devserv.eu

Archery targets come in all shapes, sizes, and materials. Reliable models are durable enough to withstand thousands of shots and are helpful tools for improving shooting consistency and accuracy. Each year, I eagerly anticipate the release of new targets, as they are the heart of my archery practice. Like all archery gear, targets have come a long way. From sizeable bag targets designed to stop high-fps shafts to self-healing foam blocks, cubes, and spheres—I shoot them all. Not to mention the realistic 3D animal targets that are perfect for building the ultimate home archery range.

I am also lucky enough to test almost every flagship compound bow that hits the market yearly. This, coupled with shooting thousands of arrows annually, allows me to rigorously test various targets. Below are six of my favorites broken down into different categories. All of these selections are tried and true and make up some of the best archery targets on the market today. Here’s a closer look at each. 

• Best Overall/3D Target: Rinehart 1/3 Scale Signature Elk
• Best Bag Target: Yellow Jacket MOD Pro
• Best Block/Cube Target: Block Infinity Archery Target
• Best Travel Target: Morrell High Roller Foam Target
• Best Budget Target: Morrell Yellow Jacket YJ-425 Field Point Bag Archery Target
• Delta McKenzie Bighorn Sheep 3D Archery Target

How We Picked the Best Archery Targets

Testing targets isn’t rocket science. You shoot them with lots of arrows and see how they perform. Each of the targets in this article was tested for stopping power, longevity, and overall build. The foam targets were shot with field points, fixed-blade broadheads, mechanical broadheads, and hybrid heads. Each target was shot for at least six months and several for over a year. Targets branded with a maximum fsp rating were tested at that speed and above. All the targets, except for the Delta McKenzie Big Horn Sheep 3-D target, were shot with a compound bow and a crossbow. Targets were shot in various environmental conditions and at ranges between 10 and 120 yards. Here’s how they performed.

Best Archery Targets: Reviews & Recommendations

Best Overall Target: Rinehart 1/3 Scale Signature Elk

Specs

• Dimensions: 38″ x 44″(28-inch shoulder height)
• Weight: 21 pounds

Pros

• Real-life sculpted features
• Replaceable foam insert
• Compound and crossbow compatible
• Self-healing Solid Signature Foam

Cons

• Expensive

Anatomically reduced to 1/3 the size of a 600-pound 6×6 bull elk, this target sports a replaceable core and stands up to the elements. I appreciate the lifelike detail, and I promise that shooting smaller-sized 3D targets like this one will boost your shooting confidence. 

This target is a staple to any backyard range. You can shoot for a score with 12-, 10-, and 8-ring scoring rings or simply shoot to kill and work on punching the lungs. A 3D target breaks up the monotony of pounding dots and will make you a better shot and bowhunter. Though the $300-plus price tag is a drawback, in the world of 3D targets, these smaller models are cheaper, and you can stack several of them in a backyard range.

Best Bag Target: Yellow Jacket MOD Pro

Specs

• Dimensions: 29″ x 13″ x 31″
• Weight: 56 pounds
• Arrow speed rating: 435 fps

Pros 

• Weather resistant
• E-Z Tote Carrying Handle
• Works with vertical and crossbows
• MOD Pro Tuning + Precison Wrap

Cons

• Field points only
• Outserts can make for tricky arrow removal

This is the cream of the crop of bag targets, and I’ve spent six months shooting this sizeable target from ranges close and far. I’ve shot it with 414 fps crossbow bolts and micro-diameter and standard-size arrow shafts. This target stops arrows and bolts dead, and aside from arrows with outserts, arrow removal is a breeze.

The MOD Pro features a removable Velcro wrap that goes around the target and gives the shooter a 1-inch tuning grid complete with 1-inch, 3/4-inch, and 1/2-inch spots and squares. This system is a must-have for those looking to achieve maximum accuracy. I also like the crosshair-style aiming chart with windage and elevation dashes. When the wrap is off, shooters have a blank-bale side—perfect for those with target panic—and a side with multiple cycles and targets in various shapes.

Best Block/Cube Target: Block Infinity Archery Target

Specs

• Dimensions: 20- and 22-inch options
• Arrow speed rating: 500 fps
• Materials: Polyfusion layered foam

Pros

• Six-sided shooting
• Stops field points and broadheads
• Multiple aiming points

Cons

• Expensive

Block’s Infinity is one of my favorite block-style foam targets. I prefer the larger 22 x 22 target, which works exceptionally well on my backyard range. The target’s lightweight and dual-carrying handles make it perfect for taking on a hunting trip, too. The large face is ideal for long-range shooting, and often, with Block targets, I spray paint the sides and create my own aiming points. 

