6 Best Crossbows for Beginners: Choosing the Right Fit for First-Timers

Best Overall Barnett Jackal

Barnett Jackal

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• Safety A
• Speed A+
• Ease of Use A
• Value A+

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Barnett Jackal Compound Review

As a beginner, the crossbow you should be looking for should be the one that’s easy to handle, is forgiving of mistakes, and still gives you a fair amount of power. That’s why the Barnett Jackal is my top pick, because it has pretty much everything that a beginner would need in a crossbow. 

Barnett makes my lists consistently because they make great and affordable crossbows for hunters at every level of skill, and the Jackal is no different. They did a great job with its design; while the Jackal is not as compact as some like the Excalibur 308 Short Banshee, it’s still very easy to handle because of the ergonomic grip and adjustable buttstock. 

The assembly was fairly simple too. It took me roughly ten minutes to set up. That’s surprising since it’s a compound crossbow which has a lot of different moving parts, so that says a lot about how easy it is to set up. The Jackal also does well in the speed and kinetic energy department—with a speed of 315 FPS backed by 150 lbs draw weight, it’s not the fastest or the most powerful crossbow out there, but it has enough power to take down most small- to medium-sized game. 

Something that really surprised me about this crossbow was its accuracy. I took it to the range and grouped all my shots close to the bullseye. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting a beginner crossbow bow to hit with such precision (especially from a distance of 60 yards from the target), but it was definitely a welcome surprise. 

That said, it’s worth noting that I didn’t use the red dot sight that came with the bow and instead switched it for my Vortex scope. I did this because the red dot was a bit too basic for me, but your mileage may vary. It’s not a terrible sight and is good enough for target practice. However, if you are taking it out for hunting, I suggest you switch it out for a scope that gives you a longer sight range.   

As for safety, the Jackal is pretty standard; it has an anti-dry fire mechanism, so you don’t damage your crossbow or yourself by dry firing, and has an auto-safety feature so you don’t lose fingers. 

Now, the problem I have with the Jackal is that you don’t get a rope cocker with it. A rope cocker can take the weight off your back, reducing the draw weight by half in most cases. I bought a rope cocking device separately to make my life easier, and I highly encourage you to do the same. Something else to consider is that I felt like the Jackal was too noisy for my liking, and I noticed more than average vibration when I pulled the trigger. So I recommend getting a vibration dampener if you are taking the Jackal into the woods.  

Overall though, the Barnett Jackal is a great crossbow to kick off your archery journey. It costs around $300, and comes with power, accuracy, and safety that is just right for a beginner. 

Barnett Jackal Pros and Cons

Best Value Barnett XP 380 with Crank

Barnett XP 380 with Crank

The Barnett XP 380 has a lot of power and is very easy to use, making it a sound choice for women and youth who want to take up target shooting or hunting.

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• Safety A
• Speed A+
• Ease of Use B
• Value A

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A

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Barnett XP 380 Review

I know, I know, another Barnett, but hear me out—the Barnett XP 380 is easy to cock, and has excellent performance and decent maneuverability. To top it all off, it’s priced at around $400. With so much power behind such a competitive price range, the Barnet XP 380 is my pick for the best value crossbow. 

This crossbow has some serious draw weight, but there’s some leeway because the Barnett XP comes with a crank cocking device that makes cocking super easy for beginners, reducing the draw weight by a whopping 93%. Along with best value, the XP380 is a great youth crossbow, due to the cost, performance, and easy cocking. They funnel the hefty draw weight right into its power; the Barnett XP fires at 380 FPS, meaning it packs a punch strong enough to even take down large game. While it’s not the greatest idea to tackle large game as you start out, the higher FPS is a good way to start getting used to firing crossbows, since many shoot at around 300 – 400 FPS.  

The higher FPS also means the Barnett XP 380 can be too powerful and may end up seriously wounding smaller quarry, leading to unethical kills. So if you’re eager to start hunting small game, you might want to consider another bow like the Barnett Jackal. While you can learn to control the XP 380’s power, it takes constant practice to gain that level of skill. That’s why I recommend the Barnett XP 380 to beginners with at least some form of experience, like with a rifle, a shotgun, or a pistol crossbow. Truth be told, the Barnett XP 380 almost became my pick for the overall best, but I went with the Barnett Jackal which an absolute beginner might find easier to handle.    

I also felt the Barnett XP 380 seemed a bit lacking in maneuverability, since it’s on the larger side at 33 inches long. However, it comes with an adjustable buttstock and a cheek rest so I could configure it into a custom fit.

