to the distance that the arrow travels from its starting point, the crossbow, to its target as soon as it is dispatched from the bowstring. In its road to the sight, the arrow is constantly slowing down. This means that the further it travels, the faster it can fall to the ground.

Now that you are already accustomed to your crossbow, the first thing that you need to know about sighting it in is having a flat trajectory. Thus, the arrow should intersect with the sight twice a time, so that you will have a center hold on the target without holding too much over or under.

2. Always make use of the crossbow sight compensation of trajectory

Given their installed height, the sights on a crossbow compensate for arrow drop. But concerning the fact that not all the sights are installed at the same height, not all of them will shoot the same trajectory, apparently. This is the moment in which we should mention one of the biggest advantages of a scope sight: they can be raised high above the flight by installing some higher rings. This will change the crossbow sight and will modify the trajectory into a flatter one.

3. Don’t forget to count in these terms when you sight in a crossbow

• Point Blank Range – first point in where the line of sight intersects with the arrow’s path
• Mid-Range Rise – highest point in the trajectory in between the true zero and point blank range
• True Zero – second point where the line of sight intersects with the arrow’s path in the arrow’s trajectory arc
• Maximum Point Blank Range – the mid-range’s height and the arrow drop beyond the true zero, both equaling in measure

4. Looking at the bigger picture

Now that we discussed about the technical issues, let’s look at other perspectives. Let’s say that we want to hunt a deer of around 120 pounds. Its heart/lung size would approximately have an area of 8 inches long. Thus, you’ll sight the crossbow’s maximum blank point range drop on 3 inches and the mid-range rise of 3 inches. Then, you should hold the dead center of the target. At this moment, if the sight setting is properly made, the arrow should strike the vitals of the deer.

5. How to get maximum effectiveness on a crossbow range

The maximum effective hunting range combines any target that is beyond maximum point blank range. For this, you should raise the crosshairs and the crossbow to adjust the additional arrow drop, keeping the target in the crosshairs.

With these being said, one of the most important aspects when using a crossbow for the first time to make the best out of its sighting is to practice. If you’re passionate enough about what you’re doing and if this is really a leisurely activity for you, then there is no problem for you to learn.

I’ve been using professionally-designed crossbows for many years now and I know their immense power. I know the importance of having a well-designed piece of equipment that will operate exactly as you need it to, when you need it to and I know most of my readers will feel the same way. But I can’t help remembering back to my early days. The times when I would make bows and crossbows from everyday items found around my home. I even made one in school from a ruler, a biro, blue tack and elastic bands. Back then I didn’t have the same passion that I do now, or the money to buy the same kind of high tech equipment that I use today. All I had was a massive desire to own a crossbow. So I used to build them for myself.

I want to share this with you. Because I remember how much fun it was making this back in the day. But I also need to warn you of the dangers of doing this. Obviously you know that crossbows are potentially lethal. Make sure you follow the instructions exactly as they are laid out and use protective equipment while building and using this.

Feel free to watch this fun video, as it also gives a nice overview over how a crossbow actually works.

What You Are Going To Need

Here is a list of items that you are going to need. Feel free to substitute them if you have to, but make sure you have all the pieces necessary so that the crossbow will function properly and be safe to handle.

• A 2x2inch Piece of solid timber about 38 inches long
• An extra 8inch piece of timber (for the grip)
• A 1-inch thick piece of timber or pine, roughly 8inch x 4inch (used for the butt)
• A chisel
• A handsaw
• A drill
• A hammer
• A file
• Sandpaper
• V.C glue
• A 36inch piece of Plastic Pipe. 1-inch
• Two wheel-pulleys
• Small Screws
• A length of rubber rope
• Steel Wire
• Masking/Duct Tape

Now that you know everything you are going to need to build this weapon let’s get into the mechanics of the design.