Thanks to the PolyFusion layered foam, arrow removal is effortless. And more so than the lesser foam targets I’ve tested, this target does a fantastic job at stopping high-speed arrows. I’ve shot field points, mechanical, fixed-blade, and hybrid-style broadheads into the target and have never had an issue. However, if you shoot tight groups, the target will wear out faster. Targets last longer if you resist shooting groups regularly. It comes with six individual sides with five different face designs including deer vitals, open squares, and white-block squares.

Best Travel Target: Morrell High Roller Foam Target

Specs

• Dimensions: 13″ x 13″ x 13″
• Weight: 10 pounds

Pros

• Lightweight
• Six-sided shooting
• Distinct aiming points
• Longevity

Cons

• Practice-style mechanical broadheads can bounce off

One of the best archery targets of all time, this foam block boosts accuracy and will take thousands of shots. I like the dice-style design, which gives the shooter multiple aiming points. The rope handle makes toting the 10-pound target easy, and when you’re traveling, you can use the rope to toss this target anywhere and get a shooting session in.

The High Roller stops all field points and broadheads, and while I don’t recommend shooting lots of fixed-blade heads into the target, it will handle them. I have noticed that mechanical broadheads with practice lock features like those from SEVR and practice-style broadheads tend to hit the foam and bounce back. This can make telling the exact arrow impact difficult from a distance. But the more you shoot the target, the less this happens.

Best Budget Target: Morrell Yellow Jacket YJ-425 Field Point Bag Archery Target

Specs

• Dimensions: 20″ x 15″ x 20″
• Weight: 32 pounds
• Arrow rating: 425 fps

Pros

• Handles compound bows and most crossbows
• Easy arrow removal
• 2-sided shooting

Cons

• Field points only
• Longevity

Morrel knows bag targets, and this sub-$70 weather-resistant beauty promises ultra-easy arrow removal and will handle high-speed compounds and most crossbows. Take advantage of the two-sided shooting and 10 bullseyes. Not only does shooting different spots sharpen your skills, but it will also extend the target’s life. The target has 90 arrow-stopping power layers, and the internal frame system keeps it from breaking down.

I’ve tested the bag with crossbows shooting right at and just over the 425-fps rating, and these short bolts at this speed will wear the target out quickly. It is also not for the everyday arrow slinger, but perfect for seasonal archers.

Best 3D Target: Delta McKenzie Bighorn Sheep 3D Archery Target

Specs

• Dimensions: 34-inch shoulder height and 49 inches long
• Arrow rating: 300-350 fps

Pros

• Universal scoring rings
• Lifelike 
• Handles field points and broadheads
• Replaceable core

Cons

• Expensive
• Not for crossbow shooters

The fact that Delta McKenzie made their best target into a Rocky Mountain big horn sheep only makes it cooler. But seriously, the target is ultra-lifelike and mimics the exact body size of a mature bighorn ram. The target is heavy-duty—not one you want to move often—but it provides years of shooting enjoyment once set. 

In 2021, I drew a once-in-a-lifetime Colorado Rocky Mountain big horn archery tag. The first thing I did was order that target. Now, three years and over a thousand shots with broadheads later, I’m still on the initial core insert. The scoring rings are gone, but the Duraflex Faom mid-section still stops arrows with ease. This target has sat in my backyard range uncovered year-round and still looks good. It is built to last.

What To Consider Before Buying a Target

If you are a bowhunter, I recommend 3D targets over a bag or dot foam targets. If you’re looking to climb the podium or make a name for yourself at your local archery pro shop league, you’ll want multiple 3D targets and at least one bag target. Do your research and find a target or targets that will withstand the elements, hold up to arrow abuse, and ones that look like they would be fun to shoot. Some targets, whether because of design, shape, or look, are more fun to shoot than others.

FAQs

Final Thoughts: Best Archery Targets

I’ve been shooting compound bows for over 25 years and have pursued big-game animals nationwide. In addition to shooting in countless 3D and target archery tournaments, I have my own backyard range where I shoot regularly. All of the targets in this article are part of my range, and they all perform extremely well. Pick the one that best fits your needs, and you won’t be disappointed.

Why Trust Us

For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.

The post Best Archery Targets, Expert Tested appeared first on Field & Stream.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

We know you’re already thinking about deer season. So are we, which is why we are talking to some of the country’s top deer guides in the offseason to pick their brains and hear their stories. Having interviewed loads of them over the years, I can tell you that most whitetail guides have strong opinions, all of them have some wild stories, and some of them are more than happy to talk about both. If you’re a fellow deer nut, it makes for fascinating conversation. But more than that: If you listen closely, you’ll also come away with some nuggets of deer-hunting wisdom that can only come from folks who chase whitetails for a living.