Barnett XP 380 Pros and Cons

Best Safety Wicked Ridge Invader 400

Wicked Ridge Invader 400

Putting safety first, the Wicked Ridge Invader is a powerful crossbow with its in-built safety wings from Tenpoint’s Wicked Ridge Invader series. 

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• Safety A+
• Speed A+
• Ease of Use A
• Value A-

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A

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Wicked Ridge Invader 400 Review

If your primary concern as a beginner is safety, I recommend going with the Wicked Ridge Invader 400. It’s a light but powerful crossbow that comes with some top-notch safety features that’ll give you peace of mind when you’re in the bush. 

There’s the usual anti-dry fire mechanism and auto-safety that’s the standard for almost every crossbow now. I also really like how Wicked Ridge has prioritized hand safety in this crossbow with their reinforced finger guards and safety switches. In my years as a hunter, the most common injuries I’ve seen hunters suffer are hand injuries. That said, features like extended finger guards and ambidextrous safety switches are invaluable for any beginner. With them, you won’t lose your thumbs trying to learn the crossbow.  

What makes the Invader 400 awesome for a beginner is how easy the cocking is—despite the draw weight of 185 lbs, I was able to cock the crossbow super easily with the integrated ACUdraw device. The ACUdraw is a big deal, because it helped me maintain consistent accuracy almost effortlessly with just my index finger. TenPoint owns the rights to ACUdraw, so only TenPoint and (since TenPoint now owns Wicked Ridge) Wicked Ridge crossbow users have the chance to use it. 

With the Invader 400, you have a pick of either the ACUdraw crank cocking device or the ACUdraw 50 rope cocking device. Both work well because ACUdraw is one of the safest and most user-friendly cocking mechanisms out there. Personally, I went with the ACUdraw 50 because it makes cocking quieter.  

Invader 400 does come with the pros of TenPoint crossbows, the safety features and ACUdraw devices, but naturally, with the cons too. All TenPoint and Wicked Ridge crossbows are required to use Alpha nocks, which hold the bolt and the bowstring in a precise cocked position. While there’s nothing wrong with Alpha nocks functionally, the issue is that they’re pretty expensive and can be a big investment when you’re just starting out. Plus, if you use any other nock, TenPoint voids your lifetime guarantee. This can be pretty rough for a beginner because the Invader 400 is on the pricier side as well, but if you are serious about picking up archery with a crossbow, this is the safest investment. 

I’ve seen the Wicked Ridge Rampage 360 often recommended for its safety, but I went with the Invader 400 as my pick because the Invader comes with three bolts and the Rampage doesn’t include any.  

Wicked Ridge Invader 400 Pros and Cons

Best Lightweight Excalibur 308 Short Banshee

Excalibur 308 Short Banshee

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• Safety A
• Speed B
• Ease of Use A
• Value B-

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B+

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Excalibur 308 Short Banshee Review

At just 5.4 lbs, the Excalibur 308 Short Banshee is one of the lightest crossbows I’ve used and is definitely my recommended pick for beginners who are looking for a crossbow with a light carry weight and reduced burden when out in the field. 

Being a lightweight crossbow, it is easier to carry in the rugged terrain which can make for a more comfortable hunting experience, especially for hunters who are just starting out and getting used to the pace of a hunt. The crossbow is also pretty compact, so it’s easy to pack and carry with you if taking up too much space is a concern. Because of its size, this crossbow can be a little harder to handle for hunters with a large build. For these hunters, Barnett Avenger Recruit is a good alternative because it’s a bit longer at 34.25 inches.

The best thing about the Short Banshee is that, despite how light it is, it doesn’t sacrifice the power. With a bolt speed of 308 FPS, you’ve got enough power to take down small- and medium-sized game. 

One problem I have with it is its draw weight, which in this case is 254 lbs. This draw weight can be a bit much for some hunters, even with a rope cocking device to make cocking easier, so I wouldn’t recommend the Short Banshee to archers who prefer crossbows with low draw effort. The Wicked Ridge RDX 400 might work better for this preference, since it has a draw weight of 175 lbs and is pretty compact, but you might need to consider the fact that it’s almost two pounds heavier than the Short Banshee. 

It’s impressive how the Short Banshee is durable and sturdy for a crossbow so lightweight and compact. Combined with its power, you’ve got yourself a crossbow that’s reliable while also being easy to handle and to carry with you when out in the field.  