Construction

ACTION 1 – Body

1. Take the piece of solid timber and hold it into your arm like you would a large gun. Feel it so that it fits nicely and draw a line where it fits nicely into your grip, not too long so that your arms are stretched out, but not too short so that it won’t have enough power when completed. When you find the right length, mark a line with a pencil and cut the timber to the right length using the saw.
2. Pick up the main body of timber again and hold it as before. Mark with a pencil the right place to put the trigger mechanism. It shouldn’t be too far away to reach, but not too close that you might bump it accidentally. Feel what is right for you and mark it out. Draw a one by four inch rectangle at the upper side of the body, in the center across the width. This is where your trigger-mechanism will be.
3. Cut out the rectangle using your tools. File it back with the file and sand it down so that it’s nice and smooth.
4. Using your tools, carve a slot across the width of the body, over the top of the newly carved trigger-mechanism hole. Place it about one-third towards the edge of your trigger hole that is furthest away from you. This is where the drawstring will rest once the crossbow has been cocked. Sand it down afterwards to smooth out any rough edges and remove splinters.
5. Cut a one-quarter inch deep groove along the length of the entire body from the trigger-mechanism to the top edge, down the very center. This will hold the bolt in place nicely.
6. Attach the extra timber, to be used for the butt at the edge closest to you. You can cut it to be the right fit for your body. Some people will suit a larger handle, some a smaller one, but around six inches will work fine. Glue can stick it in place or you can screw or nail it in.

ACTION 2 – Building The Bow

1. Measure the plastic pipe to a length of thirty-six inches.
2. Mark a slot into each end on one side of the pipe using a saw. Make sure the slots are the same length, around one inch.
3. Screw a small screw into each slot and attach a wheel-pulley to each one using the steel wire.
4. Cut a two-meter length of the rubber rope and secure it to the left-hand screw. Pull it across the length of the bow and thread it through the right wheel-pulley. Bring it across to the other end and thread it through the left wheel-pulley. Then pull it across to the other side and secure it to the other screw. Don’t pull the thread too tight when threading it through the pulleys and tying it to the wood screws. You need it to be loose enough to pull it back up the length of the stock to fire the crossbow. If it is too loose just cut off any excess thread before you tie it in place.

ACTION 3 – Attaching Bow and Stock

1. Cut a horizontal slot at the top edge in the body away from the trigger-mechanism end. The slot must be circular and should suit the Plastic Pipe securely. Use your tools and sand it down afterwards, checking regularly against the Plastic Pipe to ensure the right fit.
2. Place the Pipe into the slot with the tape. Make sure the pipe is lined up at the central position so that each end protrudes at an equal length.
3. Make sure that only the top piece of rubber rope is along the upper side of the body. The other pieces should be left underneath so as not to interrupt the bolt when you fire it.
4. Check the crossbow by pulling back the rubber rope all the way to the slot that you cut on top of the body by the trigger-mechanism hole. The rope should sit in place without you holding it. If it doesn’t just cut the slot thicker.

ACTION 4 – Building The Trigger-Mechanism

1. Sketch an L-shape onto the thinner 1-inch thick piece of rectangular wood.
2. Make sure the bottom flat line is slightly less in length than the length of the box.
3. Cut out the L-shape.
4. Cut a one-eighth inch slot across the width of the bottom part. Looking at this letter L the slot would be in the middle, on the underside of the shortest length, across the width.
5. Insert a one-eighth hole in the corner of the L-shape, at the right angle.
6. Use a nail to hammer the L-shape into the cut-out trigger-mechanism box of the body. Make sure the slot is facing up and the longest length is facing down. The L-shape will be pointing towards you if you are holding the crossbow to fire it.
7. Take the eight inch piece of timber for the grip and cut/sand it to the right shape to fit snugly into your grip. This will sit underneath the body to give you a secure enough grip to hold the weapon. Take the glue or a hammer and nails and secure it in place behind the trigger-mechanism.

STEP 5 – Securing Crossbow-Bolts

1. Your options are to buy professionally made crossbow bolts or build them yourself. You need pencil shaped pieces of timber that are pointed at one end. Cut them to the right width for the slot along the length of body and cut a slot in the butt-end for the string to sit against.

STEP 6 – The Fun Part, Testing Your New Crossbow

1. A hay bale will work best if you have access to one. Set up your target about twenty meters away from you and go for your life!

Remember to wear protective equipment when using this crossbow or any crossbow for that matter and never, ever point it directly at anyone. If done right, you’ve now got hours and hours of fun target practice ahead of you. You can read much more about crossbows here.