This week’s pro is Tim Clark, owner of Red Dog Outfitters in Morland, Kansas. In addition to being one of the country’s most successful deer guides, Clark is also one the most candid, not just about his own operation but also the state of deer hunting as he sees it. Here’s what he had to say on a variety of topics.

Best Advice for a Guided Whitetail Hunt

Trust your guide and ride it out. I jokingly tell my hunters, “Try to trust me for more than one day.”  But seriously, if you’ve had success at home, that’s fantastic, but believe me, it’s a different world out here. The terrain and habitat is different than most whitetail places, and that’s a huge influencer on how whitetails behave and when they move. Still, it happens every year: I put a guy in a stand at dawn and by the second day, he knows the place better than I do and is out of his stand at 9 a.m., scouting. I know this because I get him on trail camera. And about 10 minutes after he walks past that camera, as he searches for a better spot, a nice buck walks past the camera, too.

Try to view your guide as a coach, supporting you, and helping you have the kind of experience you came for. You’ve got all year after your hunt to second guess me if it doesn’t come together. I want you to tag out as badly as you do, I promise you that. I haven’t put 600 deer in the dirt by not caring, not scouting, and not making a solid plan to help you succeed. Do your research to get a good guide, whether that’s me or someone else, and then trust that person.

On Bowhunters and Accuracy

I make every bowhunter pass a shooting proficiency test before they can hunt. They do this in front of me, at the lodge, shooting broadheads, not field points. The broadhead thing is a huge deal for me, and I’m amazed at the number of hunters who’ve only practiced with field points. I blame this on a couple of things, starting with broadhead ads that make that “flies-just-like-a-field-point” promise. Sometimes they do, but why would you take a chance on a live animal, especially a big mature buck like we have here? I also think pro shops need to do a better job of educating customers on the need to tune their setups to shoot their broadheads. It’s kind of amazing and unique to bowhunting. When you’re prepping for a gun hunt, you don’t shoot the bullet that flies like the bullet you’re hunting with—you shoot the bullet you’re hunting with!

Some guys balk at the proficiency test and say my presence would make them too nervous to shoot well. Well, I’m a nice guy who wants you to shoot well, and I promise you any adrenaline or pressure you feel with me standing there is nothing compared to what you’ll experience with a mature buck—maybe the biggest deer you’ve ever seen—is standing 15 yards away, looking at you and maybe stomping his foot.

On Blood-Trailing Deer

Lots of bowhunters start blood-trailing too soon—and end up losing deer they don’t have to. I’m convinced that the majority of bucks hit by an arrow have no idea what happened to them. They feel something, run off a bit to get away from it, and if they’re hit really well, they just lie down and never get up again. On the best shots, it can be over almost immediately.

But it doesn’t always work out perfectly, and if the hunter doesn’t handle it right, things can go south in a hurry. And because hunters are excited and want it to happen so badly, they almost always start tracking too quickly. That’s a huge mistake, especially on the large-bodied, mature bucks we have out here. Once these deer recognize that someone is on their trail, they get a huge adrenaline dump and turn almost bionic, running hard even when they might be mortally wounded. Well, a running deer never leaves as much blood as a walking one, and out here there’s tons of grass, CRP, and crop fields—all spots where finding blood is just a bunch harder. So now you’ve taken a buck that we would have probably found easily, and turned it into a deer that will be difficult and maybe impossible to find.

The trick is to just try and settle down as much as possible immediately after the shot, while you’re still in the stand. Sit down. Grab your rangefinder and laser the spot where the deer was standing. Write that distance down or text it to yourself. Note a nearby landmark if possible. Do the same thing where you last saw the deer. Then sit there, in your stand, for no less than 30 minutes, preferably longer. If you think you had a pass-through, go to the spot you lasered (because once you get down on the ground everything looks different), and make a brief search for the arrow. If you can find it right away, great; it’ll give you clues about the hit. But if not, just back out and give the deer time. The buck won’t be any less dead in an hour or three when you come back. If you’re hunting with me, call me, and we’ll come up with a plan. If you’re not and can get a buddy, preferably someone with experience, get that person to meet you. You’re still going to be anxious and excited, and your buddy won’t be. Sometimes, the worst guy to have tracking a deer is the guy who shot him.

Biggest Pet Peeve

I hate the idea of outfitters imposing minimum scores and especially the practice of fining hunters who shoot a buck under the minimum. The idea was invented by an a-hole and has been since adopted by other a-holes—and it needs to go away immediately. Things like this have never been part of the hunting process and can wreck it for anybody. I’ve been doing this a long time, and I can tell you this with certainty: Guys come to Kansas wanting to shoot a giant buck, and 90 out of 100 will shoot the first 2½-year-old whitetail that comes through, and some intentionally. If that guy is happy with his buck, who am I to bring him down? If you’re proud of your buck there’s not a guy happier for you than me.