Excalibur 308 Short Banshee Pros and Cons

Best Ease of Use TenPoint Titan M1

TenPoint Titan M1

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• Safety A+
• Speed A+
• Ease of Use C+
• Value A-

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A-

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TenPoint Titan M1Review

TenPoint Titan M1 is my pick for the best ease of use category because it’s super user-friendly. The ACUdraw device lowers the draw weight and the T5 trigger makes shooting smooth and crisp. Plus the length of the draw allows for faster bolts.

First, being a TenPoint crossbow, it comes with the integrated ACUdraw device or a Rope Sled which significantly lowers the 180 lb draw weight and takes the pressure of a high draw effort off of your back. 

Second, the trigger on Titan M1 makes drawing so much easier. The T5 trigger is one of the smoothest triggers from TenPoint and when I shoot with the Titan M1, I can really feel the difference compared to other triggers. The string latch on the trigger reduces friction and because of it, my shots with Titan M1 are super clean and smooth. 

The length of the draw, namely the power stroke, makes the draw more effective and accurate. Now, at 14 inches, the power stroke is standard for a crossbow. The Titan M1’s power stroke comes with increased acceleration, which makes it easy to gain fast and consistent bolt speeds and land more accurate shots. Also, drawing is as safe as it is easy thanks to the crossbow’s safety features, including auto-safety and the anti-dry fire mechanism. 

Though I’m pinning down Titan M1 as a user-friendly crossbow, it’s worth mentioning that it’s not perfect since the crossbow’s serving string has a reputation of breaking off sometimes and wearing off easily. This is a bit of a downer since TenPoint crossbow parts are expensive to replace and while this didn’t happen to me, a friend of mine gave up on the Titan M1 entirely because his serving string broke twice, which I agree, is frustrating.  

Even with this experience, my friend vouches for the Titan M1’s accuracy; he’s brought down two whitetails at around 45 yards with perfectly accurate shots. I had a pretty positive experience with the Titan M1’s accuracy when I took it to the range and shot a tight grouping with very little need to adjust the sight and the draw.

What I don’t like about the Titan M1 is that it’s loud. It gives off a loud cracking sound that you can hear even with the use of a dampener—not ideal for a hunt unless you’re really confident in that one shot. The other concern is the usual situation that comes along with Alpha nocks, because you risk voiding your guarantee if you use another nock.  

TenPoint Titan M1 Pros and Cons

Best Budget CenterPoint Sniper Elite 385

CenterPoint Sniper Elite 385

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• Safety A+
• Speed A+
• Ease of Use C+
• Value A-

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A-

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CenterPoint Sniper Elite 385 Review

This is one of my favorites on the list because it has decent performance and functionality for a fraction of the price of premium crossbows that can go up to and beyond 5 grand. The CenterPoint Sniper Elite 385 is priced incredibly low at $300 with good maneuverability, thoughtful safety features, and impressive performance for its cost. 

At 7.9 lbs, the Sniper Elite 385 is heavier than most crossbows on my list, but this doesn’t affect its maneuverability significantly. The crossbow can be made easier to handle by customizing the crossbow to fit your needs, with adjustable pieces like the rear stock, forearm, and cheekpiece. There’s also a rope cocking device, so drawing and cocking becomes super easy. 

The trigger assembly has your usual suspects, the auto safety and the anti-dry fire mechanism, and CenterPoint has also added oversized finger guards to keep your fingers away from the line of fire. With hand and finger injuries being a real concern for beginners (and even for a few experienced shooters), I think this is a significant safety feature when you’re starting out.  

When it came to trying the Sniper Elite 385 out in the field, I didn’t have very high expectations for its power and accuracy, but I changed my mind when I landed a lethal shot when I was out elk hunting. What really helped me maintain my accuracy through the hunt was the ball bearing retention spring on the crossbow. What it does is it reduces friction across the moving parts of the crossbow. 

Despite its budget price range, I found the Sniper Elite 385 to be pretty reliable in both the field and the range. It bummed me that they did not include a crank in the package, but it makes sense with the price point. That said, you can always add one separately later, so it’s definitely not a deal breaker.

What you want out of your crossbow might change as you gain expertise and tackle more challenging hunts, so you might end up prioritizing other features like a lighter build, faster speed, or more maneuverability. The Sniper Elite 385 doesn’t allow for many of these customizations, so you may find yourself upgrading later. Until then, it’s a great crossbow to pick up as your very first without having to break the bank to get started. 

CenterPoint Sniper Elite 385 Pros and Cons