 

In the world of archery, there are tons of bows to choose from. These types of bows even have sub-classes of their own so it can be real tricky to choose the right bow for you. We’re going to narrow down that list, what would suit you better? A crossbow or compound bow?

Overview

I have used both bows, but not every brand of each type. So, this is just a quick overview of the qualities each bow possesses. The crossbow and compound bow are commonly used in hunting and are both excellent bows; no bow is more superior to the other. One of the obvious qualities we can see is that the crossbow’s limbs are mounted in a horizontal fashion compared to the compound bow’s vertical limbs. Also, the compound bow’s string is pulled and locked into place, just waiting for the pressure on the trigger. Meanwhile the compound bow may not have a lock to pull back the string all the way; it does have a ‘let off’. The let off literally lets off some of the draw weight, meaning if my draw weight is 80 pounds, after the let off, I’ll only need to maintain 20 pounds.

Loading Time – this is the time where you prepare to fire an arrow or you load the bow.

Crossbow

• Mostly uses a crank and only the string is drawn back.
• The arrow would go in after the string is locked in.
• Can be time consuming, especially if you go hunting and miss the first shot.

Compound bow

• The arrow gets loaded first and adjusted until you hear a soft click.
• If you were to aim or shoot at a target, you draw back the string just like any other bow, with the exception of the let off.
• Loading the next shot only takes a moment.

Winner: The compound bow. I’d be frustrated to load the crank on a crossbow as I watch the game get away!

Draw Back – the moment when you draw back the string and you’re ready to shoot at a target.

Crossbow

• Once the arrow is loaded, you can shoot at the target when you pull the trigger.
• Able to walk around and aim without anything else to do.
• Comes with a safety mode so you won’t accidentally hurt yourself or your companions.

Compound Bow

• The draw back before the aim requires the right stance.
• When the string is drawn back, some of the weight will only be let off but that doesn’t mean it’s locked in position.
• Immediately going into proper stance might scare off game, not going into proper stance will leave you with shots miles away from the target.

Winner: The crossbow. In a hunt, I don’t want to be always drawing back the string while tracking down game. The crossbow can let me carry it while loaded, and then I can shoot it just like a rifle. That’s easy!

Weight – this is the actual weight of the bows and not their draw weight.

Crossbow

• On average, the crossbow weighs around 7 or 8 pounds

Compound Bow

• A compound bow can weight around to 4.5 pounds.

Winner: Who wants to carry a lot of weight all the time? No one. So compound bow it is.

Accuracy – basically, how right on point is that shot of yours?

Crossbow

• Adjust your sight and position.
• Once your eyes are on the target, safety off and fire.
• When your aim is right, then you have your bull’s-eye.

Compound Bow

• When the target is on sight, make sure to do all the correct adjustments.
• You must be in proper stance even while aiming.
• When your stance is even a little bit off, then you’ll most likely miss your target

Winner: Well for surprise targets, like in hunting, I’d choose the crossbow.

Conclusion

The bottom line is, no matter how easy or impractical a bow is for me, that doesn’t mean the same will apply to you. So have fun! Try out different bows, miss and make mistakes; the worst thing that could happen is you’ll learn from experience. Then you can share these experiences with others just as I shared mine with you.

What is a broadhead?

A broadhead, also known as an arrowhead, is attached to an arrow shaft using hot glue, then shot from the crossbow. There are cases in which the broadhead is slid over the end of the shaft or the tip of a shaft itself is sharpened and used. It could also come as separate pieces made of metal or another hard material.

Nowadays, there are many styles, makes and models of hunting broadheads available out there. And like most of the products, you need to pay a higher price if you want a broadhead that is built with the sharpest blades, tightest tolerances and that flies straight and true. These most expensive ones have a long track record of success which cannot be denied. If you are still asking why you would need a crossbow broadhead, I’m telling you, you can’t just enjoy your crossbow without it.

Different Types of Broadheads

There are three different types in general and each one of them can be used in crossbows and regular bows.

• Removable Blade Broadheads – Blades can be replaced on this type so you do not have to throw it if there’s a damage on the blades.