People think it’s going to be like on TV, where a buck appears 500 yards away, then proceeds to walk The Green Mile as he approaches your stand, giving you multiple views of his rack from every angle. Here’s what actually happens: You’re sitting in your stand, not paying attention, and suddenly a buck appears at 15 or 20 yards. You have literally seconds to decide whether he’s a ‘shooter’ or not. No hunter should be expected to rough-score a rack correctly under those condition. Unless you’ve got a dozen 140-inch bucks on your wall, you’re going to misjudge him almost every time. But you know what? Even if it’s a 125-inch buck, it’s probably also the biggest buck you’ve ever shot—and we should celebrate that.”  

Seven More Pet Peeves

1. Slamming truck doors at the stand right after I say, “Press the door shut, or just leave it open and I’ll get it.” WHAM! What I want to know is, if a hunter is this noisy at the gate, what’s he doing in the stand? 

2. Pouting when someone else shoots a deer in camp. Seriously? Can we not be happy for, and support, the same people who love this as much as we do?

3. Asking what time and what direction the deer will come from. If I were that good, it would be a one-day hunt and cost three times as much. 

4. Being ashamed when your buck isn’t what you thought it was. You killed it, be proud of it.

5. Even worse is when a guide or fellow hunter makes someone feel ashamed of their buck.

6. Calling me from the strand at 8 a.m (even if you shot, unless the buck is dead in sight). Text! Shhhhh. Slow down. Let’s make a plan.

7. The “B-roll” footage shot for TV hunting shows. These re-created sequences give hunters the impression that you can whisper and do interviews while you’re in the  stand and then watch “Mufasa” leisurely approach your stand while your camera crew takes shots of you drawing. No, that’s mostly theater. Don’t talk in the stands out here.

Worst Excuse from Hunters

Every season, I have clients who tell me they had to take a quartering-to shot because the deer saw them in the stand.  First, never take a quartering-to shot with a bow. Second, if he spotted you while he was quartering-to, you weren’t ready. Either wait for him calm down and be distracted or pass the shot completely. And please don’t come back to camp with an excuse for why you “had” to take a bad shot.

The Biggest Mistakes Deer Hunters Make

The biggest mistake deer hunters make is simple, but I see it all the time, over and over. I don’t care if it’s a stand location I scouted for you or one you scouted for yourself at home, when you hunt it, you need to stay put and sit still. And you need to be quiet getting in and getting out.

We once had this 190-class buck we name “Waldo,” and he would always skirt the herd in trail-cam pictures. I showed the hunter those pics and told him “If you see the does, start watching the cedars, because he’s right there and watching from cover.” Well, the hunter came in and told me the does appeared but the buck wasn’t with them. He said he was ‘pinned down’ at the end of legal light, so he banged on the stand to scare the does away. When they didn’t leave, he dropped his backpack to scare them away. The next morning, Waldo was shot in the neighbor’s pasture. I wonder what scared him that far away into the great wide open? The hunter left early, wanted to hunt the next year at a discount, and never returned.

Another huge mistake is passing on a 150 waiting on a “giant.” A 150-inch whitetail is a great buck. Just because TV shows throw “150” around like a cheap bottle at a college party doesn’t change the fact that most hunters will never harvest one, let alone see one in their home state. 

On the Worst Misses

The worst “misses” are bad hits. I hate to see it, but it happens when hunters get rattled and take shots they shouldn’t. We once had a solid 200-inch 10-point that was shot quartering-to by a hunter who bragged that he’d killed hundreds of deer with a bow. We never found the buck. That hunter even called the warden on me and said I’d stolen his deer because we’d been hunting the buck three years. I’m not in the business of taking deer from people. I haven’t shot a Kansas deer since 2015, and I sure don’t want yours. 

Probably the greatest pure miss story was a hunter who whiffed by three or four feet because he got his elbow caught up on the safety line on the stand. I have trail-cam pics of the deer standing there and the arrow sitting below his front leg. I also have a picture of the hunter posing with that 180-inch buck. The deer came right back and let the hunter have a second shot. He didn’t miss the second time! 

Final Thoughts on the Outfitter-Client Relationship

I’m going to get some guys mad at me for saying this, but there are some crooks out there posing as serious outfitters. They may have an impressive website crammed with trail-cam and hero pics, but most are not theirs. These outfits are way more serious about taking your money than they are getting you on a buck. I’m not saying this so you’ll hunt with me. I’ve got enough business. I’m saying this so serious hunters with not a ton of money to spend don’t waste it. Research your outfitter. Talk to him, and ask him hard questions. If he’s honest, he won’t be offended; he’ll be happy. And ask for references, including those of clients who didn’t kill. It’s amazing to me how few people will do this background work—which isn’t that difficult—and plop down five grand.

