5 Best Pistol Crossbows: What Is The Best One?

Being only a fraction of the size of the regular crossbow, it’s no surprise that pistol crossbows are so popular. I’ve used a few and I have to say, I’m generally a fan. For those of you who don’t know what pistol crossbows are, they are small crossbows designed to be held in one hand. Usually, they have less draw weight and power than your regular crossbows. 

A common mistake people make with the pistol crossbow is that they look at its small size and assume it’s a toy. I promise you; it is not. The pistol crossbow is a compact but powerful weapon and I treat it with the same seriousness as any other crossbow. From hunting small game like rodents and rabbits, target practice, home defense, to padding up a survival kit, a pistol crossbow is a very flexible weapon. 

The pistol crossbow is also a really good way to ease people into archery. When I introduced my son to shooting, I did it with a pistol crossbow instead of my full-sized ones. It really helped because they are not as intimidating and I didn’t have to work the draw every time he needed to shoot. It’s much more manageable for him and he still enjoys practicing with it. Overall, working with it was a genuinely fun experience for both of us. 

Now, he still loves to shoot dad’s Center Point CP400, but I still need to prep it for him every time. 

Pros and Cons of Pistol Crossbows

So, this brings up an important question – what are the benefits of using a pistol crossbow and perhaps when shouldn’t you?

As you can see, there are definitely some pros to them and if these are important to you, then excellent – let’s get to finding the best pistol crossbow for your needs. However, if maybe you realize that the pistol crossbow won’t be enough for your purposes, then I recommend you check out my full article on the best crossbows.

Best Pistol Crossbows by Category

Best Pistol Crossbows

Best Overall Snake Eye Tactical Cobra		Automatic safety mechanism Budget-friendly Self-cocking system	Buy on Amazon
Best for Beginners Tactical Crusader Pistol Crossbow		Low price Beginner-friendly Anti-dry-firing safety mechanism	Buy on Amazon
Best For Accuracy PSE Viper SS		Fast speed of the shot Safety and anti-firing mechanisms Durable fiberglass limbs	Buy on Amazon
Best Premium Choice Prophecy Crossbow Pistol		Durable aluminum material Self-cocking system Adjustable sights	Buy on Amazon
Best For a Survival Pack KingsArchery Crossbow Pistol		Self-cocking system Arsenal of 123 bolts included Adjustable sights	Buy on Amazon

Best Crossbow Pistol Specifications

Below is a table of the specs for pistol crossbow. Click the name of the item to jump to that review.

Best Crossbow Pistols

Here is our list for the best crossbow pistols:

1. Snake Eye Tactical Cobra
2. Tactical Crusader Pistol Crossbow 
3. PSE Viper SS
4. Prophecy Crossbow Pistol 
5. KingsArchery Crossbow Pistol

Best Pistol Crossbows – Reviews

Here are the detailed reviews of all the pistol crossbows I’ve listed. They are all good choices, but they have specific features that make them the best fit for their category. 

Buyers Guide for Pistol Crossbows 

If you are new to pistol crossbows, it’s tricky to know what to look for when buying them. Here’s what I look at when buying a pistol crossbow. 

What to look for when buying a pistol crossbow?

When buying crossbows, some specs are more important than others. Here are some features I think are worth looking at more closely in a pistol crossbow. 

Bolt speed and draw weights –The bolt speed and draw weights are some of the important things I look at when buying a crossbow. A crossbow with a higher FPS will definitely shoot faster, but it usually means it would have a higher draw weight as well. On the other hand, there are some crossbows that have a smaller draw weight and a higher FPS but they sacrifice some of the penetrative power. 

So choose according to your needs. If you are hunting, go with a crossbow with a heavier draw weight, but for target practice, a fast and accurate crossbow would do. 

Self-Cocking – Self-cocking makes pistol crossbows easier and more comfortable to use because you can directly draw back the bowstring to load your bolts. Otherwise, you’ll have to use a separate cocking device to pull back the string every time you need to load and that’s not only tiring but also time-consuming. With how small pistol crossbows are, it’s just not worth going for something that doesn’t have a self cocking system. 

