Best Hunting Crossbow For The Money in 2020

Use the comparison chart below to choose the best hunting crossbow for the money, according to our experience. We’ve chosen these specific models to provide you with the highest possible diversity of draw weights, FPS, construction quality, ergonomic designs, safety features that are paramount in any outdoor situation, and of course weight – all of these crossbows weigh just enough to make them easy to carry, regardless of whether you use a padded crossbow sling or not.

Before you buy a specific model make sure to read our detailed review by clicking the “Our Review” link beneath each crossbow. There you will find all the information you need, written by an expert who has actually used that specific model, and which includes information regarding real-life capabilities of the crossbow in a true hunting scenario. Also, check out our best crossbow rankings page for the top-value crossbows overall.

	CenterPoint Sniper 370 Check price on Amazon.com	TenPoint Stealth FX4 Check price on Amazon.com	TenPoint Vapor Check price on Amazon.com	TenPoint Turbo GT Check price on Amazon.com	Excalibur Matrix 355 Check price on Amazon.com
Draw Weight	185 lbs.	185 lbs.	165 lbs.	175 lbs.	240 lbs.
Velocity	370 FPS	370 FPS	360 FPS	360 FPS	355 FPS
Recommended Arrow Length	20"	20"	22"	20"	18"
Crossbow Length / Weight	36.5" / 7.9 lbs.	34.4" / 6 lbs. 8 ozs.	37.4" / 6.8 lbs.	35" / 6 lbs. 8 ozs.	35" / 5.4 lbs.
	Our Review	Our Review	Our Review	Our Review	Our Review

What To Look For In a Hunting Crossbow?

For a crossbow to be efficient in a hunting environment, it needs to fulfill four basic needs:

#1: It must have high enough of an FPS to make it deadly at up to 40 yards away. In practice, you’ll usually be shooting from a closer distance (usually 20-30 yards), however, sometimes you won’t be able to get that close and therefore need to know you can rely on your weapon to get the job done. 250 Feet Per Second is the bare minimum velocity recommended, though you’ll notice all the selections above have 300 FPS and more.

#2: It should not be too heavy. Nothing more annoying than having to carry a 10 pound crossbow around with you for hours or manipulate it on the limited space a tree stand usually provides. Some of the best hunting crossbows above are as light as 5.5 lbs, with the heaviest one being the Barnett Buck Commander at 8.1 lbs. If you do have trouble with the weight though, get a padded crossbow shoulder sling, which can be attached to all the models listed above.

#3: It needs to come with a decent scope. You can obviously always get a better scope down the line, though ideally you want to receive a crossbow that comes with everything you need to start hunting immediately without wasting time. A decent scope needs to hold zero for a very long time, come with 3 dots or reticles ideally, and not deplete the battery every few months.

#4: it must allow for a dependable, quiet and smooth cocking. Nothing worse than scaring away your prey when cocking the crossbow due to it being too loud. The models compared above all have dependable cocking and latching action.

Of course, there are other important factors to consider, such as how comfortable the crossbow is to hold, how consistent its accuracy is (this depends on string, limb, and rail quality), not to mention trigger action. These elements are pretty much a given though with the majority of modern crossbows made by respected manufacturers. If uncertain, just check out our reviews.

Cocking The Crossbow Properly Is Important

No matter how strong you think you are, I strongly recommend getting a rope cocking aid, if the crossbow package you choose does not already include one. You may be able to easily dead-lift 200 pounds, however consider that when cocking a crossbow the string will be digging quite deeply into your palms. Also, you’ll likely be cocking it repeatedly in a row (though not always), in which case it can get tiring without some sort of assistance.

If getting a crossbow with more than 200 draw weight, consider getting a crank aid, which makes the cocking process pretty much effortless. To learn more about the different cocking methods available and what their pro’s and con’s are, take a moment to read our main crossbow guide – particularly the section on cocking your crossbow. Oh, and don’t forget to draw the string evenly on both sides of the stock, as uneven cocking is the most common mistake leading to shooting accuracy problems.

What To Take With You On a Hunting Trip?

Aside from the obvious (crossbow, arrows), you’ll want to take a few other items:

1. A screwdriver or coin. You might need this in the field if your crossbow requires elevation or windage adjustment. See our crossbow sighting guide for more details.
2. A flashlight. You never know when lighting conditions might suddenly get worse, in which case not having a flash light can make it all but impossible to track the blood trail properly.
3. Spare batteries. Keep in mind that most modern red-dot and reticle scopes are powered by small batteries. Don’t forget to always to always turn off your scope when not in use, and keep that spare battery with you just in case.
4. Spare string. This is always a good thing to have. On most modern crossbows, the average lifespan of a quality string is approximately 200-300 bolts fired. Of course, you do not want to wait for the string to break, and you should replace it as soon as you start noticing obvious signs of wear / serving separation.
5. Lubricant. During a hunting trip, you’ll likely be handling your crossbow in different manners, which could in some cases remove any lubricant that you may have applied before embarking on your trip. Having some spare lube is always a sound idea.
6. The instruction manual.  This goes for beginners only, who do not yet feel 100% comfortable servicing their crossbow. You never know what might happen and which could require you to disassemble and reassemble parts of your weapon.
7. A charged cellphone. Just in case of an emergency or if you need to call for help; better safe than sorry.
   

What Broadheads To Use?

We went over this in much more detail in our hunting broadheads guide. The important thing to remember is the broadheads should be of the same grain as the field points that came with your hunting crossbow package. Make sure to take a broadhead wrench with you, as it is easy to cut yourself in the field in the spur of the moment while manipulating the sharp edges, especially since you are likely to be distracted by all the things happening around you.

Best Hunting Crossbow – Summary

Please remember that, above all, hunting with your crossbow should be fun and exciting. Don’t pursue the highest possible draw weight and highest possible FPS just for the sake of it; make sure that you can handle it, and that carrying and cocking the crossbow does not become a burden.