Best Crossbows of 2023

Each year, crossbows seem to get lighter, faster, and more compact. Manufacturers such as Ravin are pushing the 500 fps mark, while companies like Excalibur are redefining the follow-up shot. With all this impressive innovation, hunters and shooters are overwhelmed with options.

Crossbows are perfect for:

• Recreational shooting at the range
• Hunting whitetails and other game
• Individuals with injuries or physical challenges
• New hunters and shooters
• Kids who want to hunt but can't draw enough weight with a compound

Whatever your crossbow wants, Pyramyd AIR has you covered with a wide selection of the best archery equipment on the market.

Best Crossbows

As you decide which specs and features are the most important to you, these are some of the best crossbows for 2023:

• TenPoint Vapor RS470XERO: Fast, compact, and deadly, this crossbow comes equipped with a Garmin XERO X1i rangefinding scope to provide you with precise aiming points for the most accurate shot.
• Ravin R500: Ravin's fastest crossbow ever, the R500 sends arrows screaming downrange at 500 fps and measures just 3.6 inches wide when fully cocked.
• Barnett HyperTac 420: Built to fire Barnett's small-diameter HyperFlite arrows, this crossbow can reach speeds of up to 420 fps at an affordable price point.
• Centerpoint Wrath 430: Featuring a bullpup design, this crossbow boasts a longer power stroke for speeds of up to 430 fps.
• Excalibur TwinStrike: DualFire technology allows for a fast follow-up shot with dual match-grade frictionless triggers.

Best Hunting Crossbow

Product Details

The best crossbows for bowhunting, strike the perfect balance of performance, speed, and maneuverability without sacrificing safety. One great option which comfortably fits all of these requirements is the TenPoint Viper S400. Equipped with TenPoint's Micro-Trac Barrel and zero-creep S1 trigger, this crossbow boasts impressive downrange accuracy. It's incredibly compact and lightweight but still manages to generate speeds of up to 400 fps. The ACUslide cocking system, dry fire inhibitor, and safety wings ensure safe operation.

Why We Like It

At just 32 inches long and 7.2 inches axle to axle when cocked, the Viper S400 is TenPoint's shortest forward-draw hunting crossbow ever. It tips the scales at 7.5 pounds, making it a great choice for mobile hunting or maneuvering in a ground blind. The Viper S400 features TenPoint's ACUslide system for safe, silent cocking and decocking in the field as well as the RangeMaster Pro Scope for optimal precision in low-light conditions. It can reach speeds of up to 400 fps with repeatable accuracy. And it achieves all this at a reasonable price point.

Things to Consider

While 400 fps and 135 foot-pounds of kinetic energy is plenty to take down most game, the Viper S400 isn't TenPoint's fastest or most powerful crossbow. There are also more compact, lightweight options on the market if you're smaller framed or have trouble shouldering a crossbow. As with any compound crossbow, there are lots of moving parts. So if you're looking for an easy-to-use, maintenance-free option, you might be better suited for a recurve crossbow. The Viper S400 falls in the mid-range price-wise - it's not strictly a bargain find.

Best Crossbow for the Money

Product Details

While you could splurge for all the bells and whistles, a quality, affordable crossbow can still get the job done. If you've got a tight budget and want a performance crossbow at a bargain price, the CenterPoint Heat 425 just might be the best value.

Featuring CenterPoint's Whisper Silencing System for reduced vibration and noise, the Heat 425 provides deadly stealth with speeds of up to 425 fps. This versatile crossbow can provide a customized fit for any shooter with an adjustable foregrip, cheekpiece, and MIL-SPEC AR-style buttstock. It weighs in at 8 pounds and measures 12 inches wide when fully cocked.

Why We Like It

Devastating speeds above the 400 fps threshold are almost unheard of at its price point. The Heat 425's full-bearing cam system not only allows for impressive velocity but a smooth draw cycle as well. Equipped with adjustability, safety features, and near-silent performance, this relatively compact crossbow is a great fit for just about any hunter or shooter.

Things to Consider

While the Heat 425 package comes with a rope cocker, upgrading to the Power Draw package for a 70% easier draw will add a bit more to the purchase. At 8 pounds, 36 inches long, and 15.75 inches wide uncocked, this crossbow is middle of the road on weight and overall footprint, so you could find something more maneuverable if that's a priority for you.

Best Crossbow for Firearm Enthusiasts

Product Details

If you're a firearm fan ready to dip your toes in the crossbow waters, check out the Ravin R29X Sniper Package. While some crossbows lack the narrow footprint and balance of a rifle, the Ravin R29X is a compact 6 inches cocked and easy to maneuver at just 6.75 pounds. The ergonomic grip makes this crossbow comfortable to handle, while the integrated Silent Cocking System eliminates the loud, difficult draw. Firearm enthusiasts will also appreciate the tactical crossbow scope mounted on the lightning-fast Ravin R29X in the Sniper Package.

Why We Like It

The Ravin R29X is lightweight, compact, and fast with speeds reaching up to 450 fps. The Sniper Package makes the perfect fit for firearm enthusiasts, with a tactical scope on a jack plate elevation mount for easy adjustments from 20-200 yards with impressive accuracy.

Things to Consider

If you're used to the unmatched speeds of firearms, even 450 fps can seem slow and you might want to choose one of the fastest rigs which can reach 500 fps. The Ravin R29X doesn't offer the adjustability or trigger upgrades of some other crossbows, so firearm enthusiasts might prefer a rig with an adjustable stock or precision trigger.

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