On the flip side, if you do book with me–or anyone–be honest about your skill and your goals. I don’t care what your level of experience is, I just need to know it so I can create the best experience for you. If you’ve never been in a tree stand or are afraid of heights, tell me. If you’ve hunted one weekend a year for the last decade, you don’t have 10 years of experience, you have 20 days. If you say you’re looking for a big, mature deer, but you’ve never killed a 125-inch whitetail, let me know that too, because people can have very different definitions of “big.” Once again, I view myself as a coach for my hunters. And I can do a whole lot better job if you tell me upfront about your experience and goals. Then we can make a plan together.

The post Straight Talk From the Deer Guides: A Kansas Pro Dishes on Blood-Trailing, Buck-Shaming, and Bad Excuses appeared first on Field & Stream.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Forrest Binkley

Best Overall		TenPoint Flatline 460	SEE IT
Most Accuracte		Excalibur Assassin Extreme	SEE IT
Most Innovative		Ravin R18	SEE IT

Contrary to what many may think, the best crossbow isn’t necessarily the fastest. Is the race to build the most powerful crossbow over? Probably not. I bet we’ll see a 600-fps model within the next decade. But for now, crossbow manufacturer seem focused on giving hunters a more compact package rather than additional raw power. That’s good because crossbows are bulky, and they seem to triple in size once you’re up in a tree stand.

Although none of the top models we’ve tested threaten the 500-fps mark, they’re far from sluggish. The average speed for all crossbows we tested this year was 392 fps—about 50 fps faster than the average speed from 10 years ago. I remember when 400-fps speed was a big deal and you had to pay through the nose to get it. This year, some of the fastest crossbows came in at under $600—just one of several surprises our test panel uncovered during this year’s annual crossbow test. Here’s what else we found, along with our final picks for the best crossbows.

The Best Crossbows

• Best Overall: TenPoint Flatline 460
• Most Accurate: Excalibur Assassin Extreme
• Most Innovative: Ravin R18
• Best Budget: Barnett Hyper Raptor
• Wicked Ridge Raider 400 De-Cock
• Killer Instinct Diesel-X Elite

Best Overall: TenPoint Flatline 460

Best Overall

SEE IT

Specs

• Speed: 472 fps with 408-grain finished arrow
• Size: 26.5-inch overall length; 7.5 inches wide when cocked
• Physical Weight: 7.5 pounds
• Trigger Weight: 2.14 lb.
• Accuracy: 1.68-inch average 40-yard group

Pros

• By far the fastest bow in the test
• Compact yet balances well
• Crisp trigger
• Best cocking/de-cocking system out there
• Very good accuracy

Cons

• Expensive

Last year’s excellent TenPoint Nitro 505 was all about speed, and for 2023, the company has followed it up with a crossbow that’s still plenty fast but focuses more on comfort, balance, and maneuverability. The Flatline 460 has many of the same features that made the Nitro 505 so good, including the RX8-Cam system, reverse-draw limbs, Micro-Trac barrel, and ACUSlide cocking system (which gets my vote as the safest, quietest, and easiest cocking/de-cocking system on the market). A notable upgrade to the Flatline 460 (and a good upgrade for crossbows in general) is TenPoint’s new aluminum Scope Struts, which strengthen the platform for scope mounting by 80 percent, according to the company. Weak scope-mounting systems are shockingly common on crossbows. The accessory package includes the ACUSlide, 100-yard EVO-X Marksman Elite scope, bubble level, six EVO-X CenterPunch arrows, quiver, and Sentry bow hanger.

To get 460-plus-fps speed into such a compact platform, the Flatline 460 utilizes 16-inch arrows (20 inches has been more the standard arrow length for flagship TenPoint crossbows). Despite the short size, the arrows were heavy compared to this year’s competition, giving the Flatline 460 a significant leg up in the kinetic energy and momentum departments.

After years of testing crossbows, I’ve come to expect erratic broadhead flight from any 450-fps+ crossbow, and it’s an issue that seems to be compounded by short, stiff arrows. Still, broadheads flew consistently out of the Flatline 460. The point of impact was 3 inches off from field points at 30 yards, but that should only require a scope adjustment. I’d urge anyone who buys a Flatline 460 (or any high-speed crossbow) to plan on testing a number of broadheads to see which works best.  

