We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more >
These days you can spend $4,600 on a brand new crossbow, and there are plenty of premium bows available around $2,500. Those options have excellent scopes, shoot fast arrows, and represent the current pinnacle of engineering. Don’t get me wrong, I think they’re great, and if you’re a fan of hunting with a crossbow, you can justify the best.
But most people just need a good crossbow that is easy to shoot, accurate, and fills the tag without any fuss. If that’s what you’re looking for, I recommend looking at crossbows in the $800 to $1,2000 range. For me, this is the sweet spot for value. You’ll get a ton of premium features and performance at a very low price.
Here are two crossbows at that price-to-value sweet spot and one that is a few hundred dollars cheaper.
The two best crossbows you can actually buy
test results
| crossbow | price | accuracy | pace | weight | pull the trigger |
| Barnett Hyper Raptor T-Rex | $1,200 | 2.7 | 423 fps (399-grain arrow) | 9.2 | 2.2 |
| tenpoint titan x | $800 | 1.4 | 400 fps (410-grain arrows) | 8.5 | 4.4 |
| crossbow | trigger access | length of pull | Width | total length |
| Barnett Hyper Raptor T-Rex | 3.5 | 14 | 16.25 | 32.75 |
| tenpoint titan x | 3.2 | 14 | 16 | 34.75 |
Get it from Lancaster Archery Supply
Get it from Bass Pro Shops
TenPoint Titan It shot the smallest 50-yard group average (1.43 inches) in this year’s testing, despite it having a very heavy trigger (4.4 pounds).
The Titan X is easy to cock and load, but the process is slow because it uses a retractable sled. Cocking effort is minimal and effortless. Decocking is also a simple operation, and you’ll never have to aim the bag at the bed of your truck again. I can’t overstate the value you get from a crossbow that is easy to pick up and load. This makes practicing with your crossbow more enjoyable, which means you’ll shoot it more often. Even though these crossbows are accurate and flat shooting, it is still important to practice with them for good shot placement.
The trigger reach is quite long; It measures 3.2 inches while the Ravin R10 Pro measures 2 inches. I wear an XL glove, and the trigger reach fits me perfectly, so it wouldn’t be the best choice for a young hunter. One solution is to float your thumb instead of wrapping it around the pistol grip.
Overall, this is an affordable crossbow that is accurate and easy to load and unload. You can’t ask for anything more than that.
Get it from Midway USA
Get it from Lancaster Archery Supply
The Barnett Hyper Raptor T-Rex is an impressive crossbow, and it’s worth serious consideration if you want premium features at an affordable price.
It shot a 2.75-inch group average, which is respectable and quite accurate. It uses micro-diameter arrows that lightly click on the string. It is a railless design and, like all crossbows I tested, it was easy to cock and decock. Its cocking mechanism is similar to what you’ll find on more expensive options with some nice features. If you’re holding the crossbow level on a tripod or shooting rail, most crossbows require you to manually guide the firing mechanism until it clicks on the string, but the Raptor T-Rex fires on its own. Its crank handle clicks onto the stock with a magnet, making it easy to connect in the dark or with cold hands. Another unique feature is that the front end of this crossbow has a fold-out vertical grip.
Like the Tenpoint Titan X, this crossbow has a long trigger reach, but has a light and crisp trigger pull. Overall, this is a great option in this price range, especially if you like the idea of shooting micro diameter arrows.
check this out
- Length (without foot stirrup): 35.75″
- Width axle-to-axle (uncocked/cocked): 14.5″ / 11″
- Power Stroke: 12.5″
- Draw Weight: 190
- Weight: 7.3 pounds.
- Speed: 400 FPS (410 grain arrows)
- Includes: scope and three arrows
- Price: $600
Crossbows are like cellphones. What was once cutting-edge technology is now a relic of the past and therefore less valuable. The Wicked Ridge Commander is very similar to Tenpoint’s flagship crossbow from 10 years ago. The main differences are its speed and price. The Wicked Ridge Commander is faster than bows like the Tenpoint Stealth FXR (2015) and ⅓ the price after adjusting for inflation. What has not changed is the ability of this crossbow to fire small groups and reliably deliver arrows to critical areas.
Like the crossbow above, this one has a crank that is easy to use. It requires only 5 pounds of cocking effort. It does not have a de-cock function, so you will need to shoot it to lower the string.
Read Next: Best Crossbows, Put to the Test
final thoughts
Budget and mid-priced crossbows are so good these days that they are the logical choice for most hunters. Unless you really need a bow that shoots more than 440 fps or something ultra-compact, the above options have all the capabilities you need at a reasonable price.