Bow materials –If you want something that lasts, then get one that is made of non-degradable materials like fiberglass or aluminum. The material also affects the weight. So choose a bow depending on what’s important to you. 

Power stroke – Power stroke is the length between the string’s resting point when your crossbow is not cocked and full draw when your crossbow is cocked. Longer power strokes generally mean faster bolts, but draw weight and bolt speed can affect it as well.   

Crossbow type –Crossbows usually come in two types, recurve and compound, and it’s the same with the pistol crossbow. A recurve crossbow has a single string and is very simple to use, while the compound crossbow has some additional parts but also packs a lot more power.

If you want to learn more about crossbows vs compound bows, we have that article here.

Mounting –If you want to add accessories like scopes or flashlights, the type of mounting on your pistol crossbow is important. There are different types of mounting, including the Picatinny rail which is good for stability and accuracy, and dovetail mounting, which allows you to mount more accessories but is not as stable. 

Scopes – Pistol crossbows have a very short range, so you won’t be needing a very complicated or powerful scope. I suggest going with the red dot scope. They are helpful in hunting faster small animals like rodents and hares. 

Assembly – I’ve said this before, but pistol crossbows rarely come assembled. Putting together the limbs and body is simple enough, but if you have never strung a bow before, stringing can be difficult. My advice is to either get yourself a stringer or buy a model that comes with a stringer.  

Maintenance – The material of the bow will affect how much time and effort you’d have to put into maintaining it. Fiberglass, plastic, and aluminum need a lot less maintenance than something like wood. Another thing to remember is that strings wear out really quickly, so always have replacement strings in your kit.

Bolts – Pistol crossbow bolts are much smaller than regular bolts and are less powerful, too. Plastic bolts are good for practicing but if you are hunting small game, I recommend using aluminum ones. 

Safety features – Pistol crossbows are small, but they are not toys. They are powerful weapons in their own right and if you don’t handle them correctly, they can cause some serious injuries. 

With your crossbows, something you should never compromise on is safety and when making a purchase, focus on features like anti-dry firing mechanisms and auto safety.

What Can You Use a Pistol Crossbow For?

The best thing about pistol crossbows is that we can use them for so many activities, from hunting to target practice. If you are on the market for a pistol crossbow, knowing what you want to use them for can help you narrow down your choices.

Hunting –If you are looking to hunt small game like rodents, squirrels, and rabbits, a pistol crossbow is definitely a good choice. Before you get excited about hunting though, I recommend you look up the laws in your state. Some states have a minimum draw weight and size requirement for hunting with a crossbow, and you can check your state’s laws here.

On the other hand, if you want to hunt deer and other large game, I recommend you get a regular crossbow and utilize either a fixed blade broadhead or a mechanical broadhead that is designed for hunting larger game. Some pistol crossbows might have a draw weight of 80 lbs, but there’s more to taking down game than just the draw weight or bolt speed. Pistol crossbow bolts weigh a lot less than your regular crossbow arrows and don’t have the same power, so they are not good for hunting large or even medium game. 

Home defense –If you are not comfortable having a firearm at home or can’t have one because of local laws, then pistol crossbows are a solid choice for home defense. Look for one that’s low maintenance and easy to use. It won’t be seeing much use, but in case you need it, you should be able to handle it without any issues. 

Survivalism –For survivalists, there’s no better weapon than a pistol crossbow. They need little to no energy to operate and are compact enough to store in your kit. If I were a survivalist, I would look for the same specs as the home defense one, but also make sure the crossbow is very durable. 

Target practice –I personally use mine for target practice since I usually hunt with my CP400. It helps you improve your aim and you can add another tool to your arsenal.

Side-arm – If you don’t want to carry a firearm when you go hunting for self-defense, a pistol crossbow could be a good alternative. It’s not as heavy and laws are usually more relaxed on them than firearms. 

Conclusion

It’s amazing how small crossbows have become. Pistol crossbows are a compact and lightweight option for when you hunt, for home defense, or when you just want to do some target practice in your yard.

When getting one, don’t sweat the details too much. They are not a big investment like a full size crossbow and you can always try out several ones until you find the one that’s right for you.

Crossbow Pistol FAQs