Retailing and more than $2,500, the Flatline 460 was the most expensive model in our test. But overall, we were impressed by just about every aspect of this crossbow. It was one of the best-handling of the test, being compact in size but with enough heft for good balance. The trigger was crisp and broke at just over 2 pounds, and average field-point group size was just over 1-1/2 inches at 40 yards. The overall fit, finish, and quality of both the crossbow and the accessories were flawless, and TenPoint crossbows have a limited lifetime operational warranty.

Most Accurate: Excalibur Assassin Extreme

Most Accurate

SEE IT

Specs

• Speed: 382 fps with 357.7-grain finished arrow
• Size: 32 inches overall length; 20.5 inches wide when cocked
• Physical Weight: 9.2 pounds
• Trigger Weight: 3.2 lb.
• Accuracy: 1-inch average 40-yard group
• Price: $1,600 for camo version

Pros

• Most accurate crossbow in the test
• Improved cocking system
• Rugged, simple design

Cons

• Comparatively large and unwieldy
• Lightweight arrows

The Excalibur recurve design has changed little over the years, mostly because it doesn’t need to. There have been ultra-compact models and a twin-shot model, and the bows have employed various cocking devices, some of which worked better than others to load those heavy limbs. But generally, you know what you are getting with this simple, rock-solid crossbow. The 2023 Assassin Extreme features the Charger Crank cocking system, which is integrated into the stock and is the best Excalibur has offered to date. The Assassin Extreme comes with the company’s usual outstanding accessories, including a 30mm Overwatch scope, quiver, 16.5-inch arrows, and sound dampeners.

Though the TenPoint Flatline 460 beat the Excalibur in enough categories to take top honors, it didn’t outshoot it. At 40 yards, our test team consistently shot better groups with this crossbow than anything else (though the Barnett Hyper Raptor was close behind it). Even better, fixed-blade broadheads hit within 1 inch of the field points. 

Recurve crossbows of any sort are physically big, which makes them more of a hassle to handle in a treestand or ground blind. Un-cocked, the Assassin Extreme is nearly as wide as the Tenpoint Flatline 460 is long. And even with a really good cocking system, like this one, recurve crossbows are more difficult to cock than most compound crossbows. Lastly, Excalibur crossbows rely on lightweight arrows to attain their advertised speeds, which translates to a little less in kinetic energy and momentum.

On the other hand, the recurve design is rugged and easy to maintain. Though I’m as impressed as anyone by the performance offered from high-end compound crossbows, I gravitate to a recurve over and again for personal hunting use because there’s not much that can go wrong. Excalibur crossbows have a limited lifetime warranty.

Most Innovative: Ravin R18

Most Innovative

SEE IT

Specs

• Speed: 325 fps with 352-grain finished arrow
• Size: 25 inches overall length; 4.75 inches wide (cocked or un-cocked)
• Physical Weight: 6 pounds
• Trigger Weight: 2 lb.
• Accuracy: 3.375-inch average 40-yard group

Pros

• Incredibly innovative design
• Smallest crossbow we’ve ever tested
• Superb build quality
• Decidedly cool

Cons

• A little uncomfortable to shoot
• Least-accurate in the test
• Doesn’t accept a scope
• Not Cheap

Ravin continues to challenge the conventions of crossbow design, and the R18 might be their most radical take yet. I was intrigued when I saw the first teasers for it a few years ago. Production issues made this crossbow slow to hit the market, but we finally got our hands on one for review.

Most think of crossbow limbs as being either forward- or rear-facing; the R18 limbs are neither. In fact, they’re not even horizontal—they’re vertical and parallel to one another. When the R18 is cocked, the limbs flex along the crossbow’s barrel like a pair of St. Louis Arches, and they snap upward when fired. This allows for an extremely compact package. The vertical limb design is possible thanks to the new Verticoil Cam System, which rotates the enclosed cams 720 degrees and compresses the limbs. One could argue that since the limbs aren’t horizontal, the R18 is technically not a crossbow at all. Just don’t carry on about that and then complain because nobody invites you hunting. The R18 package includes a removable stock, 3-dot reflex sight, cocking device, three 16-inch arrows, and a quiver.

The R18 averaged the biggest groups of the crossbow test by a good margin, probably because it was the only crossbow tested that didn’t have a scope. Some people love red-dot sights for hunting. I don’t, and would in fact prefer iron sights. “Well, put a scope on it,” you might say, but that’s not possible on the R18, due to the tiny optic rail.

Besides that, this crossbow is actually a little too compact for comfort. The recoil of the limbs upon firing is unlike any other crossbow I’ve ever used, and not something I enjoy having just inches from my face. I think the Verticoil design has real potential, but I would like to see it incorporated into a slightly larger crossbow that’s more comfortable to shoot and will accommodate a good scope.