• Fixed Blade Broadheads – If you are a traditional style bow hunter who uses a compound bow, you are most probably using this type of broadhead. In this type, the blades are rigid and unmovable, usually broad. Although some have screw-in type ferrules which can be used with adaptors that are placed on either inside or outside of the arrow shafts, these are usually designed to be glued on the arrow shaft.

• Mechanical/Expandable Broadheads – This type has blades that are retracted before it is shot. The retracted blades only deploy when contact with the target is made as its cutting edges are designed to wound the target.Mechanical broadheads fly better, however, they do not get to penetrate the target as much as the other types would since it already lost its kinetic energy from deploying the blades.

What To Consider in Buying A Crossbow Broadhead

Now you are planning to buy a crossbow broadhead; but the thing is, you are still confused which one to get. First of all, consider the four factors that would make your broadhead the best for your crossbow and for you:

• Shooting accuracy – When it comes to close to field point accuracy, how well does it perform?

• Blood trail – After shooting an animal, how much blood does it leave on the ground? Remember, if the blood trail is larger, it is easier to track your prey.

• Penetration – How well did it penetrate your prey? How well did it pass through your targeted animal?

• Wound channel – How much is the amount of damage on your shot animal’s vitals?

Now, after carefully considering these factors, we have compiled three crossbow broadheads that we found to be better than the rest – along with their pros and cons:

#3 Carbon Express XT Dual Blade Serrated Crossbow Broadhead – This broadhead with six cutting edges made it to our number three spot. Its serrated blades do not only stay sharp, but also stay undamaged even when your arrow gets destroyed after hitting a prey’s shoulder blades!

Pros:

• Creates maximum damage with its six cutting edges, creating up to 250% greater wound opening compared to traditional broadheads
• Excellent field point accuracy
• Features a 1 1/8” cutting diameter
• Stainless steel, serrated blades
• Aircraft-grade aluminum ferrule
• Also works with aluminum and carbon crossbolts

Cons:

• Cannot be used on a compound bow
• Doesn’t come with field points for practice

#2 Huntingdoor 3-Fixed Blade Archery Broadheads, 125-grain – Mainly known as a product on the cheap side, these broadheads from Huntingdoor give you more than what your money bargained for. Its extremely sharp blades let it perform almost the same as other high-dollar broadheads.

Pros:

• Fits most kinds of arrows
• Extremely sharp blades for easy take down of prey
• Features a swept wing blade to deliver superior flight
• Heavy duty 3-blade design to improve strength and accuracy than other broadheads
• Great precision and piercing power

Cons:

• Most people who tried it complained about not being durable enough
• You get what you paid for; heads aren’t made of expensive materials

#1 Rage Crossbow X 2-Blade Broadhead, 100-grain – With a 2-inch plus cutting diameter and a shock collar for proper retention of the blade, this broadhead secured the number one spot. It also features Ferrule Alignment Technology or F.A.T. Along with its tough and razor-sharp .035 inch stainless steel blades.

Pros:

• Very sharp and tough blades
• Simple design, there is not much for you to go wrong with
• Blood trail is incredible
• Entrance wounds are effective and very large; exit wounds are almost as large
• Blades open not from the front, but from the rear; allowing it to open before it reaches the target

Cons:

• Expensive
• Practice head which was included is not that useful
• Blades can open easily, even at the wrong time, posing danger and inconvenience

If you do not agree with my top three choices and still feel the need to learn more in choosing a crossbow broadhead, here are some tips that you might find useful:

• Do not attempt to use broadheads with your crossbow if they are lighter than what the crossbow manufacturer recommends. If you have broadheads from major brands like Barnett, Diamond and Bowtech, you will see that they specs listed for their products. Why? Well, if you do not follow precautions and safety tips properly, you will not only damage your bow and it might lead to a severe personal injury.
• Get a broadhead wrench. It will not only make your screwing-in process easier, but it will also make it safer. Do not be one of those people who hurt themselves in the screwing-in process, rather than when they are out for action.
• In my opinion, it is always better to spend a few bucks more to buy from an established manufacturer with ensured quality and reliability than saving these bucks to get a cheaper product that might cause you harm in the future.

When choosing a broadhead, remember that it should not only fit your crossbow, but also your needs! Still looking for a Crossbow? Then check out our top crossbow picks.