All of that said, the entire test team was impressed by how innovative and out-of-the-box this crossbow is. The R18 is unquestionably the smallest full-power crossbow we’ve ever seen, and probably ever made. It’s decidedly cool, and Ravin deserves credit for pushing the envelope. Although the bow looks like a novelty, the build quality is superb, same as every other Ravin crossbow I’ve used. At a little over $2K, it’s not cheap but it is significantly less expensive than other Ravin models, such as the R500 and R29X.  

Best Budget: Barnett Hyper Raptor

Best Budget

SEE IT

Specs

• Speed: 421 fps with 399-grain finished arrow
• Size: 32.5 inches long; 7.3 inches wide (cocked)
• Physical Weight: 7.1 pounds
• Trigger Weight: 3.4 lb.
• Accuracy: 1.3-inch average 40-yard group

Pros

• Second most accurate bow in the test
• Second fastest bow in the test
• Second least-expensive bow in the test

Cons

• Hardest to cock
• Fit and finish not equal to top crossbows

The Barnett Hyper Raptor is designed to use Barnett’s excellent small-diameter HyperFlite arrows (which is what we tested it with). It’ll work with standard diameter arrows, too, but I don’t know why you’d choose them. Micro-diameter arrows might be the most underutilized component of the crossbow world, as they provide the same penetration and accuracy advantages in a crossbow as they do from a vertical bow.

In addition to micro-diameter-arrow compatibility, the Hyper Raptor has a number of other excellent features, including a CNC-machined aluminum flight track, soft bristle arrow retainer, anti dry-fire TriggerTech trigger system, Infinity cam system, and adjustable stock. One of my favorite components is the Rope Hold Roller Ball on the receiver, which is just a spring-loaded ball detent that holds your cocking rope in place. If you’ve never had a cocking rope slip off the groove of a crossbow receiver and end up against your scope mounts, you haven’t cocked many crossbows with a rope. The accessory package includes a 4×36 illuminated scope, sled-style rope cocking device, rail lube, quiver, and three arrows.

Personally, I like the simplicity of a rope-cocking device and much prefer them to the cheap-and-janky mechanical cocking devices sometimes sold with budget crossbows. But if you’re looking for a downside to this bow, cocking 205-pound limbs with a rope does require a heave and a grunt. Also, at 421 fps, those HyperFlite arrows can be too much of a good thing, too. I’ve still got one of them stuck in my 3D deer target that I physically could not pull out. 

But that’s the end of the quibbles. Average groups for the Hyper Raptor were only a fraction of an inch larger than the Excalibur Assassin, the most accurate crossbow of the test. And with heavier bolts moving faster, this crossbow has more muscle. Despite all that speed and power, fixed-blade broadheads hit within an inch of the field points through the Hyper Raptor. Best of all, this crossbow retails for less than $600, making it the second-least expensive crossbow of the test and the runaway choice for best value. It is, for the money, one of the best-performing crossbows I’ve ever tested.

Wicked Ridge Raider 400 De-Cock

SEE IT

Specs

• Speed: 371 fps with 411-grain finished arrow
• Size: 31.5 inches overall length; 15 inches wide (cocked)
• Physical Weight: 5.8 pounds
• Trigger Weight: 3.6 lb.
• Accuracy: 1.53-inch average 40-yard group

Pros

• Good accuracy
• Good power
• Extremely lightweight
• Excellent value

Cons

• So-so trigger

At the end of a day in the woods, you’ve got to de-cock your crossbow, either by shooting it or with a built-in de-cocking system. Those systems are commonly seen on expensive flagship crossbows (this year’s Tenpoint, Excalibur, and Ravin all have them), but the Wicked Ridge Raider 400 De-Cock incorporates a good de-cocking system into a much more budget-friendly crossbow.

You can opt for an ACU-Draw crank-style cocking/de-cocking device that’s incorporated into the stock, or you can go with a lighter-weight 6-position stock-and-rope sled cocking/de-cocking device, which is what we tested. De-cocking with the latter is simple: With the crossbow at full draw, you simply hold tension on the sled, press the de-cocking button, give the sled a little pull, and then slowly lower the string. The Raider 400 De-Cock also comes with a Pro-View lighted scope, quiver, and three arrows.

The AR-style adjustable stock of our test bow pulled right off the bow if you try to fully extend it too quickly. I’d prefer a hard stop, and though the two-stage trigger is good enough, it wasn’t great. Otherwise, there’s lots to like here. At less than 6 pounds, this crossbow is extremely lightweight. Though the traditional, forward-facing compound design isn’t too exciting, it is a simple, reliable crossbow that’s built well, shoots well, and has enough power to hunt an Allosaurus, should you get a tag. Though this crossbow didn’t shoot any of the test’s tightest field-point groups, it shot well enough, and it did put fixed-blade broadheads within an inch or so of the field points. Wicked Ridge crossbows have a limited lifetime operational warranty.   

At around $750, the Ridge Raider 400 De-Cock didn’t miss Best-Value honors by much. The de-cocking feature is genuinely useful and very well made, but I don’t think it justifies this crossbow costing $150 more than the Barnett Hyper Raptor, which performed better across the board. Still, it’s a solid bow and an excellent value.

Killer Instinct Diesel-X Elite

SEE IT

Specs

• Speed: 401 fps with 390-grain finished arrow
• Size: 34.4 inches overall length; 6.25 inches wide (cocked)
• Physical Weight: 7.4 pounds
• Trigger Weight: 3.2 lb.
• Accuracy: 2.125-inch average 40-yard group

Pros

• Good speed and power
• Least expensive crossbow of the test

Cons

• Comparatively big and bulky

Killer Instinct consistently produces excellent crossbows for the money, and the Diesel-X Elite is another good one. It sports the all-new X-Cam system, which has 50 percent let-off for easier cocking and, according to KI, makes for a quieter, more vibration-free crossbow. The Diesel-X Elite is compact at just 6.25 inches wide when cocked, and the stock is adjustable for length of pull. The accessory package includes a Lumix Speed Ring scope, rope sled cocking device, quiver, three arrows, and rail lube.

At nearly 35 inches long and 7.4 pounds bare bow, the Diesel-X is big and bulky, particularly so in this field. Though its 2-inch-plus 40-yard groups were more than adequate for hunting, and though fixed-blade broadheads hit more or less in the same place as field points, the Barnett Hyper Raptor proved that a crossbow in this price range can produce better accuracy.

This was the least-expensive crossbow we tested, however, and an outstanding value. It was easier to cock than the Barnett Hyper Raptor, which produces comparable speeds and also uses a rope sled cocking device. KI crossbows are well-built and boast a limited lifetime warranty.

How We Tested Crossbows

The Field & Stream crossbow test is an invitational. We tested each submitted crossbow with the accessories provided by the manufacturer, though it’s worth noting that some brands offer upgraded accessory packages, such as better scopes and cocking devices, for extra coin.

We chronographed every crossbow with the supplied arrows (or bolts; saying either is correct), and weighed the arrows on a powder scale. We checked trigger pulls with a Lyman trigger scale, and then zeroed each crossbow at 40 yards. After that, each of our three test-panel members fired three-shot groups through each crossbow from a seated position using Bog DeathGrip tripods. Finally, we fired additional shots with compact, fixed-blade broadheads (this year we used Muzzy Ones and G5 Montecs) to see where they hit relative to field points. (I’ve learned that as crossbow arrows get faster, shorter, or longer, and as fletching and nock styles change, good broadhead flight can become elusive.)

We measured group sizes with a digital caliper and then crunched the numbers to get an overall average group size for each crossbow. Along the way, we took subjective notes on things like cocking and de-cocking effort, handling, safety, and quality of accessories.

This year’s test panel members included me, as well as Danny Hinton and Keith Meador, both of whom also helped me with the vertical bow test. Collectively, we have more than a century of bowhunting experience and have taken an estimated 400 big-game animals with archery equipment, crossbows included. Here’s what we found.

Crossbow Buying Guide

Price

The best crossbow for the money is the one that best fits your desired parameters. These will vary from person to person, but the methodology used to assess each option remains the same. We can’t allow things like name brand, camo finish, or price-point dictate too much of the evaluation process. Sure, if you’re on the prowl for the best budget crossbow, price is a consideration. But often, the best bow for your budget isn’t the cheapest or the most expensive choice. The best bow is the one that fits into your budget and offers the most ideal combination of performance and features for you.

Recurve vs. Compound

If you’re new to crossbow hunting, your ideal bow could well be different from what a veteran crossbow hunter would desire. Similarly, if you’re only interested in compound crossbows then you certainly shouldn’t evaluate them against recurve crossbows. The experience between the two is very different and the comparison isn’t a logical one. The cams present in a compound crossbow let it generate more power in a compact package, as it doesn’t need the long limbs of the recurve to generate speed.

But recurve crossbows are easier to work on, saving you a trip to the pro shop every time you need an adjustment. You’ll need to decide if the small size of the compound is more desirable than the simplicity the recurve offers when making a choice. In the end, there is no singular “best” crossbow for everyone. There are, however, best crossbows for specific situations—including yours.

FAQs

Why Trust Us

For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.

The post The 7 Best Crossbows of 2024, According to Testing appeared first on Field & Stream.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.